I must say that this has been the hardest thing I've done. If I were to do this again it would be near enough the same but possibly not the same order. Here goes then, from 10 down to 1.
10 Joe Smooth Feat Anthony Thomas DJ International 1987
Can't believe its taken this long to get a DJ International track represented. Rocky Jones was no Larry Sherman, he didn't rip off his artists or cheap out on his pressing either. It also helps that this is the quintessential Joe Smooth track as well. Gospel for those who aren't church people, and just edged out Inside My Mind which was down for the longest time on my list. Oh and for some reason, I never knew this got a video to it either.
9 Roy Davis Jnr Feat Peven Everett Gabriel Large Music 1996
For those wondering what edged out Inside My Mind, its this. I know we could have had some of his acid stuff as part of Phuture or independent releases on Sex Trax. But its this quality slice of garage house and one of those tracks that split UK / Speed Garage / Two Step from the old US Garage that had been bubbling along since the late 80's. Gabriel with its horns and funk groove so deserves its spot on here, and I'm happy to give this a go every time.
8 The Night Writers Let the Music Take Control Danica 1987
One of those epic cowbell work outs, and epic synth work tracks that will take you there. Frankie Knuckles and I think Ricky Dillard (now a preacher) on vocals. It got updated in the 90's thanks to the rave boom, with a hardcore version on FFRR. My own copy came from a water damaged collection tossed out at a local boot sale last year, we also got Promised Land from the same batch. One of the greatest finds ever and a star track.
7 Sweater On Polo The Creation L.I.E.S. 2026
This is the most modern track on here. Terrence Woodward A.K.A. Sweater on Polo, is know for harking back to the classic era of house and with the Creation channels Larry Heards Mr Fingers project for this old skool heater. Cost me £35 from Phonica, and I have to say worth every penny. Half the joys is working out the influences, a bit of Faces Drums here or Fingers Inc there, and when you're done just sitting back to enjoy it as a whole.
6 Mr Fingers Feat Mr White Sun Can't Compare Alleviated 2006
I know I've had to lay off putting acid tracks on here, I promise this won't be the last on here or even the last Larry Heard track. You should all know what that is. Anyway acid with vocals in are not common and one's done in the mid 2000s even rarer. To hit the jackpot and make it sound as if it came out in 1988, that is the real genius of this track. I'm currently listening to a remake of this by some guy and it holds up so well. For a modern take also by Larry Heard, there's a remix of a Hercules and Love Affair track that sounds remarkably similar I've seen floating around instaspam, that seems to hit all the right buttons.
5 Fast Eddie My Melody DJ International 1988
For piano acid what do you go with? Acid Over by Tyree which got a release or this from the DJ Fast Eddie which is just an album track. You still get epic pianos and a tetchy acid bass roll in this, but damn, if it doesn't just kick so much ass. I know I could have gone with Acid Thunder but with acid house I have to show restraint, its my first love, but this track is so mental and well produced, its got to be in.
4 Jamie Principle Bad Boys Original Demo by Ron Hardy Trax rerelease 1986, this version 1983
I know people want to call everything queer in relation to the gay community, but this, this is the antithesis of the pretentious, sexless appropriators of modern wokery, that turn the rainbow into grey sludge. A song about picking up a rent boy for sex shouldn't be a banger, but the original demo version is far away one of those goosebump tracks. Full of raw sex appeal and with nods to Prince and now I see it Patrick Cowley in his Fox porno score days. One for all those folks lost to AIDS from the original scene.
3 Adonis Lost In The Sound Jack Trax 1988
A track I always feel is way before its time. And yes I know there are more famous tracks by the acid buddha. The Poke, Lack of Love, Te Adoro Acido on Mathematics. But its this machine track I come back to. I wonder if there are any more edits / mixes of this as Adonis kept all his own recordings and like Gene Living In a Land Hunt is a regular pack rat for preserving.
2 Mr Fingers Can You Feel It Desire 1989 Originally Trax 1986
In the beginning there was Jack and Jack had a groove, while one day viciously throwing down in his box declared let there be house. The words of Chuck D were not originally on this but hearing them out loud you know that bassline would creep in. Jack indeed is the key to the wiggly worm and the one who Whops your body, both dances and for the life of me would love to see someone dance the Whop. I know its etymology is from Italo which is a backbone of house, maybe some old heads could dance it for us on Youtube for old times sake.
1 David Guetta Feat Bebe Rexha Blue Yeah, no.
1 Jamie Principle Your Love Persona 1984 Original, 1986 Frankie Knuckles version.
Sorry, couldn't resist. But you all knew this is coming. Whether its the original version, You got the love bootleg with Candi Staton and John Truelove that gets played a lot. A credible remake by the Horrors and whatever the fuck possessed Florence and the Machine to cover this. This is near enough the perfect crystallization of what house is. The original with its raw loops and vocal, and Frankies version with the synth line everyone knows.
And You got the love the mash up to end all mash ups, still gets played on heart and proved what a good ear Eren's / John Truelove had.
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