Top 50 greatest house tracks of all time pt4

Finally we're down to the top 20. Every track here has earned its place here.

20 Robert Owens I'll Be Your Friend 1991 Perfecto

Of course we start off with one of the best house vocalists of all time. Needs no introduction of course, but suffice to say every track he's sung on is a certified banger.

19 Thee Madkatt Courtship Pray For a Star 1999 FFRR

Felix Stallings JR, better known as Felix Da Housecat. I had some hesitancy whether to put this or In Thee Dark We Live from Aphrohead on here but this edges it out. Its a wistful house sung by an uncredited Harrison Crump and all the tracks on this single are worthy of your time. Felix himself also sung on Pierre's Pfantasy Club Dreamgirl when he was just fifteen. 

18 Florian Kupfer Feelin' L.I.E.S. 2012

Either this or DJ Seinfeld Winona for an example of how new artists can make, old school house. The drums and bass complete with hi-hat ride are its back bone, but when the vocal drops in then its magic.

17 Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomie Tears FFRR 1989

I'm not a real good actor, I've had so many tears over this track over the years. It's another Robert Owens vocal masterpiece, with the bass coming through strong along with the vocals. It proves such a foundation house can be for a good singer.

16 Velma Wright You're Not Right Supertronics 1989

Telstar's Deep Heat compilation series has given me a few bangers over the years. The Today's People track from part one and this. A house on fire vocal performance of a woman catching her partner in the act with his lover. The drum programming alone along with piano is just another reason this has to be included.  

15 Pleasure Pump Fantasize Me State Street Records 1987

One I remember from back in the day and again another vocal performance tour de force. But this time there is some argument who sung on this. Most of State Street releases were done by Carl Bias Edward Get Down Crosby and Liz Torres, but apparently this isn't Liz on vocals here and no one knows who is. 

14 Humanoid Tonight Radical Records / Westside 1989 

The highest placed UK house release here and its one that I'll remember from time to time. Humanoid is of course Brian Dougans who would release as Humanoid Stakker and Cry Baby which is always included on acid compilations. But its this track that draws me back, Sharon Benson on vocals and a more acid house feel to this overall than the more acid work outs of Slam (with Phats from Phats and Small) Stakker and Cry Baby. 

13 NGLY Speechless Tape L.I.E.S 2018

Not the last L.I.E.S. label release on here and not the most recent either. This is an absolute chiller and is probably a borderline edge case of it being techno / deep house. Whatever the case, this is one deep dark track.

12 Victor Romeo Love Will Find A Way Dancemania 1988

This is from before the time Dancemania became a Ghetto House label but still released tracks that could kick ass. Its another acid style banger but with a heavy rimshot / hi-hat based rhythm track. The vocals by Letreece Brown are just the icing on the cake. One to track down.

11 Moodymann I Can't Quit This Feeling When It Hits 1996 After Midnight Records

House is done well when its just a simple beat and a vocal or cleverly used sample. In this case its a loop from Chic and a few understated keys and drums but Moodymann AKA Kenny Dixon JR has crafted an epic around this. Theo Parrish for his Ugly Edits are another recommendation .What am I gonna do?

Top 50 greatest house tracks of all time pt3

 So we reach halfway in our list and its getting harder and harder to separate the good from the greats, but let it be known that these are not middling tracks, but would be classics (and indeed are) if the top twenty weren't absolute bangers.

29 Daft Punk Da Funk Soma Quality Recordings 1995

First saw this on MTV with the iconic vid to this, think of a man with a dogs head walking around the streets with a boombox. Knew I'd have to get it straight away when that monster acid line came in full force. I know folks would go with around the world or bigger harder faster stronger. But the above makes it my choice. Proves once and for all that the French could do house. 

28 A Guy Called Gerald Spend Some Time Demo 1988 ish

Part of a bunch of rarities that were released in 2006 as Attick Attack and file only at that. You get the much better known Voodoo Ray as a demo here but this is the one. 9 minutes of minimal voice and 808 drums distilled down into something raw and dubbed out. Exactly what house should be.

