*. The Juniors .*

Album: The Juniors Story (1971) + Album: Black Night (1971)(Ep 2 Track's)
Genre: Prog Rock (Pop/Folk/Rock)  /  Italy

The name The Juniors (or Gli Juniors) appears on many records released in the 60's and 70's, this was a group from Vercelli which backed singer Gianni Pettenati, and that also had a short own career releasing an LP and a few singles for the City and CGO (same as Exploit, Macchie Rosse and Vocals) labels. The single contains Black night by Deep Purple on the A-side, while I'll be blind on the back is a vocal track, very dark with organ in evidence. This was composed by Complex (Rinaldo Prandoni), who also wrote the Lydia e gli Hellua Xenium and Scorpyo singles' tracks. The LP The Juniors Story was issued around 1971 and contains some progressive influences, particularly in the nice Break of lease, a track of over 8 minutes. In the rest of the album the band's sound is halfway between Procol Harum and brass rock groups like Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears, with some Italian songs, while most of them were sung in English. Two tracks from the LP, Rose di legno and Oltre l'orizzonte, were also released on single, with the same cover design as the album. The Mellow CD reissue contains as bonus track the single version of Black night. The drummer Gianni Durini later played with Camelot, which originated Panda and Everest, and also collaborated with Krisma; trumpet player Pierino Spagnolo played with many years with Zucchero; sax and flute player Renzo Rigon is a well-known musician in the jazz field. Jumbo's singer Alvaro Fella was the bass player in the Juniors around 1970 before entering the solo career and forming his own group. He was replaced by Roberto Barone, who kept playing as a professional musician and is now in Toto Cutugno's backing group.(www.italianprog.com/).

RATING:  7.5 / 10

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