The debut that opened the classic era of Italian prog has a reissue history complicated only by a common mix-up with the band’s English albums, so which edition of Storia di un minuto should you buy rewards a little care. The 1972 original is the anchor.

Why this album is a special case

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) made its debut with this record, which topped the Italian chart and opens with a short wordless piece before its songs. Its editions are mostly stereo CD and vinyl reissues, with one point of care: the band’s English-language album of the following year is not an English version of this record. Only a single track here was reworked in English for that release. For a buyer, that means the choice is between Italian-language editions, and any English album is a separate purchase rather than an edition of this one.

The original release

The album was released in 1972 as a gatefold LP on Numero Uno, the RCA-distributed imprint, with the catalogue number ZSLN 55055. It reached the top of the Italian chart shortly after release, though no UK chart entry is verified in the sources this guide relies on. An original Numero Uno gatefold in clean condition is the collector’s reference for this title.

The reissues that matter

The album reached CD in 1989 on RCA, with further CD editions on BMG in 2000 and in Japan in 2003, and a wide run of heavyweight and coloured vinyl reissues through the 2010s and 2020s on associated labels, though the individual vinyl editions are not itemised in the sources this guide relies on. A single English-language track drawn from this album appeared on the band’s 1973 Manticore release, which is otherwise a reworking of a different record. Check the year and label on any CD before buying.

Remasters and remixes

No 5.1 surround, SACD or Dolby Atmos mix of this album is confirmed in the sources this guide relies on, so this page does not claim one. The later CDs are stereo remasters, so the upgrade path here is about the quality of the stereo transfer rather than multi-channel sound. If a surround edition is advertised, treat the claim with caution until the disc itself lists a multi-channel mix.

Which one to buy

If you want the album simply, a standard Numero Uno, RCA or BMG CD reissue from 1989 or 2000 is the dependable, affordable choice. If you prefer vinyl, one of the modern remastered pressings gives you the album in good sound. If you collect, an original 1972 Numero Uno ZSLN 55055 gatefold LP is the target. When you shop, remember that the band’s English album is a separate release, not an edition of this record.

Go deeper

The same edition questions run through the rest of the catalogue, so this reads well beside my guides to Per un amico. If the vocabulary of pressings is unfamiliar, see what a remaster, an original pressing or a reissue, vinyl or CD suits prog best actually mean. The overview lives on the reissues and editions guide, and the record itself sits among the best progressive rock albums.

One note on how this guide is put together. Every year, label and format here is checked against English-language discographies rather than trusted to memory, because the surest way to waste your money is to chase an edition that does not exist as described. Where a mix or a pressing could not be confirmed, it is left out rather than guessed at, and where a chart placing belongs to a later reissue rather than the original run, that is said plainly. The point of a buying guide is that you can act on it, so the harder facts are the ones worth getting right. Two habits make buying any of these records easier. The first is to read the catalogue number and the pressing year off the disc or the sleeve, rather than trusting a listing’s title alone, since the same artwork was reused across editions that sound and contain quite different things. The second is to weigh condition against rarity: a common album in clean, complete shape is almost always a better buy than a scarce one that has been played hard, and a reissue you will actually enjoy beats an original you are afraid to handle.

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