Rare Music From The Cometa Library Vaults, a new vinyl-only release by Pheon Records includes three tracks from Giovanni Tommasi and Stefano Torossi in addition to a pair apiece by Alessandro Alessandroni and I Marc 4, three tracks by Francesco De Masi, and one each from Gino Marinuzzi, Jr. and Luigi Zito. All originally appeared on SR Records albums released between 1969 and 1971—Cometa now owns the rights to the legendary Italian library and soundtrack label formed by the Sermi Cable Company.

Various Artists – Rare Music From The Cometa Library Vaults (2016) Pheon Records

The vinyl album is the second release by Pheon Records, which according to their website, “is a new collaboration between Jonny [Trunk] from Trunk Records and James [Pianata] from The Roundtable/Votary.” Dedicated to library and jazz music, their debut release last fall was the reissue of Armando Sciascia’s Sea Fantasy.

I Marc 4

I Marc 4’s “Hyde Park,” which first appeared on their I soloisti di Armando Trovajoli (1969) LP (SP 112), is the opening selection on the compilation. “Piccadilly Circus,” a second cut from the same SR Records’ album, is also included on the new Pheon release.

I Marc 4 – I solisti di Armando Trovajoli (1969) SR Records

I soloisti di Armando Trovajoli was also reissued in CD and LP by Italy’s Plastic Records in 2000.

I Marc 4’s “Hyde Park,” featuring bassist Maurizio Majorana, guitarist Carlo Pes, drummer Roberto Podio, pianist Antonello Vannucchi, and guest vocalist Edda Dell’Orso, is on YouTube:

More musical highlights from I Marc 4 are found in a closer look at I Marc 4’s eponymous 1970 release on Nelson Records (GLP 1005) that features Fotriafa (aka Stefano Torossi). Click HERE.

Francesco De Masi

Composer-conductor Francesco De Masi worked on scores for more than 200 movies and television programs, including spaghetti westerns, horror, and action movies like Enzo G. Castellari’s Quel maledetto treno blindato (The Inglorious Bastards) in 1978.

Bara per los ceriffo (1965) film poster

After doing several sword and sandal films, Francesco De Masi’s soundtrack for director Mario Caiano’s Una bara per lo sceriffo (A Coffin for the Sheriff) in 1965 was one of the first Italian scores in the western genre. De Massi’s three contributions to the new compilation include “L’infinito orizzonte dei Mari e Delle,” “La Fame,” and “Altalena Party.”

Francesco De Masi – L’italia vista dal cielo (1970) SR Records

“Altadena Party” initially appeared on Francesco De Masi’s 1970 L’italia vista dal cielo album.

Francesco De Masi’s “Altadena Party” is online:

Alessandro Alessandroni

Alessandro Alessandroni, the founder of I Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni, made several albums for SR Records between 1968 and 1974, including Alessandro Alessandroni e il suo complesso (1968), Fischio in armonia (1970), Alessandro Alessandroni (aka Farfalla) (1971), Open Air Parade (1972) with Giovanni Tommaso, and Prisma sonoro (1974).

Alessandro Alessandroni – Fischio in armonia (1970) SR Records

“Giovani Flirt” and “Acque azzure,” which debuted on Alessandro Alessandroni’s 1971 eponymous LP (SR-ST 132), are included on the Pheon compilation. This album by Alessandroni, sometimes referred to as Farfalla (butterfly in English), was reissued in CD in 2014 and vinyl in 2015. Both Cometa releases include four extra tracks.

Alessandro Alessandroni – Alessandro Alessandroni (1971) SR Records

Alessandro Alessandroni’s “Acque azzure” is here:

A closer look at Alessandro Alessandroni’s Fischio in armonia (1970), an SR Records LP that features four compositions with Stefano Torossi, as well as musical highlights that include a live performance of three pieces from Ennio Morricone soundtracks for Sergio Leone films, is HERE.

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi have three tracks on Rare Music From The Cometa Library Vaults including “Sixth Dimension,” “Coast To Coast,” and “Metropolis.” All three are drawn from their 1970 Echoing America LP on SR Records (SP 130), reissued in CD by Cometa in 2013 with a bonus track and two alternate versions.

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi -Echoing America (1970) SR Records

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi’s “Sixth Dimension” is on SoundCloud:

https://soundcloud.com/dj-el-topo-1/sixth-dimension-stefano-torossi

Echoing America, a mix of funk, hard rock, bluegrass, jazz, and more, is an homage to the music and culture of the United States. The album features Tommaso on bass and half a dozen studio musicians. Another standout is a banjo player Giovanni Tommaso discovered on the streets of Rome just before the recording sessions.

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi – Echoing America (1970) SR Records back

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi’s “Coast To Coast” is online:

https://soundcloud.com/dj-el-topo-1/coast-to-coast-stefano-torossi

A closer look at Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi’s Echoing America is HERE.

Gino Marinuzzi Jr.

Composer-conductor Gino Marinuzzi Jr’s “Battaglia di Ritmi” is the fifth track on the new compilation LP. This composition initially appeared on Marinuzzi Jr’s Rhythms In Suspense LP in 1970–and reissued in CD by Cometa in 2013.

Gino Marinuzzi Jr. – Rhythms In Suspense (1970) SR Records

Gino Marinuzzi Jr.’s “Battaglia di Ritmi” is on YouTube:

Luigi Zito

Luigi Zito’s “Movimento” is the final selection on the Pheon Records’ compilation. This first appeared on Zito’s Miscellanea LP (SP 113) released in 1969.

Luigi Zito – Miscellanea (1969) SR Records

Luigi Zito’s “Movimento” is online:

One More from Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi

The third composition from Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi on Rare Music From The Cometa Library Vaults is “Metropolis.”

An interview with Giovanni Tommaso that explores some of his extraordinary musical adventures, is HERE.

Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Torossi’s “Metropolis” is on YouTube: