Premiata Forneria Marconi — known worldwide as PFM — are the most important and internationally successful band Italian progressive rock ever produced. Formed in Milan in 1970 from the ashes of beat group I Quelli, they fused symphonic rock with classical music, folk and a distinctly Mediterranean melodic sense. In 1973 they became the first Italian rock band to break through internationally, signed to Emerson, Lake & Palmer’ Manticore label. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Impressioni di Settembre”, “Il Banchetto”, “La Carrozza di Hans” and “Celebration” — their immortal signature, a folk-to-classical tour de force, a dramatic early epic, and the instrumental that broke them worldwide. The full ranking is below.

The band that took Italian prog to the world

No band did more to put Italian progressive rock on the map than Premiata Forneria Marconi. Formed in Milan in 1970 — growing out of the acclaimed beat group I Quelli — PFM brought virtuoso musicianship and a warm, Mediterranean lyricism to the symphonic prog template, blending classical grandeur, folk delicacy and jazz fire. Their 1972 debut Storia di un Minuto is a cornerstone of the genre, and when Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Greg Lake caught them live in Rome, he signed them to his Manticore label, making PFM the first Italian rock band to chart in America. Across a remarkable run of albums, in both Italian and English, they became one of prog’s most beloved and influential acts. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, that dazzling musicianship, the Mediterranean warmth and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Impressioni di Settembre” (1972), their immortal signature, built on a Moog hook as famous in Italy as ELP’s “Lucky Man.” With it: “Il Banchetto” (1972), a stunning journey from folk delicacy to Emerson-esque classical piano; “La Carrozza di Hans” (1972), a dramatic, mystical early epic; “Celebration” (1973), the Minimoog-driven instrumental — an English reworking of “E Festa” — that broke them worldwide; “Generale!” (1972), a fiery, intricate showcase; and “Appena un Po’” (1972), a gorgeous, symphonic centrepiece.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Dove... Quando” (1972) is a two-part suite of acoustic beauty and instrumental invention; “L’Isola di Niente” (1974) is a darker, harder-edged title track; “Dolcissima Maria” (1974) is a tender, folky ballad; “Four Holes in the Ground” (1974) is a violin-and-Moog fan favourite in its English form; and “Chocolate Kings” (1975) is the title track of their hardest-hitting album.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Out of the Roundabout” (1975) is a driving, guitar-led highlight; “Peninsula” (1977) is a sleek slice of their jazz-fusion turn; “Old Rain” (1973) is an English-language original from their international debut; and “Viaggio in Italia” (1978) is a warm, melodic return to their Italian roots.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with the twin 1972 masterpieces Storia di un Minuto and Per un Amico, the heart of their legend, then the international breakthrough Photos of Ghosts and the harder-edged Chocolate Kings. Their later albums, from the jazz-fusion of Jet Lag to the Italian-sung Passpartù, reward deeper exploration.

The players

PFM grew from the extraordinary talents of I Quelli — guitarist Franco Mussida, keyboardist Flavio Premoli, drummer and singer Franz Di Cioccio and bassist Giorgio Piazza — joined by the multi-instrumentalist Mauro Pagani, whose violin and flute gave the band its unmistakable colour. Bassist Patrick Djivas, formerly of Area, replaced Piazza in 1974, and singer Bernardo Lanzetti fronted the band’s more English-language era. Through countless lineups, Di Cioccio has led PFM for over fifty years, and the band plays on to this day.

Why they still matter

PFM proved that progressive rock could speak fluent Italian — and then took it to the world. Alongside Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Le Orme, they form the “holy trinity” of Rock Progressivo Italiano, and their fusion of classical, folk and rock — shared with fellow travellers like New Trolls — influenced countless bands at home and abroad. Decades on, “Impressioni di Settembre” remains one of the most beloved songs the genre has ever produced.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best PFM albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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