Freeez -

Freeez was an English funk band that released three albums and assorted singles on Beggars Banquet between 1980 and 1985.

Members: John Rocca (vocals, percussion), Andy Stennett (keyboards), Peter Mass (bass), Paul Morgan (drums), Gordon Sullivan (guitar), Ingrid Mansfield Allman (vocals), Alison Gordon (vocals), Jason Wright (keyboards), Everton McCalla (drums), George Whitmore (saxophone, flute), Jean-Paul Maunick [aka Bluey] (guitar)

Freeez were an English jazz-funk and electro group formed in North London by percussionist-vocalist John Rocca. The group released three studio albums on Pink Rythm and Beggars Banquet between 1980 and 1985. Freeez reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart with “Southern Freeez” and No. 2 with “I.O.U.”

Background

Freeez formed in North London in 1978 around percussionist-vocalist John Rocca, keyboardist Andy Stennett, bassist Peter Maas, and drummer Paul Morgan. Rocca worked at the King’s Road record importer Disc Empire, where he handled incoming American soul, R&B, and jazz-funk releases.

Rocca financed the first Freeez recording from personal savings and a loan from his grandmother. He booked an overnight session at a West End studio with Maas, Morgan, keyboardist Jason Wright, and guitarist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, who later formed Incognito. Rocca directed the session and produced the resulting “Keep in Touch.”

Rocca established Pink Rythm to issue the recording. His brother Danny Rocca designed the label, and the group spray-stencilled the Freeez name onto one thousand plain sleeves. Calibre, a Pye subsidiary, licensed the single after its independent release. “Keep in Touch” entered the UK Singles Chart in June 1980 and reached No. 49.

A. “Keep in Touch” (6:50)
B. “Keep in Touch” (edit) (5:48)

Pink Rythm followed with the paired non-album recordings “Stay” and “Hot Footin’ It.”

A. “Stay” (6:12)
B. “Hot Footin’ It” (5:55)

Rocca financed a further set of recordings after London labels declined the unfinished material. He completed the album and pressed an initial run of one thousand copies. Strong specialist-chart sales brought interest from Beggars Banquet, which acquired the album for wider release.

Southern Freeez

Freeez issued their debut album, Southern Freeez, in late 1980 on Pink Rythm. Beggars Banquet reissued the album on January 30, 1981.

The album features percussionist-vocalist Rocca, bassist Peter Maas, keyboardist Andy Stennett, and drummer Paul Morgan. Guitarist Gordon Sullivan joins reedist Geoff Warren and brass players David Allison and Lawrie Brown. Ingrid Mansfield Allman shares the lead singing on “Southern Freeez,” with Stennett directing the horn parts. Freeez share group credit except on “Flying High,” written by Maas, and “Southern Freeez,” credited to Stennett, Rocca, and Maas.

“Mariposa” simmers with moody Latin inflections. “Caribbean Winter” glides with supple dancefloor syncopation. “Easy on the Onions” darts around a frenetic bass figure and crisp percussive accents. “Sunset” sways beneath group harmonies and a buoyant repeating figure. “Southern Freeez” shuffles through handclaps beneath Ingrid Mansfield Allman’s coolly poised singing.

A1. “Mariposa” (5:40)
A2. “Caribbean Winter” (5:15)
A3. “Easy on the Onions” (2:37)
A4. “Sunset” (4:38)

B1. “Flying High” (5:30)
B2. “Southern Freeez” (5:40)
B3. “Roller Chase” (5:07)
B4. “First Love” (4:22)
B5. “Finale” (1:59)

Freeez recorded Southern Freeez during 1980 at Vineyard Studios in London with Rocca as producer and Simon Sullivan as engineer. Paul Burry assisted Sullivan. Rocca retained the independent production method established on the first two Pink Rythm singles.

Bob Ferris designed the gatefold sleeve; Danny Rocca designed the record label.

Beggars Banquet issued “Southern Freeez” in January 1981 with the album version on the reverse. The single reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

The label followed in April with “Flying High” (b/w a remix of “Flying High”), which reached No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart.

Southern Freeez reached No. 17 on the UK Albums Chart.

Beggars Banquet issued the first expanded CD edition in 2011 as a two-disc set with 12-inch versions, remixes, demos, and notes by Rocca and Maas. The label paired a remastered edition with new Rocca recordings on the 2020 double album Southern Freeez/Variations on a Theeem.

Non-Album Singles, 1981–82

Beggars Banquet issued “Anti-Freeez (Set Me Free)” in October 1981, backed with “Mountain Man,” a non-album Freeez exclusive. Rocca and Ian Little produced the single.

A. “Anti-Freeez (Set Me Free)” (3:59)
B. “Mountain Man” (4:16)

The label followed in June 1982 with “One to One,” produced by Mark Arthurworrey and remixed by Paul O’Duffy. Its instrumental version occupied the reverse.

A. “One to One” (3:00)
B. “One to One” (instrumental version) (3:16)

Internal disputes separated Rocca and Maas after the first album. Freeez regrouped during 1982 and selected New York producer Arthur Baker for the next sessions. Beggars Banquet financed the group’s travel and accommodation in Manhattan.

Gonna Get You

Freeez released their second album, Gonna Get You, in October 1983 on Beggars Banquet.

