Freeze & John Rocca - Southern Freeez / Variations on a Theeem

Double LP on marbled splatter vinyl!

Reissue of the first album by the legendary and influential U.K. jazz-funk band!

Plus brand-new tracks by John Rocca!

Beggars Arkive is excited to reissue the classic Freeez album Southern Freeez — originally released 40 years ago, along with new works by John Rocca. This is a 2XLP, remastered, on marbled and splatter vinyl. The album cover features award-winning Arctic photography by Florian Ledoux.

Led by John Rocca, Freeez were a legendary group from London, known as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s...aka Brit funk. Their debut album Southern Freeez was initially released in 1980 and contains the hit song "Southern Freeez" with guest vocals by Ingrid Mansfield Allman. John Rocca initially released the album it on his own label Pink Rythm before being signed to Beggars Banquet.

A few years later, they had even more hits. Their biggest, "IOU," was a No. 1 club single and was written and produced by renowned producer Arthur Baker with lyric contributions and lead vocals by Rocca and remixed by Jellybean Benitez and Baker. It was a hit in the U.S. & U.K. and was used in the legendary breakdancing film Beat Street. "Pop Goes My Love" was another hit. Rocca also had a hit as a solo artist in 1984 with "I Want It To Be Real," and his solo work under the pseudonym Midi Rain reached cult status and led to yet another No. 1 U.S. Billboard Club Play dance floor hit with "Shine" in 1993.

Forty years after the original release, John was inspired to go back to his roots and pulled together some of the work that he had been experimenting with throughout the years and enlisted some musicians (including his two nephews) to play on the tracks. He has also re-recorded a new version of "Southern Freeez" with himself on lead vocals. While Freeez may not be a household name, if you know, you know. They have been sampled many times, by artists including Jamie xx, Coolio, Brandy, Madlib and more

Side 1

1. Mariposa

2. Caribbean Winter

3. Easy on the Onions

4. Sunset

Side 2

1. Flying High

2. Southern Freeez

3. Roller Chase

4. First Love

5. Finale

Side 3

1. Southern Freeez 20+20

2. Feeel the Music

3. Simple Breeez

Side 4

1. My Name Is Love Part 1 + 2

2. Slow Down (ordinary dawn)

3. Rain

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