House music originated in Chicago during the 1980s, when DJs and Producers began experimenting with classic disco tracks by adding longer intros and deeper basslines to create the distinctive 'four to the floor' beat that has become synonymous with the genre. Artists including Frankie Knuckles and Marshall Jefferson helped pioneer the new sound, known as Chicago house, that was mainly reserved for the underground club-culture, but as the scene grew so did the popularity of the music with many of the artists releasing a string of tracks that were to become huge hits with DJs and audiences globally.
Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk is widely credited as achieving the first house hit in the UK with the iconic 'Love Can't Turn Around' that paved the way for others to follow and in 1987 it was Steve 'Silk' Hurley who reached number one in the UK with his house anthem 'Jack Your Body' . This single was the catalyst for a huge influx of house music tracks with many hitting the UK charts. Songs like 'Good Life' – Inner City, 'Promised Land' – Joe Smooth and 'French Kiss' – Lil Louis became worldwide hits and inspired a number of spin-off styles including acid house and Italian house, the latter spawning the smash hit 'Ride On Time' by Black Box.
The end of the decade also saw the emergence of the superstar DJ / Producer with many of them being part of the booming Ibiza club scene. DJs, including Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold, brought the Ibiza vibe back to UK clubs and radio, pioneering the house sound to new audiences. Legendary Ibiza clubs including Amnesia were hugely influential, playing house and Balearic tracks mixed with rock, pop and disco to create innovative mixes and take house music to euphoric levels.
It is the music of this era that many DJs agree delivered the greatest house anthems of all time, such as tracks from Masters At Work, Joey Negro, Celeda, Ethics and Tall Paul which have all cemented their place in house music folklore. Throughout the ‘90s the house scene also impacted on mainstream artists including Madonna and Janet Jackson, both of whom would often include house-influenced remixes with their new releases. But it was the new house music acts who were pushing through and beginning to dominate the charts, including Robin S, Nightcrawlers, Barbara Tucker and The Original, all of whom recorded influential and iconic house tracks.
Club DJs were relishing the various versions of each track available to them, with many forgoing the mainstream remix to play one of the others on the 12” vinyl or CD release. Meanwhile, as promo services grew, so did the demand for the latest house tracks and exclusive remixes. Recent years have seen new house music styles emerge, including deep and tropical, with artists and DJs becoming huge stars. House music is a very broad church and has come a long way since it first appeared on the scene in the ‘80s.
It has taken many different paths along the way but the heritage remains influential and, whilst house music trends come and go, it is the original formula, along with the classic anthems, that remains popular to this day. The DJ Playlist: By Richard Lee Richard is the Label Manager for Mastermix and heads up the development team for The Music Factory Entertainment Group but still finds time to DJ at selected events across the UK & Europe. Presents : HOUSE 1 \ \ Passion (Original Version) – Amen 2 \ \ Music Is The Answer (Danny Tenaglia Tourism Remix) – Celeda 3 \ \ Offshore (Disco Citizens Mix) – Chicane 4 \ \ Let Me Think About It (Club Mix) – Ida Corr vs Fedde Le Grand 5 \ \ Sunday Shouting (Original Mix) – Johnny Corporate 6 \ \ So In Love With Y ou (Full Intention Mix) – Duke 7 \\ To The Beat Of The Drum (La Luna) (Original 12”) – Ethics 8 \ \ Saturday (Full Intention Mix) – 57th St.
9 \ \ The Cure & The Cause (Dennis Ferrer Remix) – Fish Go Deep 10 \ \ Fired Up! (Angel's Dddeep Vocal Mix) – Funky Green Dogs 11 \ \ Good Life (Original 12”) – Inner City 12 \ \ Y eke Y eke (Hardfloor Remix) – Mory Kante 13 \ \ Y our Love (Original 12”) – Frankie Knuckles 14 \ \ French Kiss (Original 12”) – Lil Louis 15 \ \ Love Story (Tim Deluxe Remix) – Layo & Bushwacka! 16 \ \ To Be In Love (MAW 12”) – Masters At Work 17 \ \ Itza Trumpet Thing (Original 12”) – Montana vs.
Trumpet Man 18 \ \ Make A Move On Me (Joey Negro Club Mix) – Joey Negro 19 \ \ Must Be The Music (Joey Negro Club Mix) – Joey Negro feat. Tarka Boom 20 \ \ Runaway (Armand Van Helden Remix) – Nuyorican Sound feat. India 21 \ \ I Love U Baby (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) – The Original 22 \ \ Shined On (Bini & Martini Mix) – Praise Cats 23 \ \ Theme From S'Express (Original 12”) – S'Express 24 \ \ Promised Land (Original 12”) – Joe Smooth 25 \ \ Rhythm Is A Dancer (Rollo & Sister Bliss Remix) – Snap!
26 \ \ Fade (Grant Nelson Remix) – Solu Music feat. Kimblee 27 \ \ Strings Of Life (Stringer On My Own Remix) – Soul Central feat. Kathy Brown 28 \ \ Rok Da House (Original Mix) – Tall Paul 29 \ \ Get Down (Kenny Dope Original) – Todd Terry All Stars 30 \ \ Everybody Dance (The Don's Original Mix) – Barbara Tucker House Legally download all of these tracks for just £6.50 from: [Using code: PMCC171]