27  Virgo / ME School Hall  Trax 1989

There used to be a place in Bromley in the 90's that used to sell over stock tapes down by Bromley South station, where I picked this up and the Fingers Inc album. A classic of deep house by Merwyn Sanders, all deep basslines and sparky hats. Rush Hour put out a full album of this and the unreleased stuff he did if you want more.

26 Bipo Why Jump Street 1988

One of those records you hear and can't work out what is going on. Sure its a woman lamenting her man cheating on her. But listen on its with a guy, he's given up the love of his life for a fling with a fella. Also I'm never quite sure if he calls her queer or green in this, which only feeds into its ambiguity. Needless to say this is a personal fave. 

25 Fingers Inc Mystery Of Love Alleviated 1985

A monster of a bassline and either Harry Dennis or Robert Owens on vocals. I can feel it chills down my spine taking me there. No drugs, just that bass and piano taking me up. And this is only halfway.

24 The Beloved The Sun Rising WEA 1989

Another Ibiza track and one based on a sample of O Euchari by Hildegard of Bingen. There are later mixes that are drum and bass or make it more chilled out. But the originals on WEA from 89 are where it's at for me. 

23 808 State Pacific State Creed Records 1988

I know I should have gone with their acid tracks from Newbuild or the Rephlex comp Prebuild of demos from the mid 2000's. But its this from Quadrastate, I'm on about. Purely because I heard it in Ibiza from a bar in Es Cana that had a guy playing Marley on ukulele (he was terrible) and this came on one night as I went past. Everything clicked and for a brief second my life didn't suck.

22  James Jackrabbit Martin Only Wanted to be YOTON 1988

This guy died stupidly young in 1990, leaving a body of work that should be studied further. Only wanted to be is on here but his stuff as Jacquarius felt like tracks that could have come out in the mid 2000's his acid skills were that advanced. There is a retrospective in 5mag I'll link about him. 

21 Frankie Knuckles Whistle Song Virgin 1991

The first entry from the one and only Frankie Knuckles. Known as one of the house pioneers where he had residency at a club called the Warehouse. House can be mellow and chilled as well as for getting on the floor and this track emphasises this. The "flute" used to good effect, worked to an inch of its life as the beat plays under it. One of the best bent pioneers of all. 

Crimson Flames

 A quick update as we'll be continuing our top 50 countdown on Sunday, but you have a new book to get through.

The Crimson Flame is quite the ride, the boys head to Arizona to work on a ranch after saving a rancher called McVay from having his priceless ruby stolen from him. They also head to Thailand, after his jewel was stolen and spend a time trekking through the jungle after the crooks, before the case leads back to Arizona.

The most strangest thing though now is that it starts off in New York with the boys planning to look over the city from the top of the World Trade Centre!

Also there is a very minor difference between the two versions where it all the cattle brands become four cattle brands.

You can read the original here and the UK version here. 

top 50 house tracks of all time 2

So here is part 2 of  my top 50 house tracks. Its been hard to narrow it down, but am confident that this is my final line up.

40 Plus One Feat Sirron It's Happening 1990 MCA

One of these forgotten old school tracks. Not really going to branch into Hip House on here though we do have entries for Tyree Cooper and Fast Eddie, but this UK entry with its rap is a fave of mine and can easily hold its own against what the US had to offer. 

39 Jaydee Plastic Dreams 1993 R&S Records

We band the word classic about many tracks, but this actually deserves it. I know its been released and remixed over the years but I'm talking about the original here and at a pinch the original Cha Cha slide that used this before it was released as it was. I guess it was the bass line in this, those notes you just know what it's going to be, and that makes it a classic.

38 Fet  et Moi Paris is For Lovers 2009 White Label

A lot of things happened in the mid 2000's that make it a dark time in dance music. America finally woke up to the fact that it made dance music and that clubland existed outside of its dreary rock / hip hop hegemony. Therefore it rebranded it as EDM an slur almost as bad as queer is for the gay community.

