Name: Stay / Hot Footing It
Brand: Freeez

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

PINKY2

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

1000

Release date

2021-11-12

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5065007965030

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Total Cap

1 / 12" / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Freeez

Genre GB

Funk / Soul

Label GB

Far Out Recordings

Far Out Recordings is a British independent record label based in London. It was established in 1994 by Joe Davis, a Brazilian music enthusiast. The label specializes in releasing high-quality Brazilian music from both new and established artists such as Joyce, Marcos Valle, Azymuth, Arthur Verocai, The Ipanemas, Sabrina Malheiros, Hermeto Pascoal, and Amaro Freitas. Additionally, Far Out Recordings also features talented British, European and American artists including Mark Pritchard, Nicola Conte Daniel Maunick Jneiro Jarel and Sean Khan. With its extensive catalog of diverse artists and genres, Far Out Recordings continues to be a leading force in the music industry.
Label Code: LC13735

Far Out Recordings presents a double bill of two monumental Brit funk classics. Keep In Touch and Stay were the first two 12” singles by the iconic Freeez, both self-funded passion projects of its founding member John Rocca, for his own Pink Rhythm imprint.

It all started over the counter at Derek’s Records on Petticoat Lane, London in the mid-70s. Rocca - at the time a budding teenage percussionist - met the prolific guitarist, composer, producer and all round brit funk fixer Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick (also the father of Far Out producer Daniel Maunick). Best known as the founding member of Light of the World, Incognito, and more recently Str4ta, Bluey’s involvement in the origins of Freeez are lesser known, but no less crucial. Bluey invited Rocca to a weekly jam session in an East London basement, where they would develop their craft, form their first band Freeez and develop the idea for ‘Keep In Touch’: “Back in the basement there was this one particular track we were playing that I really loved. It had a groove that I thought I could sell” Rocca reminisces.

Going against the advice of all the musicians involved, who thought he was mad and set to lose all his money, John decided to go full DIY, hire out a high end studio in the West End to record ‘Keep In Touch’ and release it as a private press, birthing his now famed Pink Rhythm label. Featuring Bluey on guitar, Peter Maas on bass, Paul Morgan on drums, Jason Wright on keyboards, and John Rocca on percussion, Keep In Touch was a surprise underground hit selling over 5000 copies and reaching #49 in the UK, leading Freeez into a record deal with Pye / Calibre.

Still giddy from the experience of having produced and pressed his first record at the age of just 19, John set out to do it all again with ‘Stay’ and ‘Hot Footing It’, enlisting Bluey and co once again. This time Rocca attempted to take things to the next level by adding vocals into the mix. Though this new arrangement initially backfired and cost John the deal with Pye / Calibre who weren’t feeling the slight change of vibe, original copies of the Stay 12” have become one of the most in demand from the brit funk canon.

These foundational DIY 12” singles paved the way for Freeez to become a household name in the history of British funk who went on to record hits like ‘Southern Freeze’ and ‘IOU’ as well as underground cult classics like ‘Melodies of Love’ and ‘India’ as Pink Rhythm, John Rocca’s later formation of Freeez named after his imprint.

Far Out release a very limited run of the two 12”s (1000 copies of each), both redesigned in the style of the original private presses.

Stay / Hot Footing It

Music GB

Discover Stay / Hot Footing It by Freeez on limited edition 12" vinyl. Two monumental Brit funk classics from Far Out Recordings.