John Rocca ‘I Want It To Be Real’ (SOUTH STREET)

Readers of my reviews will know that I’m quite reluctant when it
comes to identifying someone as a legend but with John Rocca we all
can agree this is a fact. In the late 70s Rocca formed Freeez and
many jazzy funk classics like ‘Southern Freeez’, ‘I.O.U’ or ‘’Flying
High’ followed and the band remains to be one of the main resources
for funky music coming from the UK. After Freeez stopped putting out
music in the mid 80s, Rocca continued to release music under his
own name and a couple of other aliases, ‘I Want It To Be Real’, being
one the defining underground hits from 1984. What sounds like a
piano proto House track in its Original has now been transformed into
the here and now by a man who certainly knows how to rework
classic records as he has done exactly that hundred times before. We
of course speak about Cam Bianchetti aka Late Nite Tuff Guy, who
remixes ‘I Want It To Be Real’ with a big portion of respect, adds
some tweaks and bounces here and there and solid, strong House
beats on top of it. This is enough and ready is the version, many
people will start to play in their sets from now on for sure. The piano
still is the main element here and that’s a good thing as the melody is
very memorable and sticks to your head with the very first listen. The
track will also be available on vinyl, which is always a nice thing, even
more with such a classic track. Not to forget is another amazing
version of the track, which is included on the flip here: Farley
Jackmaster Funk’s 1987 remix, which stills sounds very fresh as well!

4 .5 out of 5

HOUSE

Reviewed by MANNIX