1973 2xLP Piero Umiliani “To-Day’s Sound” on Liuto Records

Yeah, this badboy was at the top of my wantlist for probably two decades. I missed out on auctions, passed on absurd askings, and also refused to settle for a hammered copy, which they generally are when you see one at all, which you almost never do. I am pleased to say the vinyl is pristine. I was mentioning yesterday that I’ve sold or traded around 800 records this year, for a variety of reasons, the main one being that I am moving to a different state and a much smaller pad. It’s still Castle Wax, so don’t worry, just a smaller sort of Castlet Wax. The moat, in particular, is really more of a puddle.

​It was difficult letting all those records go, not a single one mere filler, but by force of Eminent Domain I sort of had to exchange volume for knocking heavy titles off my wants. In the end, those 800 records have probably magically transformed into 80 bangers and some cash. You know what? It was the correct decision. I’m not going to say anything about “To-Day’s Sound”, to me a grail of grails and two FAT slabs of genius wax upon which there is not a single lesser cut. Umiliani is the Sun Ra of Italy, not that they sound anything alike (maybe a little on occasion), but for the breadth and width of their influence, influences, sound, multitude of styles, genius. I can’t tell you how much I love this record and so won’t even try. It took me five months to even consider posting it, the vinyl equivalent of the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, I was scared that raising the lid would cause me to go blind. Giovanni Tommaso! Oscar Valdambrini! Silvano Chimenti! Mario Midana! There is no Topper Action. Selah.
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