What you want to know is that this slaps, has a bootleg vocal by Justin Timberlake and a killer bassline again. Its a team up of two DJ's Fetisch and &me, and you may have seen the a version of this where a super car races through Paris.

37 River Ocean Feat India Love and Happiness (Yemaya y Ochun) Strictly Rhythm 1994

Love and Happiness by Al Green is one of those stand out tracks of soul, that somehow ended up as a house rework with an iconic bassline to rival that of Jaydees Plastic Dreams up above. While this Love and Happiness is not that love and Happiness its still one hell of a track, and shows what an absolute force Strictly Rhythm was back then. 

36 Marshall Jefferson Move Your Body The House Music Anthem Trax 1986

Mailman (former) Marshall Jefferson is the first person credited with introducing piano into the house music pantheon with this release on Trax. What I didn't know till recently is that the vocals on this was Curtis McClain. So this link above is a credit and a thanks to right that wrong.

35 A Man Called Adam Barefoot In The Head Big Life 1989

One of those leftfield house tracks that were definitely part of the Balearic sound, a mix of euro / disco and leftfield bits and pieces inspired by the white island Ibiza. I know I'm linking to the Head mix of this but, really any version will do. 

34  Arnold Jarvis Take Some Time Out Fourth Floor Records 1987

Another garage house heater, and along with Someday Ce Ce Rogers one of the foundations of that sound. Produced by Tommy Musto, who is better known for his collaborations with Frankie Bones, makes his long overdue mark on the list.

33 T.O.T. What U R DFM 1989

I'll rip myself off on this one as I wrote all those years ago is that it sounded like an E trip, beside the point, that at that time I had never tried ecstasy and TBH never really wanted to either. I guess acid should be on this list as we've already had one entry from Nathaniel Jones Phuture project. This track, along with 808 state proved the UK could produce great acid tracks. Vocals are by Carol Morley sister to journo Paul Morley according to Discogs reviews. 

32 Ron Hardy Shooting Stars 1984 ish, Reel To Reel?

An edit of Steve Silk Hurley I Don't Know done by the one and only Ron Hardy. One of those three big icons of house, an absolute fucking master of the decks. He was DJ at the Muzic Box club in Chicago and it has to be said a personal hero of mine. His attitude, how he'd make the crowd Jack, and work the floor and that he would play records from young producers just to see if it would work. Acid tracks, was the one along with others. Let's go Ronnie.

 31 DHS The House of God 1990 Hangman Records

A track that along with Radio Babylon by Meat Beat Manifesto that is way ahead of its time and rather like Plastic Dreams above, has never been bettered. I know that Green Velvet Preacherman did the whole evangelical preacher thing better, this came first. In hindsight he sounds a lot like Donald J Trump begging for cash on here. 

top 50 house tracks of all time pt1

So it begins. This is a response to a poor, poor article from billboard about their 50 best, and it took me a while to come up with something that doesn't suck balls. The original list in notepad had no order, so here is me imposing some chaos onto this long list. 

You all know the drill on how house got started. Young, Gay Black dudes needed a safe space to listen to disco without hassle and when the original tracks died out found Europe made their own style and when Italo faded, decided to copy and make their own Italo / disco inspired tracks for club use. 

50 Robin S Show me Love Stonebridge Club Mix  Champion Records 1993

One of those tracks that, though aren't super good, everyone knows. The original, released in 1990 is nothing like this and you can find it under her full name of Robin Stone. But it's Stonebridges rework of this that everyone knows. There's an ad out for pain relief on TV that has a choir rework of it.

49  L.I.A.M & Marcus Mixx You Got no Right Missing dog 1987

One of those tracks that go for stupid money on Discogs. Marcus Mixx is one of those guys that despite sticking to the raw, jacking sounds of house, never became a big name. There was this interview I remember where he was basically sleeping in his car as he was so broke.  TBH it could have been T.A.P or Jack that Dick but Got no Right edges it for me. 

48 4th Measure Men 4 You Area 10 1993

There has to be a Marc Kinchen track on this list and originally was going to be that Nightcrawlers track which was also used in an ad (Webuyanycar). But seeing as his sound never really varied over the last 30 years, this is probably the pinnacle of what he did. Along with Terrance Dixon one of the vanguards of house from Detroit.  

