Sheila - Acid Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krx28ufrn0
The Hacienda Mix is comparable to the Lil Louis classic and it's enormous. A straight up almost vocal-less bouncer, R&S were very wise to snap this up on license from Qwark. A swirling stunner complete with the change of speed towards the end and a similar structure drew inevitable comparisons to the most risque 12" to be played on radio since Frankie's 'Relax'.
Ecstacy Club - Jesus Loves The Acid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM
Absolute monster. It garnered a remix a few years later but it seriously didn't need it because this original mix is beyond compare. In its uncut form, this acid was a somewhat religious experience when pumped through the biggest bass-bins the floor could handle.
Tyree - Acid Over (House Sound of Chicago 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZI0bwuF_bU
A classic example of how some of the majors screwed up back in the day. Arguably the most superior version of the otherwise pedestrian Acid Over, it appeared exclusively on the pin-sharp double-album compilation HSOC3 on FFRR. This was a 12" in the making, packed full of acid tweaks and ominous drum rolls throughout. Untouchable and his best work.
Fast Eddie - Acid Thunder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6V9WBTJlhw
Vocals on house records? Who needs 'em? Actually, this DJ International banger doesn't sound too shady, even with the naff lyrics. It's that bass-line that does it here - if aliens could program an 808, they'd probably do this one. On one.
Lil Louis - French Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y8w2W1uy2A
The American producer and DJ issued one of the first acid-house albums although sadly not much of it was actually anything more than straight-up house. As indeed was this really, although with the strong sexual connotations it slotted in nicely with the amorous acid-taking clubbers.
Laurent Garnier - Acid Eiffel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdeVX7UjeIk
Not so much a track, more a widescreen travelogue that slowly built into an acid-smothered stomper, erring on the side of majestic. At over 13 minutes in length, you were guaranteed a guilt-free quarter of an hour's gurning and time to throw some serious shapes. Garnier - because he's worth it.
Phuture - Acid Tracks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKbLI8EufNo
No list of acid-house tracks would be worth a salt without another expansive stormer like this. Eleven minutes of every bleedin' drum pattern imaginable, whistles, hi-hats and intensive acid squeaks throughout. Almost the template by which other house records should be measured - just ask DJ Pierre who made the thing.
Bam Bam - Where's Your Child?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA
Even more sinister and apt in these awful times, this precautionary tale has a driving relentless beat, bassline and acid-break throughout, decorated liberally with vocoder scariness, smashed glass samples and some 'mwahahahaha' laughing. Oh and more acid. A stone-wall classic.
Robot Man - Do Da Doo (Plastikman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWVnRQHh4l4
Beautiful and menacing in equal measure, another thirteen minutes well spent with one of techno's kings - Richie Hawtin. Crikey, can he crank up the acid or what? Rather than do his usual minimal mix, he's turned this into a pounding house classic that rivals anything that came out of Chicago AND Detroit for that matter. Yep it's 1994 and most of the acid casuals had moved on but boy, did they miss out on this.
A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray (Rham Acid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihm0YpxJwbU
For me, the superior mix of this iconic tune straight out of Manchester and a Hacienda staple. Gerald's been in the underbelly of British dance music for nigh-on 25 years but hardly gets the props he should. House, acid, jungle, drum and bass, dark-wave - he's pretty much done it all without compromising his vision.
Maurice - This Is Acid (Original)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ius0C32Uw2M
Later converted into a 'ravey-davey' essential, this earlier deeper mix is as simple as it is effective. Can you feel it? Jack the house? Familiar themes and phrases that became second language to many, later on.
Phuture - Slam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuagec-maMI
Proof that DJ Pierre was more than a one-hit wonder and one of the principal producers of his time, 'Slam' packed in a lot of action during its short five minutes or so. Trax Records were so bang on the money - Frankie Knuckles, Virgo and this man turned out some belters.
Acid Wash - Love Trak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngE2vaxeCrs
Recently included on the terrific Soul Jazz Records compilation Mysterons Invade The Jackin Zone, 'Love Trak' is an unassuming roller that engages the brain one way and the feet the other, making this a classy acid-banger.
Lords of Acid - I Sit On Acid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGoLM2EOUwM
The Belgians got in on the acid act with a few convoluted variations on the theme, some awful, a fair few average and a handful that were top-notch such as this. Smutty like many Benelux releases on Beat Box, Dance Opera and BCM, I Sit On Acid came blessed with the subtle 'I Wanna Sit On Your Face' motif and a backing track that wouldn't sound amiss on a Tubeway Army album or a seedy strip-joint in Amsterdam or Brussels (perhaps).
