Patriots (album)
| Patriots | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Length | 28:58 | |||
| Label | EMI Italiana | |||
| Producer | Angelo Carrara | |||
| Franco Battiato chronology | ||||
| ||||
Patriots is the tenth studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, released in 1980.
Production
The album had initially as working title I telegrafi del Martedì Grasso ('The Mardi Gras Telegraphs'), before Battiato decided opting for a fragment of the title of the lead single "Up Patriots to Arms".[1][2] It was recorded in Alberto Radius' studios in Milan in July 1980.[2] The cover art was realized by Francesco Messina and photographer Roberto Masotti.[1] In the back cover, Messina wrote a long text, Preghiera del giovane patriota ('Prayer of the young patriot'), which is considered the artistic manifesto of Battiato's music of the period.[3]
Release
The album was released in October 1980.[2] In 2010, it was released Patriots - 30th Anniversary Edition, which included four bonus tracks and the music video of "Up Patriots to Arms".[4] In 2021, Patriots - 40th Anniversary Edition was released; it included three different bonus tracks, the Spanish and English versions of "Up Patriots to Arms" and the Spanish version of "Prospettiva Nevski".[4]
Reception
The album was described as "a conjunction link between the previous album and the following one, even if it cannot be considered simply a transitional album. All the aspects that would become peculiar to the Battiato of these years are brought into focus there", notably the use of fragmented lyrics, which incorporate references and citations from low and high culture, the use of foregn languages, and the irony.[5] Patrizio Ruviglioni from Rolling Stone Italia referred to it as "an avant-garde work in its day, which was misunderstood, and then re-evaluated bit by bit as a small Battiato classic".[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Up Patriots to Arms" | Franco Battiato | Battiato, Giusto Pio | 5:01 |
| 2. | "Venezia-Istanbul" | Battiato | Battiato, Pio | 4:37 |
| 3. | "Le aquile" | Fleur Jaeggy | Battiato, Pio | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Prospettiva Nevski" | Battiato | Battiato, Pio | 3:56 |
| 5. | "Lunedì" | Battiato | Battiato, Pio | 4:43 |
| 6. | "Arabian Song" | Battiato | Battiato, Pio | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Passaggi a livello" | Battiato | Battiato, Pio | 3:38 |
References
- ^ a b Zuffanti, Fabio (30 June 2020). "Patriots". Franco Battiato: Tutti i dischi e tutte le canzoni, dal 1965 al 2019 (in Italian). LIT Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-6231-868-6.
- ^ a b c Spessato, Carla (20 October 2021). "Patriots". Franco Battiato: Come un incantesimo. Giunti. ISBN 978-88-09-95527-1.
- ^ Zingales, Christian (9 September 2010). Battiato on the beach (in Italian). LIT. ISBN 978-88-6231-613-2.
- ^ a b "Franco Battiato e l'edizione speciale 'PATRIOTS - 40th Anniversary'". Sky TG24 (in Italian). 18 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ La Posta, Annino (2010). "1979-1982: Un centro di gravità permanente". Franco Battiato: soprattutto il silenzio. Giunti. ISBN 978-88-09-74253-6.
- ^ Ruviglioni, Patrizio (11 November 2020). "In 'Patriots' di Battiato c'era già tutto, ma pochi lo hanno capito". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 8 June 2025.