To accompany the launch of our NEW Acid House Love Blueprint and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Second Summer of Love we asked Ian (who spent much of his youth in the middle of a field somewhere near Bristol and who helped compile the Blueprint) to select his favourite acid house tracks.
WARNING - The following ten tracks (some of which are only available on YouTube) may bring back some (well happy) memories.
TRACK ONE: Phuture – The Creator (1988)
Most acid house lists would start with Phuture’s Acid Tracks. Conceived for Ron Hardy’s Music Box in 1985-6, Acid Tracks named the genre. However, it was this other by Phuture, discovered on a Jack Trax compilation early in 1988 that introduced me to the strange sounds of acid house. “…this is the sound we call acid house, acid house, acid house, acid house…”
TRACK TWO: Armando – 151 (1988)
Straight-up classic Chicago acid house.
TRACK THREE: 808 State – Flow Coma (1988)
It took quite a while for Bristol (where I was brought up) to cotton-on to house music and acid house in 1988. Whilst the northerners were dancing to these tracks in clubs like the Hacienda I was listening to them on John Peel’s evening Radio 1 show :( John Peel played three tracks from 808 State’s album Newbuild in one show. This was the standout track and one of the best acid tracks of all time imho.
TRACK FOUR: A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray (1988)
An essential for any acid house list. Voodoo Ray stretched the acid house sound and pointed the way for future innovation by UK producers.
TRACK FIVE: Annette – Dream 17 (1988)
More Manchester inspired acid house, with a bit of a song attached and some female vocals. Annette’s not on the Blueprint, but members Mike Pickering, Simon Topping and Gerald Simpson (AKA A Guy Called Gerald) are.
TRACK SIX: Baby Ford – Oochy Koochy (F.U. Baby Yeh Yeh) (1988)
The soundtrack to Bristol’s first official Acid House night at The Western Star Domino Club put on by PrimeTime soundsystem.
TRACK SEVEN: Bam Bam – Where’s Your Child (1988)
Precursor to the darker sounds that were to come out of Hardcore, Jungle, Drum and Bass and Techno in the 1990s.
TRACK EIGHT: Hardfloor – Acperience 1 (1992)
The only track on this list not from 1988/9. The acid house sound of Armando and 808 State toughened up by German techno bods.
TRACK NINE: Ten City – That’s The Way Love Is (Acieed Remix) (1989)
Not a pure acid track, but an acid remix of a more conventional and soulful house sound.
TRACK TEN: Phuture – We Are Phuture (1988)
More than an acid house track. Phuture always felt like a proper band. The acid house equivalent of Public Enemy. This was the sound of the future – meteor showers, rocket ships, laser guns and acid music. Vocal by Phuture’s Earl “Spanky’ Smith RIP.
Acid House Love Blueprint is available to buy in either classic Royal Blue or Factory Yellow.