The album retains Rocca, Stennett, Maas, and drummer Everton McCalla within Baker’s electronic production. Keyboard players and programmers Fred Zarr, John Robie, and Andy Barrett Schwartz joined the New York sessions. Tina B supplied backing parts and shared the credit for “Freezin’.”

“I.O.U.” surges through a bright synth figure and struck glockenspiel. Chopped “A-E-I-O-U” syllables answer falsetto peaks from John Rocca.

A1. “We’ve Got the Juice” (6:19) – Stennett, Baker, McCalla, Rocca, Maas
A2. “Can’t Keep My Love” (5:05) – Andy Barrett, Schwartz, Lotti Golden
A3. “Love’s Gonna Get You” (5:58) – Stennett, Baker, McCalla, Rocca, Maas
A4. “Pop Goes My Love/Scratch Goes My Dub” (8:10) – Baker, Maas, Rocca, Stennett

B1. “I.O.U.” (8:26) – Baker
B2. “Freezin’” (6:08) – Stennett, Baker, McCalla, Maas, Tina B
B3. “Can You” (5:51) – McCalla
B4. “Watch Me” (5:40) – Maas, Rocca, Baker

Sessions spanned July through December 1982 at Unique Recording, Vanguard Studios, Daily Planet, and Zarr Sound in New York. Arthur Baker produced, arranged, and mixed the album with a rotating engineering team that included Fred Zarr, John Robie, Jay Burnett, Frank Heller, and Andy Wallace.

Baker entered the project after producing the 1982 Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force single “Planet Rock.” His adjacent work included recordings by Rockers Revenge, Planet Patrol, and New Order. Robie devised the principal synthesizer figure for “I.O.U.,” while John “Jellybean” Benitez joined Baker and Robie for its final mix.

Arthur Baker devised the sleeve concept, which the London Design Partnership developed for the finished package.

Beggars Banquet issued “I.O.U.” on June 17, 1983 (b/w “I Dub U”); an alternate 12-inch edition added the non-album recording “We Got the Jazz.” The single reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance/Disco chart. It also reached No. 13 on the US R&B chart.

The video places Rocca among young dancers, skateboarders, and BMX riders in a staged New York street setting.

“Pop Goes My Love” followed in October 1983, backed with “Scratch Goes My Dub.” The single reached No. 26 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the US Dance chart, and No. 47 on the US R&B chart.

Beggars Banquet issued “Love’s Gonna Get You” in November with an untitled alternate mix on the reverse. The single reached No. 80 on the UK Singles Chart.

Gonna Get You reached No. 46 on the UK Albums Chart.

Beggars Banquet reissued the album in 2011 as an expanded two-disc edition with single edits, extended mixes, dubs, and unreleased variants.

Lineup Change

Freeez separated after the promotion for Gonna Get You. Rocca and Stennett recorded experimental electronic material as Pictures and later worked together in Pink Rhythm. Rocca also released the 1984 solo single “I Want It to Be Real,” which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance chart.

Maas revived the Freeez name during 1984 with returning drummer Paul Morgan. Keyboardist-programmer Louis Smith and singer-guitarist Billy Crichton completed the new quartet.

Idle Vice

Freeez released their third album, Idle Vice, on August 30, 1985 through Beggars Banquet.

The album introduces Smith and Crichton alongside Maas and Morgan. Crichton handles the principal singing and guitar parts, while Smith manages keyboards and programming. Crichton, Smith, Morgan, and Maas share credit for all nine songs.

A1. “V.I.P.S.” (3:37)
A2. “The Other Side” (4:22)
A3. “Within These Walls” (4:34)
A4. “Volunteers” (4:39)
A5. “Train of Thoughts” (4:26)

B1. “Naked as a Razor” (3:56)
B2. “That Beats My Patience” (3:44)
B3. “One Second Chance” (4:14)
B4. “Spy of Baghdad” (3:44)

Freeez recorded Idle Vice at Abbey Road Studio Two in London with producer-engineer Peter Wilson. Marc Berry, who had worked on the engineering team for Gonna Get You, co-produced “The Other Side,” “Train of Thoughts,” and “One Second Chance” and shared the engineering work.

Wilson had recently co-produced Café Bleu by the Style Council and worked concurrently on the group’s 1985 album Our Favourite Shop.

Inhouse Outhouse designed the cover; photography by Eric Watson and Malcolm Heywood.

Beggars Banquet preceded the album in February 1985 with “That Beats My Patience,” backed with “All the Way,” a non-album Crichton–Smith–Morgan–Maas exclusive. The 12-inch joined “All the Way” to the additional non-album recording “Tell Me What to Do.”

A. “That Beats My Patience” (5:50)
B1. “All the Way”
B2. “Tell Me What to Do”

“Train of Thoughts” followed in July 1985 (b/w “One Second Chance”). Berry produced both album-derived recordings.

Milestone issued Idle Vice on CD in 2020.

Later Activity

Citybeat issued new “I.O.U.” mixes during 1987. The reworked single reached No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart. Total Control released a separate remix of “Southern Freeez,” which reached No. 63 on the same chart.

Rocca continued with Pink Rhythm and recorded electronic dance material as Midi Rain. The 1993 Midi Rain single “Shine” reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance chart.

Beggars Banquet compiled the group’s recordings on the 1993 collection Freeez Frame! The Best of Freeez.