47 Hard Drive Deep Inside Strictly Rhythm 1993

Incredible that this should rank so low on the list. An utter anthem and just goes to show what the rest must be like. Also didn't really click that this is a Little Louie Vega production and ANY top 50 house has to have a M.A.W. track on it. 

46 Nexy Lanton You Too Live Music 1991

One of those absolute summer tracks and can remember this from the Steve Jackson show on Kiss FM back in 1993 or so where they took a break from disco classics to play this. Also the first non US track on the list being a excellent Italian production instead. 

45 Soho Hot Music Jazz Mix United Sound Of America 1990

A Pal Joey track I keep coming back to. Maybe its because there is a bit of Jazz in house along with the disco or maybe its the beats aren't your standard 4/4, it proves that house is a broad church. Oh and if you want more Pal Joey, then Earth People Reach up to Mars is also another track well worth your time. 

44 Tyree Cooper Nuthing Wrong Dancemania 1995

Another of those tracks that have a sample that bugged me for absolutely ages. Heard it years back and took me a good 30 or so years to find out its a Tyree Cooper track. Not only is it by the Supa Dupa Producer but its a Dancemania track too, possibly the heir to all the tracky, raw, ghetto style house and while Deeon or any of the other jit style DJs figure on the list, they are well worth your time to check out. 

43 Today's People Set Your Body Free KMS 1989

 A track that I come to from time to time and the link above is how I first heard it. On Telstar's old Deep Heat comps back in the day. A UK track that made it to Kevin Saunderson's techno label KMS which would normally put out Inner City tracks and the like. 

42 Lil Louis French Kiss FFRR 1988

I know this should be higher on the list, and I know that there are at least a couple more versions of this that should rank more as well that  Mathematics put out in the 2010's. Along with Josh Wink's version its one of those seminal staples of house. Fun fact his mum used to come to nearly every show he played. Will have to link to his Facebook as he posted a video on this.  

41 Phuture Rise From Your Grave Strictly Rhythm 1992

And if this was 13 year old me writing this Acid Tracks would get the shoe in at number one. But as I've gotten older, I've come to enjoy the other tracks Nathan Jones did more. Oh, you'll still get your dose of acid house on here, its been part of my DNA for so long that it can't not appear. But for now I'll sign off with this and rise from my "grabe" next Sunday with part 2. 

House and cabin.

 We have a few up coming announcements, someone did one of those best house tracks of all time and of course they are ignorant Americans so. I'm going to be doing my own, 50 of the best with a (Carl) bias towards the classics and such. Probably starting next week 10 per entry with a round up for each. 

Also Twatter has given us a daily dose of Hardy boys this time its the Sting of the Scorpion which I learned that it was (unverified) meant to be called the Stomp of the Elephant. Don't know how true this is but someone also posted that Brazil got a translation and gave us a link to his blog post. 

If you can read Portuguese you can read it here, or just let your browser auto translate. 

How to dismantle an atomic bomb

 With apologies to U2, this is of course Trapped at Sea, the seventy third book in the series. It may also be called keep on trucking as well, as the boys get jobs driving big lorries around in order to smoke out some truck hijackers.  Oh and be aware that yes they do get to dismantle an atomic bomb in this as their dealings leads them to Pirates Cove, an island somewhere in the Caribbean, where the freighter they are trapped on docks (well Atlantic island), and they find that the Uranium the trucks held! is being used to make bombs for a rogue nation.

Sorry for the big wall of text there, you did read that right, they get to dismantle an atomic bomb with the help of an evil professor.  There is, for once one difference between the two texts as the final sentence altered to omit the next book in the UK version. 

The text credits a Doctor William W. Ennis for help with the atomic research and radioactive side of things. A search brings up a William P Ennis, a war hero and a name Beavis and Butthead would chuckle over, but nothing for the former. I wonder if he was a friend of the author or someone he knew?

You can read them here and here.