The version published on a Horse Meat Disco album has never been officially licensed by the artistic producers of the opera, Stefano Galante and Stefano Carletti, nor by the rights holder of the piece, the executive producer Claudio Casalini. The abuse, or rather the unauthorized license, was carried out by Paolo del Prete, co-author of the piece, responsible for other illicit versions to the detriment of the owners of the master-tape. Smart people any further thoughts on this. S.P.Q.R., distributed by Best Record Italy, goes on its way ignoring the abuses and bullying of others, but always legally ready if a limit of the ethical and compatrtemental code should be crossed. Lies and unofficials versions speak for themselves.
This is fascinating and I’m sorry to learn the 1985 remix is still fraught with controversy. Intellectual copyright is still a difficult world to navigate in 2023. The original version is a favourite of Hidden Sounds (another club night in London which is run by two Italian guys) and both versions have their own unique sonic bliss. There are probably countless other Italo records by the same producers I have engaged with over the years! Peace.
It looks like SPQR Records won in the end. The Horse Meat Disco III album is now no longer on Spotify and no versions of the 1985 version of Sweepin’ Off are on RU-vid.
There a version on a Horse Meat Disco album that’s completely different (has the ‘…don’t believe in fools’ line just going into the chorus, and no reverb on the vocals). I don’t know where they got it from!
