Volume I (Fabrizio De André)

Volume 1 (Vol. 1o) is the second studio release by Italian singer-songwriter Fabrizio De André and his first true studio album. It was first issued in 1967 on Bluebell Records. It is a collection of re-recordings of De André's early singles, previously issued on the Karim label. ("Prayer in January") The song is dedicated to the memory of Fabrizio's longtime friend Luigi Tenco, who had committed suicide in January that year, after taking part in the Italian Song Festival of Sanremo and failing to advance to the final competition. The lyrics deal with the theme of suicide and the Church's systematic condemnation of those who kill themselves. ("Wedding March") A translated version of the song "La Marche nuptiale", written in 1956 by Georges Brassens, who De André always considered a master as well as one of his greatest sources of inspiration. This song, true to its title, is a spiritual in which De André sings with a deep voice, similar to that of African American singers. The lyrics may be read as a genuine expression of praise to God, as in the best tradition of American gospel, but their general informal tone, as well as the song's placement in the tracklist of the album - coming right before an unconventional depiction of Jesus - both point to a slightly cynical, detached attitude by De André toward organized religion in general. This is particularly clear in the final two lines: "God of Heaven, I will wait for you; in Heaven and on Earth I will look for you." Also, during his last-ever filmed live performance, on 14 February 1998, De André said: "If God didn't exist we should invent Him - which is exactly what mankind has been doing for the past 2000 years." ("He Was Called Jesus") The singer narrates the story of Jesus in an avant guardist way, saying that his goal isn't to glorify someone who he believes was "nothing but a man gone down in history as a god". While maintaining an atheist point of view, De André shows great respect and admiration toward the human figure of Jesus, who he defined "the greatest revolutionary of all history".