Uno – Uno(1974)

Biography
Formed from the ashes of Osanna when the band split in 1974 by Elio D’Anna and Danilo Rustici along with drummer Enzo Vallicelli (from Hellza Poppin, who had played with Osage Tribe and Claudio Rocchi), Uno was a much-hyped band that went to England to record their first and only album with help from lyricist N.J.Sedwick and singer Liza Strike (of The dark side of the moon fame). The album is not far from late Osanna style (Landscape of life-era), with four English-sung tracks and three in Italian, with songs like I cani e la volpe in evidence, but didn’t reach the success the band hoped. An English sung version of the album was released abroad, with a nice surreal cover, but didn’t attract much interest. The three-piece band worked well in studio but couldn’t get satisfying results when playing live, so the help from Danilo Rustici’s brother Corrado Rustici (from Cervello) on guitar and bass was requested for live appearances. From this expanded line-up came the inspiration for a new band, called Nova. Enzo Vallicelli has kept playing (and still does it now, under his surname of Vince Vallicelli) as an appreciated blues drummer. http://www.italianprog.com/a_uno.htm

Album & Cover
This is the only album released by UNO. It was released in Italy in gatefold cover and in the UK with a completely different cover designed by Hipgnosis. Aubrey Powell says the inspiration for the cover came from a childrens cut-out book using the ‘checkerboard principle’ where alternate squares are omitted or changed by the naked eye. The checkered cape uses this idea. The man faces the Long Man of Wilmington cut into the hill, and so a meeting from another dimension. The ‘checkerboard principle’ idea was used also for the Caravan album, Cunning Stunts.

Cover Location:  Windover Hill, Wilmington, East Sussex, UK
Who Did What: Photography – S. Thorgerson. Design – Massimo Guarino. Artwork – Richard Evans. Graphics  – George Hardie. Photography By – Lino Vairetti.
Label: Pan 88397IT(DEU)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Arranged By – Uno 
Drums – Enzo Vallicelli
Flute, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Elio D’Anna
Vocals, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Bass & String Pedals], Piano, Synthesizer – Danilo Rustici
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals – Danilo Rustici
Drums, Bells, Carillon – Enzo Vallicelli
Engineer – Dennis MacKay
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Elio D’Anna
Producer – Corrado Bacchelli

Notes
Two Versions, an Italian version on the Fonit label and an English version on the Les Disques Motors label.