{"product_id":"stay-hot-footing-it","title":"Stay \/ Hot Footing It","description":"\u003cp\u003eFar Out Recordings presents a double bill of two monumental Brit funk classics. \u003ci\u003eKeep In Touch\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eStay\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoing 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, \u003ci\u003eKeep In Touch\u003c\/i\u003e was a surprise underground hit selling over 5000 copies and reaching #49 in the UK, leading Freeez into a record deal with Pye \/ Calibre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStill 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 ‘\u003ci\u003eStay\u003c\/i\u003e’ 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 \u003ci\u003eStay \u003c\/i\u003e12” have become one of the most in demand from the brit funk canon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFar 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.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Far Out Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black | 12\"","offer_id":50512760242507,"sku":"1136166","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/0f1754e7-fa0c-4005-a3fc-3bdfdc302e4f_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727906622","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/stay-hot-footing-it","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}