In June 1971, PFM entered a competition-cum-music festival called the first 'Festival d'Avanguardia e Nuove Tendenze' in Viareggio, which they won, along with Osanna and Mia Martini.
Later in 1971 the group signed with the Numero Uno division of RCA Records in Italy, and released their first single, "Impressioni di settembre"/"La carrozza di Hans".
It received wide recognition as the first Italian hit record to feature the synthesizer.
The group still regularly performs both songs.
Flavio Premoli also did a special demonstration of the capabilities of his Minimoog during a PFM television performance broadcast by RAI.

In early 1972, PFM released their first album, Storia di un minuto.
The album topped the Italian charts in its first week and was the first by an Italian rock group to achieve this kind of success.
It contained re-recorded versions of songs from the first single, as well as "È Festa" and "Dove... Quando..." which remain concert favorites.
Later in 1972 saw the release of their second LP, Per un amico.
This album opened the way to broader audience recognition all across Europe.
It featured a more sophisticated 16-track production and allowed the group to refine their sound.

PFM came to the attention of Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer while ELP was on an Italian tour.
ELP arranged for PFM sign to their own label, Manticore Records.
The first album on Manticore, Photos of Ghosts was released all across Europe, Japan, the USA and Canada and was the first time an Italian rock band found success in foreign markets.
It was also one of the first recordings by a mainland European rock group to have chart success in the United States, peaking at #180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in November 1973.
 The album contained mostly re-recordings of songs from Per un amico in English.
New lyrics (not translations) were written by former King Crimson member (and ELP lyricist) Peter Sinfield, who helped produce the new recording and mixing at Advision Studios in London.
 Sinfield also suggested that the band abbreviate their name to PFM, starting with this album.
 Songs included "Celebration" (a remake of "È Festa"), which received considerable airplay on album-oriented rock stations in the USA and Canada.

Following the release of Photos of Ghosts bass player Giorgio Piazza left the group, being replaced by Patrick Djivas, who has remained with the group since.
The next PFM album release in Italy was L'isola di niente in 1974.
Highlights of the album include "Dolcissima Maria" (English title: "Just Look Away") and the instrumental "Via Lumiere" (English title: "Have Your Cake and Beat It".)
Again a similar English language version of the album was released by Manticore as The World Became the World (1974).
The English album included another re-recording of "Impressioni di settembre" as the title track.
This was their last collaboration with Peter Sinfield, as the group were not entirely pleased with his English lyrics.

On the 1974 U.S. tour PFM played concerts with Little Feat, The Beach Boys, The Allman Brothers Band, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Peter Frampton and Dave Mason.
They were a victim of theft just before the concert with Santana on July 25 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
The stolen items included a 1969 Gibson Les Paul and a Gibson ES-335 (with three pickups, which had "Altaloma" engraved on them) as well as two bass guitars.

1974 concerts were recorded in Toronto, Canada (Convocation Hall) on August 22nd, and the Schaeffer Music Festival show in Central Park NYC on August 31st.
Tracks from these shows were released as PFM's final album for Manticore, titled, Cook.
The album spent eight weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, and peaked at #154 in January 1975.
The same recordings were used with different artwork for the next European album titled Live in USA.
PFM reached their biggest American audience when they appeared on NBC's Midnight Special program on February 21, 1975.
Their nationally televised performance included "Celebration" and the instrumental "Alta Loma Nine 'till Five".
In June 1971, PFM entered a competition-cum-music festival called the first 'Festival d'Avanguardia e Nuove Tendenze' in Viareggio, which they won, along with Osanna and Mia Martini. Later in 1971 the group signed with the Numero Uno division of RCA Records in Italy, and released their first single, "Impressioni di settembre"/"La carrozza di Hans". It received wide recognition as the first Italian hit record to feature the synthesizer. The group still regularly performs both songs. Flavio Premoli also did a special demonstration of the capabilities of his Minimoog during a PFM television performance broadcast by RAI.
In early 1972, PFM released their first album, Storia di un minuto. The album topped the Italian charts in its first week and was the first by an Italian rock group to achieve this kind of success. It contained re-recorded versions of songs from the first single, as well as "È Festa" and "Dove... Quando..." which remain concert favorites. Later in 1972 saw the release of their second LP, Per un amico. This album opened the way to broader audience recognition all across Europe. It featured a more sophisticated 16-track production and allowed the group to refine their sound.
PFM came to the attention of Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer while ELP was on an Italian tour. ELP arranged for PFM sign to their own label, Manticore Records. The first album on Manticore, Photos of Ghosts was released all across Europe, Japan, the USA and Canada and was the first time an Italian rock band found success in foreign markets. It was also one of the first recordings by a mainland European rock group to have chart success in the United States, peaking at #180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in November 1973.  The album contained mostly re-recordings of songs from Per un amico in English. New lyrics (not translations) were written by former King Crimson member (and ELP lyricist) Peter Sinfield, who helped produce the new recording and mixing at Advision Studios in London.  Sinfield also suggested that the band abbreviate their name to PFM, starting with this album.  Songs included "Celebration" (a remake of "È Festa"), which received considerable airplay on album-oriented rock stations in the USA and Canada.
Following the release of Photos of Ghosts bass player Giorgio Piazza left the group, being replaced by Patrick Djivas, who has remained with the group since. The next PFM album release in Italy was L'isola di niente in 1974. Highlights of the album include "Dolcissima Maria" (English title: "Just Look Away") and the instrumental "Via Lumiere" (English title: "Have Your Cake and Beat It".) Again a similar English language version of the album was released by Manticore as The World Became the World (1974). The English album included another re-recording of "Impressioni di settembre" as the title track. This was their last collaboration with Peter Sinfield, as the group were not entirely pleased with his English lyrics.
On the 1974 U.S. tour PFM played concerts with Little Feat, The Beach Boys, The Allman Brothers Band, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Peter Frampton and Dave Mason. They were a victim of theft just before the concert with Santana on July 25 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. The stolen items included a 1969 Gibson Les Paul and a Gibson ES-335 (with three pickups, which had "Altaloma" engraved on them) as well as two bass guitars.
1974 concerts were recorded in Toronto, Canada (Convocation Hall) on August 22nd, and the Schaeffer Music Festival show in Central Park NYC on August 31st. Tracks from these shows were released as PFM's final album for Manticore, titled, Cook. The album spent eight weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, and peaked at #154 in January 1975. The same recordings were used with different artwork for the next European album titled Live in USA. PFM reached their biggest American audience when they appeared on NBC's Midnight Special program on February 21, 1975. Their nationally televised performance included "Celebration" and the instrumental "Alta Loma Nine 'till Five".
Premiata Forneria Marconi