From Beat Records: Thanks to the partnership between Roman labels and distributors Cometa Edizioni Musicali, Beat Records and Four Flies Records, one of the most iconic and essential works by Piero Umiliani has finally emerged from the archives: La schiava io ce l’ho e tu no. The movie was directed by Giorgio Capitani starring Lando Buzzanca and Chaterine Spaak, its soundtrack recorded at Ortophonic Studios in Rome in September of 1973. Widely regarded as one of the most sought-after productions by the famous Italian composer, the original LP is now considered a holy grail among the most serious record collectors worldwide.
Perhaps the main reason for this is the magnificent quality of the compositions and arrangements, written by the Maestro himself, who reaches one of his compositional peaks with this score. His music is the quintessential Italian sound for ‘70s sophisticated comedy, its unmistakable flavor now carved into our collective imagination, blending samba-bossa rhythms, funk guitars, dynamic and airy strings, and most of all, those brilliant choirs, always functional in relation to the movie’s mood (performed here by the omnipresent “Cantori Moderni di Alessandroni” in a leading role). Together with the sensual vocalisms of Edda Dell’Orso, they truly represent the identity of an entire genre.
The release of this CD makes us really proud, not only because it brings to light one of the freshest and most topical soundtracks of Piero Umiliani’s career, but also because of the long and patient research that led us to the original master tapes featuring the complete soundtrack sessions stored in the Cometa archives.
That's why we are able to present here, in addition to the LP’s original track listing, 23 tracks never before released in any format, revealing Umiliani’s compositional eclecticism and his ability to transition effortlessly from jazz to funk, easy listening to symphony. Personal memories by Umiliani’s daughters enrich this edition through their contributions to the liner notes, giving us a familiar and intimate perspective about the composer’s private life.
