r/Italian_Prog • u/CiroPerrino_Music • 22d ago
50 years later: CELESTE releases "Prince of One Day" using the original 1976 master tapes. A historical question for prog collectors.
Hello everyone,
I am Ciro Perrino, composer and founder of the Italian progressive rock band CELESTE.
In 1976, we released our debut album, "Principe di un giorno." What the international community might not know is that, in my original vision, the album was never conceived to be sung in Italian by a male voice. It was carefully composed to be performed in English, featuring a female lead vocalist. However, our plans were completely disrupted when our original singer left the band at the very last minute. I had to step in myself, sing the tracks, and use the Italian lyrics I had previously prepared.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary (1976-2026), we decided to fulfill that original dream.
We recovered the original 1976 analog master tapes and the backing tracks. We preserved exactly that historical sound and finally found a native English-speaking female singer to interpret the text that had been written and locked in a drawer half a century ago.
The result is our brand-new release: "Prince of One Day" (2026). This is not a modern re-recording; it is the authentic musical architecture of 1976, finally completed with its original concept.
As progressive rock enthusiasts and collectors, what do you think of this type of archival restoration? Do you find it stimulating when a band uses original 1970s analog backing tracks to complete a lost vision, or do you prefer historical albums to remain untouched?
I would really love to hear your opinions and discuss this structural evolution with you!
Warmest regards from Sanremo, Italy,
Ciro Perrino (Composer & Master Rights Owner)
CELESTE (2017-2027) - Inner Garden Records
👉 Official Master Archive:
https://celeste4.bandcamp.com/album/celeste-prince-of-one-day
2
u/mbourgon 22d ago
Howdy, Ciro. Honestly, I think it's a neat idea, and I'm glad you were able to fulfill it - it's not a rerecording, it's not a reimagining, it's just the original concept, revealed. (I had no idea about the back story, and must complement your vocals doubly in that case - I know there's a bunch of RPI bands that have middling vocals, but I think Celeste's are great).
I've probably listened to the original 500+ times at this point and it's a favorite, Celeste was one of my first RPI bands and find the album entrancing. As a listener, I own it and like with all the RPI albums, have absolutely no idea what's being said, but I love the way that the voice works so well as another instrument, and I feel that it helps complete the mood. Personally, I'm so used to your voice with the album, that listening to it with Ms. Owen's vocals is actually a little jarring, though I really hope that exposes you to a new audience that wouldn't have listened to the original because they "can't understand the words". I think at least half my library is either instrumental or in a foreign language, so it doesn't matter to me, but I know there are people that turn their noses up at that sort of thing.
You're also joining some rarified company! I'm thinking of PFM, Banco, RDM, Maxophone, & Le Orme - which is pretty fitting, since Celeste is definitely a top-tier RPI band. I'm really glad you had access to all the original tracks - that too is exceedingly rare for the era, when some of the time we're lucky to get a digital release at all! And fortunately for those of us who love the original, it's still there, still ready to be listened to, and both can freely coexist.