"Southern Freeez" produced by

John Rocca John Rocca (born 23 September 1960) is an English dance music performer, remixer and record producer, most well known for his band Freeez. History During the early 1980s, Rocca formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first ban ...

was the first single released by British dance band

Freeez Freeez were an English electronic music group, initially known as one of the UK's main jazz-funk bands of the early 1980s. Initiated by John Rocca, Freeez consisted of various musicians, originally with Rocca and others such as Andy Stennett ( ...

from their debut album, also entitled '' Southern Freeez''. The album was self-funded by member

and initially released on his Pink Rhythm record label before the group was signed to Beggars Banquet.

Song information

Freeez gained far higher recognition and sales with this record than with the previous single, " Keep in Touch". "Southern Freeez" reached number one in the blues and soul chart and spent two weeks at number 8 of the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

during early 1981 ("Keep In Touch" reached number 49). Guest Ingrid Mansfield Allman provided vocals. The titular Southern Freeez is attested to derive from a dance move, "The Freeze," used by clubbers in the "Royalty" club, Southgate in the early 1980s. A then-popular song, "The Groove" by

Rodney Franklin Rodney Franklin (born September 16, 1958) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Franklin was born in Berkeley, California, Berkeley, California in September, 1958. In 1964, aged six, he took jazz piano lessons at the Washington El ...

, has moments where the band drops out for a bar, and a style of freezing movement at these points took hold.

Remix

In 1987, the song was remixed and re-released by the label Total Control. The remix reached number No. 63 in the UK Singles Chart.

Cover versions

UK soul singer

Beverley Knight Beverley Knight (born Beverley Anne Smith, 22 March 1973) is an English recording artist and musical theatre actress. She released her first album, '' The B-Funk'', in 1995. Heavily influenced by American soul music icons such as Sam Cooke an ...

covered "Southern Freeez" for her 2011 album ''Soul UK''. A cover also appeared on the album ''Brasil Bam Bam Bam'' (2014) by Sonzeira, a band formed by

Gilles Peterson Gilles Jérôme Moehrle MBE (; born 28 September 1964), better known as Gilles Peterson (), is a French broadcaster, DJ, and record label owner. He founded the influential labels Acid Jazz and Talkin' Loud, and started his current label Brow ...

with Emanuelle Araujo and Valerie Etienne on vocals.

Track listing

UK single (1981 version)

# "Southern Freeez" - ''5:40'' # "Southern Freeez (LP Version)"

UK single (1987 version)

# "Southern Freeez (Dance Mix)" # "Southern Freeez (Avenger Mix)" # "Southern Freeez (7" Edit)"

Charts

1981

1987

Credits

Production

Musicians

(percussion, vocals) *

Peter Maas Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

(bass) * Andy Stennet (keyboards) *Paul Morgan (drums) *Gordon Sullivan (electric guitar) *Ingrid Mansfield Allman (vocals)

Song

*Written by

, Peter Maas and Andrew Stennett

References

External links

* Freeez on AMG.com * Biography abou
Freeez
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Freeez (Song) 1981 singles Freeez songs Post-disco songs Funk songs 1981 songs Beggars Banquet Records singles