Rodney Bakerr - Helicopter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_MxupdssMA
As basic a track as you could wish to jack to, Bakerr's minimal acid killer came as part of the Lost Tracks EP, recently reissued after twenty years out of print. D.I.Y. label Rockin' House knocked out loads of understated acid and house tunes in the '90s, most of which remain undiscovered.
Charles B - Lack Of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-35AnIPsGg
Perhaps not as 'acciiieed' as other from the era but 1988's Adonis-produced house-groover successfully fused acid-tweaks and soul chops together in the same way that Soul II Soul mixed downbeat, garage and soul together just a few months later. A Hacienda floor-filler and an essential timeless acid-house staple in any self-respecting DJ's crate. A shame it was distributed by a struggling minor company - it could very well have been a hit.
Major Problem - Acid Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D23ezXJMNQs
"I want you to get down on your hands and knees..." and "Show me your pussy.." guaranteed notoriety for this Belgian-released club hit from 1988 which may well have ridden the wave of European acid-house copycats - but boy, did it sound and feel good. One of several smutty records to come out of Northern Europe, in particular Belgium's New Beat scene, 'Acid Queen' still sounds as menacing and seedy as it did all those years ago.
Mystic - House Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQngGNtqkRQ&list=PLAD765539EB235567
Another from the Rockin House imprint, this time from the late '80s. Simplistic, insistent and basic in its approach, 'House Girl' had some nifty hi-hats and smash snares going on and a nagging acid-tweak throughout. Somebody needs to compile a decent compilation of this label and soon.
Mr Lee - Pump Up Chicago (Acid Mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-MJbJY1HSE
"This ain't no joke" indeed. A stepping stone of sorts between straight-edged electro, Chicago house and hip-house, Mr Lee nailed it with this Mike 'Hitman' Wilson throbber that tore up dancefloors during '88. A bona-fide classic, I've seen people body-pop to this on a square of lino outside shopping centres (Plymouth, I seem to remember).
808 State vs Aphex Twin - Flow Coma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm4B98DkySI
OK, not quite 'proper' acid but a bloody good try from Manchester and Cornwall's finest sound-manglers. Reissued on Rephlex, a label synonymous with acid-bleeps and techno-squeaks, this 12" embodies all the great and good about acid-house and those that continue to perform it to this day.
(image from markmoore.com)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krx28ufrn0
The Hacienda Mix is comparable to the Lil Louis classic and it's enormous. A straight up almost vocal-less bouncer, R&S were very wise to snap this up on license from Qwark. A swirling stunner complete with the change of speed towards the end and a similar structure drew inevitable comparisons to the most risque 12" to be played on radio since Frankie's 'Relax'.
Ecstacy Club - Jesus Loves The Acid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhSB_6EQ0DM
Absolute monster. It garnered a remix a few years later but it seriously didn't need it because this original mix is beyond compare. In its uncut form, this acid was a somewhat religious experience when pumped through the biggest bass-bins the floor could handle.
Tyree - Acid Over (House Sound of Chicago 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZI0bwuF_bU
A classic example of how some of the majors screwed up back in the day. Arguably the most superior version of the otherwise pedestrian Acid Over, it appeared exclusively on the pin-sharp double-album compilation HSOC3 on FFRR. This was a 12" in the making, packed full of acid tweaks and ominous drum rolls throughout. Untouchable and his best work.
Fast Eddie - Acid Thunder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6V9WBTJlhw
Vocals on house records? Who needs 'em? Actually, this DJ International banger doesn't sound too shady, even with the naff lyrics. It's that bass-line that does it here - if aliens could program an 808, they'd probably do this one. On one.
Lil Louis - French Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y8w2W1uy2A
The American producer and DJ issued one of the first acid-house albums although sadly not much of it was actually anything more than straight-up house. As indeed was this really, although with the strong sexual connotations it slotted in nicely with the amorous acid-taking clubbers.
Laurent Garnier - Acid Eiffel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdeVX7UjeIk
Not so much a track, more a widescreen travelogue that slowly built into an acid-smothered stomper, erring on the side of majestic. At over 13 minutes in length, you were guaranteed a guilt-free quarter of an hour's gurning and time to throw some serious shapes. Garnier - because he's worth it.
Phuture - Acid Tracks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKbLI8EufNo
No list of acid-house tracks would be worth a salt without another expansive stormer like this. Eleven minutes of every bleedin' drum pattern imaginable, whistles, hi-hats and intensive acid squeaks throughout. