I GRIZ's 1969 Italian Private-press "La Donna Che Toccò Il Diavolo" 7-inch Re-issued Digitally (Superspectrum Music Library)
"The Devil Smiles Back [Il Diavolo Ricambia Il Sorriso] (1969) follows Father Ezra, a Catholic priest in 1920's Milan, who is haunted by the re-appearance of his long-thought-dead first love, Francesca. Upon her re-appearance, Francesca seeks to rekindle her relationship with Ezra and sway him from his vows, but the priest is preoccupied by a series of mysterious and grisly killings, which have plagued the diocese. Taking it upon himself to investigate, after the local authorities have all but abandoned the case, Ezra stumbles upon evidence that the murders are at the work of a den of vampires living within the cathedral's sunken catacombs. As he digs deeper, he discovers that The Bishop and his deacons are in league with the unholy night-dwellers, leaving him with no choice but to exterminate the vampire epidemic single-handely with fists, stakes, and silver bullets.
After the bloody and brutal rampage, the final pieces fit together, as Ezra realizes that Francesca did, indeed, die those 13 years ago and was taken into the service of The Devil himself; she has been feeding the priest information throughout the film, manipulating him into slaying the other vampires, so that she could assume the mantle of The Queen of Night. The film ends ambiguously, with Father Ezra approaching the seductively sinister form of Francesca, a tall being behind her in the shadows, a revolver gripped in the priest's bloody hand..."
"The soundtrack marked the debut of I GRIZ, a session band, who would go on to play for various soundtrack and Library Music recordings over the next 17 years, often, recording compositions by Salvi, Massimo e Massimo, and Pia Cafaro. Named for its four members (Graziano, Rafaella, Ignazio & Zelda,) I GRIZ became known for their unique blend of Psychsploitation & Soulful grooves, most notably, Allam's sparse guitar treatments and Olovetti's heavy baselines."
A. "LA DONNA CHE TOCCÒ IL DIAVOLO"
(THE WOMAN WHO TOUCHED THE DEVIL)
Father Erza has the staggering realization that his lost love,
Francesca, took Satan as her lover 13 years ago, plunging her
into the nightmare of unholy eternal life.
B. "VIVA COME UN PRETE, MUORI COME UN CANE"
(LIVE LIKE A PRIEST, DIE LIKE A DOG)
Can Father Ezra purge the vampire Bishop and his deacons
from the cathedral and maintain his humanity, or will the thirst
for bloody revenge consume the man of God?
Composed By: Giacomo Salvi
Music Performed By: I GRIZ
Graziano Allam - Guitar
Rafaella Macchi - Drums
Ignazio Torossi - Organ, Piano
Zelda Olivetti - Bass
Additional Instrumentation:
Bogdan Tsereteli - Trumpet
Livio Galigani - Tenor & Alto Saxophone
Hal McDermott - Trombone, French Horn
Created By: Dakota Crane & Kyle Tierce
Based On A Concept By: Malcolm Brooks
Produced & Arranged By: Kyle Tierce
Engineered By: "Dusty" Jim Moreland
- I GRIZ (Dakota Crane & Kyle "Quandary" Tierce)
