Premiata Forneria Marconi — PFM to the wider world — are the most important and internationally successful band in the history of Italian progressive rock. Formed in Milan in 1971 from the ashes of the beat group I Quelli, the classic lineup of Franz Di Cioccio, Franco Mussida, Flavio Premoli, Mauro Pagani and Giorgio Piazza fused symphonic grandeur, jazz, classical and Mediterranean melody into something wholly their own. Championed by Greg Lake and signed to Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Manticore label, they became the first Italian rock band to chart in the United States. Here I rank their essential studio albums, from worst to best.

The short version

At the top sit the twin 1972 masterpieces Storia di un minuto and Per un amico, which launched Italian prog, with the balanced L’isola di niente close behind. At the other end, the more commercial early-80s albums tend to divide even the faithful. The full ranking is below.

How I rank them

This is my honest take on PFM’s essential studio albums — their catalogue is vast, and I have set aside the English-language re-recordings (like Photos of Ghosts), the live albums and the De André tribute to focus on the core. I weigh melody, ambition, technique and that unmistakable Mediterranean fire. The facts are accurate; the order is where the arguments begin.

The lower reaches

13. Suonare suonare (1980)

The album where PFM largely abandoned prog for a lighter, more commercial pop-rock sound. Pleasant and well-crafted, but a clear step down from their symphonic peak. A likeable but minor turn.

12. Come ti va in riva alla città (1981)

A concept album about suburban youth, more song-based and pop-oriented. Sincere and tuneful, if far from their prog grandeur. A modest early-80s effort.

11. Serendipity (2000)

A guest-heavy, eclectic millennial album that roams across many styles. Ambitious and varied, but a little unfocused as a whole. A patchy modern record.

The middle of the pack

10. Dracula (2005)

An ambitious rock-musical concept based on the vampire tale. Theatrical and dramatic, if uneven and a touch overwrought. A bold but divisive experiment.

9. Emotional Tattoos (2017)

A strong modern album, released in both English and Italian versions, that reconnects with their prog roots. Polished, heartfelt and warmly received. A confident latter-day statement.

8. I Dreamed of Electric Sheep (2021)

Their most recent album, a sci-fi-tinged concept graced by guests Ian Anderson and Steve Hackett. Ambitious and colourful, a fine late-career flourish. A rewarding modern entry.

7. Passpartù (1978)

A more song-based, accessible album after the fusion of Jet Lag, with strong melodies and fine playing. Less adventurous than their peak, but consistently enjoyable. A likeable transitional record.

The upper tier

6. Ulisse (1997)

The triumphant reunion of the classic quartet after a decade apart, a mature concept album on the Odyssey. Warm, ambitious and a genuine return to form. An underrated comeback.

5. Jet Lag (1977)

The bold jazz-fusion turn, showcasing the band’s dazzling technical prowess and a new bass-driven complexity. Adventurous and virtuosic, if a little cold for some tastes. An underrated gem.

4. Chocolate Kings (1975)

The first album with a dedicated vocalist in Bernardo Lanzetti, and their most overtly Genesis-flavoured, English-language record. Muscular, political and superbly played, from the fiery title track onwards. A late-classic-era high.

The masterpieces

3. L’isola di niente (1974)

The third of their classic run, blending symphonic grandeur with rockier muscle and Mediterranean warmth. From the dramatic title track to “Dolcissima Maria”, it is PFM at their most balanced. A near-masterpiece.

2. Per un amico (1972)

The more complex and symphonic sibling to their debut, and for many their finest hour. Ranked by Rolling Stone among the 50 greatest prog albums ever made, it is a cascade of Mellotron, Moog and impossible beauty. A masterpiece.

1. Storia di un minuto (1972)

The masterpiece: the debut that launched Italian progressive rock, and for many still their greatest work, home to immortal classics like “Impressioni di settembre” and “La carrozza di Hans”. Elegant, energetic and utterly essential, it is the quintessence of the genre. The definitive PFM album, and the place to begin.

Every essential PFM album, ranked

The full ranking at a glance, best to worst.

Where to start

New to PFM? Begin with Storia di un minuto (1972) and Per un amico (1972), the twin masterpieces that launched Italian prog, then explore the balanced L’isola di niente. International listeners may also know the English-language Photos of Ghosts, PFM’s international breakthrough. From there, a vast and rewarding catalogue awaits.

The verdict

No band did more to bring progressive rock to Italy — or to take Italian music to the world — than PFM. Blending the symphonic ambition of Genesis and King Crimson with a warmth and melodic gift entirely their own, they created a run of 1970s classics that stand among the greatest prog ever made, anywhere, then evolved restlessly across the decades that followed. Live, they remain a force of nature. Whether you begin with the immortal debut or dig into their later reinventions, PFM reward a lifetime of listening.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: count down their finest tracks with the best PFM songs, browse my pick of their best PFM albums, or head back to the full directory of every prog band’s discography, ranked.

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