''Samarcanda'' is an album by Italian singer-songwriter

Roberto Vecchioni Roberto Vecchioni (born 25 June 1943) is an Italian singer-songwriter, singer-lyricist, lyricist, teacher and writer. Biography Vecchioni was born in Carate Brianza, Province of Monza and Brianza, to a Neapolitan family . In 1968 he graduated i ...

, released in 1977. The work was highly successful, mostly thanks to the title track, and established him as one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Italy. As usual for Vecchioni, the lyrics mix autobiographical themes such as love life, nostalgia with literary and poetical ones. "Samarcanda", is inspired to an Oriental fable (sometimes called "Appointment in Samarra") and is about a soldier who, in a feast to celebrate the end of the war, sees Death in the form of an old woman amongst the crowd. He madly rides to Samarkand to escape, and finds her there waiting for him. "Vaudeville", a satirical song about a singer-songwriter being shot on stage, is a reference to the "trial" suffered during a concert held the previous year by Vecchioni's colleague

Francesco De Gregori Francesco De Gregori OMRI (born 4 April 1951) is an Italian singer-songwriter. In Italy, he is popularly known as "Il Principe dei cantautori" ("The Prince of the singer-songwriters"), a nickname referring to the elegance of his lyrics. He is of ...

, as well as to the perception at the time of singer-songwriters in Italy. "Due giornate fiorentine" is about Vecchioni's first wife, Irene Bozzi, betraying him. "Blu(e) notte" is about Vecchioni meeting the poet

Sandro Penna Sandro Penna (June 12, 1906 – January 21, 1977) was an Italian poet. Biography Born in Perugia, Penna lived in Rome for most of his life. He never had a regular job, contributing to several newspapers and writing almost only poetry. His first ...

. "Per un vecchio bambino" (meaning "For an old child") is dedicated to Vecchioni's father. "Canzone per Sergio" is instead named after Vecchioni's brother, a notary in

Lipari Lipari (; scn, Lìpari) is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northern coast of Sicily, southern Italy; it is also the name of the island's main town and ''comune'', which is administratively part of the Metropolit ...

. "L'ultimo spettacolo" is a long ballad beginning with a slow motif about

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

's heroes, but finishing with more dramatic lyrics describing the departure of Vecchioni's wife to meet her lover. The episode of the singer accompanying her to the platform of the train to

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

will reappear in several of his future songs, such as "Vorrei" (in the album ''Robinson'') and ''Montecristo'' (in the Lp with the same name).

Angelo Branduardi Angelo Branduardi (born 12 February 1950) is an Italian folk/folk rock singer-songwriter and composer who scored relative success in Italy and European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Greece. Biography Branduardi wa ...

, also a popular singer-songwriter, appears as musician in the LP.

Track listing

#"Prologo" – 1:04 #"Samarcanda" – 3:42 #"Vaudeville" – 1:46 #"Due giornate fiorentine" – 6:45 #"Blu(e) notte" – 4:14 #"Per un vecchio bambino" – 7:41 #"Canzone per Sergio" – 5:24 #"L'ultimo spettacolo" – 8:27

References

* {{Authority control 1977 albums Roberto Vecchioni albums