Info

category: CD album

label: Sugar/Universal
(from 2006 Sugar/Warner Music Italia)
(in Europe: Sugar/Polydor)

original release date: 1997

released in: Italy - Europe

artwork: Vitamina

photo: Giasco Bertoli

Notes

Pipes & Flowers is the first album by Italian songstress Elisa Toffoli, professionally known as Elisa. The album includes eleven songs whose lyrics and music were written by Elisa herself. Surprisingly all of the tracks are in English.

When Elisa's first tunes were played on Italian radio stations, most of the of people didn't realize she was Italian.

The producer of the album was Corrado Rustici, also known for his works with Whitney Houston and Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari. Today he is one of the most important producers in Italy (Negramaro, Ligabue, Francesco Renga, and Francesco De Gregori).

Music fans and critics were in agreement as to the success of 'Pipes & Flowers'. Even the radio stations supported greatly her songs from time to time in rotation. The first single was 'Sleeping In Your Hand', released in Italy in late May 1997. The album followed a few months later, in September.

Other singles that followed were 'Labyrinth', 'Mr.Want' and 'A Feast For Me'. All of these tunes dominated the radio charts throughout the Italian winter of 1997-98, with the videos in high constant rotation on MTV in Italy and on the major music channels.

Elisa is rewarded in April 1998 with the 'Premio Italiano della Musica' (Italian Music Award) by the national newspaper 'La Repubblica'. One of the most important Italian radio channels. Radio Deejay awards Elisa as the 'Best Italian Revelation of the Year'. In October, she wins the 'Premio Tenco '98' award for the best debut album. The same month she presents a new song titled 'Cure Me', produced by Darren Allison (Skunk Anansie and Spiritualized). It is released on a CD single and also included in a new version of the album.

'Pipes & Flowers' was launched across Europe in the spring of 1998, supported by Elisa's participation as the sole supporter of Italian star Eros Ramazzotti's European tour. 'Pipes and Flowers' becomes Europe's priority promotion for the spring-summer of 1998 for all the Polydor companies in Europe. 'Sleeping In Your Hand', 'Labyrinth' and 'So Delicate So Pure' are the tunes played throughout Europe.

The International releases of 'Pipes & Flowers' differ from the Italian release for cover, booklet and diskette. Nowdays it is still possible to find several European editions of the album online.

The title 'Pipes & Flowers' refers to the area of Lisert, near Monfalcone where Elisa grew up. It is a land of contrasts, an industrial area set in a stunning natural territory made of mountains, and overlooking the seaport city of Monfalcone. The city is awash of warehouses and industrial smokestacks (the 'Pipes') mix with nature (the 'Flowers'). A place which is much loved and evocative for Elisa, even today--- thus you have 'Pipes & Flowers'.

The album was recorded not in Italy, but in the California cities of Berkeley and Sausalito at the 'Rocky Road' and 'Fantasy' studios. Among the musicians who played a role were, Steve Smith (drums), Benny Rietveld (bass), Polo Jones (bass), and Frank Martin (piano and coordinator / arranger of the strings along with Rustici). Corrado Rustici himself participates as a musician, playing guitars and keyboards. Max Gelsi (bass), Andrea Rigonat (guitar), Andrea Fontana (percussion), Carlo Bonazza (drums), and Christian Rigano (keyboards) are the musicians in the song 'Cure me'.