Johnny Rocco Band - "Rocco" (1976)

Probably the best example of funky rock in an Australian release. There’s almost a Kool & the Gang sound in parts of this record with tracks like ‘Funky Max’ that really emphasise minimal vocal chants and a vamping groove all over a heavy rhythm section. Most tracks on the album are originals too, which makes for a nice change. There’s a great slow vocal funk number called ‘She’s Knocking At My Door’ that reminds me of the Meters’ ‘Just Kissed My Baby’, and probably has some New Orleans influence in it anyway. For me, the best cut on here is ‘Number Forty Nine.’ Clocking in at a tiny two minutes and forty-four seconds, the track spends almost half that letting a sweet flute line build and build before the band just drops the funk right on the one. With Jeremy Steig-style flute playing and a catchy chorus that keeps on even after the drums finish up at the end and then fades out, the track is over almost as soon as it begins, which is really quite a shame!