Miss Baker [Import]

PFM (Premiata Forneria Marconi), P.f.m | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Musicrama/Koch
• ASIN: B000003PPK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,723 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prima Che Venga la Sera

2. Un Amore Vero

3. Finta Lettera d'Addio Di Una Rockstar Per Farsi Propaganda

4. Josephin Baker

5. Tempo Tempo

6. La Chanson d'Un Aviateur

7. Colazione a Disneyland

Editorial Reviews

Long out of print, this is a 1996 reissue for the Italianprog legend's 1981 album, one of the last to feature theoriginal line up. Seven tracks, including 'Prima Che VengaLa Sera' and 'Un Amore Vero'. Both the original album andthis reissue are BMG Ricordi releases. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An okay, but seriously non-essential album, November 22, 2002

By 

woburnmusicfan (Woburn, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Baker (Audio CD)

I had a credit burning a hole in my pocket after an unnamed site couldn't provide PFM's "Suonare Suonare", so I bought this. This album shows a band desperately searching for a style. The sound is pop, with not a trace of progressive rock. Many of the cuts have a funk-lite style comparable to Steely Dan's "Gaucho" period. Some songs have a brass section adding punches, like the Earth Wind & Fire horns on Genesis' "Paperlate", and a couple of songs have female backing vocals. Still, on the whole, this is a lot more listenable than I would have figured, though none of these songs will be on any greatest hits album. Guitarist Franco Mussida and drummer Franz di Cioccio still sound good here. "Prima Che Venga la Sera", "Finta Lettera d'Addio di una Rockstar per Farsi Propaganda", "La Chanson d'un Aviateur", and "Colazione a Disneyland" are all decent cuts. The title cut, a tribute to dancer Josephine Baker, is the weakest track. Just about every keyboard sound used on the album is an adult contemporary cliché, like pre-sets on a synthesizer built specifically for the wedding/bar mitzvah circuit; I assume Fabbri is to blame.

This is a mystery album. The CD has no credits except for songwriting, and these include both violinist Mauro Pagani, who had left before "Jet Lag" and violin/keyboardist Lucio Fabbri. The CD bears a 1981 date, but PFM's own web site calls this a 1987 album. And the only English-language fan site that had a good PFM discography has shut down. Whichever date is correct, keyboardist Flavio Premoli would have left the band by then.

If you are the kind of prog-rock snob who thinks "Per Un Amico" is a more "authentic" listening experience than "Photos of Ghosts", sleeps with a worn copy of "Cook" beside their bed, thinks Genesis never made a good album after Gabriel left and Yes never made a good album after "Topographic Oceans", stay far, far away from this album. You will hate it, and hate it big-time. For others, if you want to hear what PFM sounded like after they stopped releasing albums in the US, go with 2000's "Serendipity" or 1998's live ... instead. This album is at the low end of the "pretty good" range.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

5.0 out of 5 stars Every note is perfect. Thoroughly pleasing, December 6, 2009

By 

John Medher (Mexico) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Miss Baker (Audio CD)

I have a really worn out cassette of PFM's Miss Baker I bought in a bazaar long time ago. By that time I wasn't sure if the regular listener of albums like "Per un amico" could find MB really satisfying because of the more pop oriented tunes, instead of their heavy duty progressive style of the early 70s. Well, many years have passed and I still think that besides the fact that some songs could inevitably remind us of the usual corny italian ballads, this album is (watch out for a long list of praises): brilliantly produced, original, daring, creative, surprising, crafty, hearty, and very much apt for the prog rock, pop, fusion, and maybe not too rigorous jazz and classical music lovers. But most of all the players are incredible, each note is perfect. The last tune "Colazione a Disneyland" is a colorful instrumental piece that displays so much energy, passion and virtuosity that you may want to shed a tear or two.

3.0 out of 5 stars An okay but seriously non-essential album., November 22, 2002

By 

woburnmusicfan (Woburn, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Baker (Audio CD)

I had a credit burning a hole in my pocket after an unnamed site couldn't provide PFM's "Suonare Suonare", so I bought this. This album shows a band desperately searching for a style. The sound is pop, with not a trace of progressive rock. Many of the cuts have a funk-lite style comparable to Steely Dan's "Gaucho" period. Some songs have a brass section adding punches, like the Earth Wind & Fire horns on Genesis' "Paperlate", and a couple of songs have female backing vocals. Still, on the whole, this is a lot more listenable than I would have figured, though none of these songs will be on any greatest hits album. Guitarist Franco Mussida and drummer Franz di Cioccio still sound good here. "Prima Che Venga la Sera", "Finta Lettera d'Addio di una Rockstar per Farsi Propaganda", "La Chanson d'un Aviateur", and "Colazione a Disneyland" are all decent cuts. The title cut, a tribute to dancer Josephine Baker, is the weakest track. Just about every keyboard sound used on the album is an adult contemporary cliché, like pre-sets on a synthesizer built specifically for the wedding/bar mitzvah circuit; I assume Fabbri is to blame.

This is a mystery album. The CD has no credits except for songwriting, and these include both violinist Mauro Pagani, who had left before "Jet Lag" and violin/keyboardist Lucio Fabbri. The CD bears a 1981 date, but PFM's own web site calls this a 1987 album. And the only English-language fan site that had a good PFM discography has shut down. Whichever date is correct, keyboardist Flavio Premoli would have left the band by then.

If you are the kind of prog-rock snob who thinks "Per Un Amico" is a more "authentic" listening experience than "Photos of Ghosts", sleeps with a worn copy of "Cook" beside their bed, thinks Genesis never made a good album after Gabriel left and Yes never made a good album after "Topographic Oceans", stay far, far away from this album. You will hate it, and hate it big-time. For others, if you want to hear what PFM sounded like after they stopped releasing albums in the US, go with 2000's "Serendipity" or 1998's live "www.pfmpfm.it" instead. This album is at the low end of the "pretty good" range.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)