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Far Out Recordings
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We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Keep In Touch

by Freeez

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £2 GBP  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Keep In Touch via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £12 GBP or more 

     

  • Test Pressing
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    White label TP. Limited edition of 5. Housed in a generic test pressing sleeve.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Keep In Touch via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Pink Rythm Limited Edition T-Shirt
    T-Shirt/Apparel

    Pink Rythm T-shirt, pink on blue.

    The original Pink Rythm logo, complete with the misspelled ‘Rythm’.

    100% organic ring-spun combed cotton.

    This T-Shirt is manufactured by Stanley Stella at factories with a strong commitment to workers rights and safety. The Cotton is sourced in India. Stanley Stella work closely with suppliers to make sure materials are produced/grown in ways that do not harm people, animals or the environment.

    Stanley Stella clothing believes in change in the textile industry to produce clothing a lot more responsibly. Their affiliation with the Fairwear Foundation and high standards certifications prove their commitment to sustainable and responsible practices.

    Sold Out

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about

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’, enlisting Bluey & 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 will be releasing a very limited run of exclusive Pink Rhythm T-shirts, alongside the two 12”s, both redesigned in the style of the original private presses.

credits

released November 12, 2021

Bass – Peter Mass
Drums – Paul Morgan
Electric Guitar – Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick
Keyboards - Jason Wright
Producer, Congas – John Rocca

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about

Freeez London, UK

Formed by producer and percussionist John Rocca, Freeez were a pioneering Brit-Funk group who had international hits throughout the 1980s. Their DIY releases from their early years, however, have remained hidden gems amongst their discography...

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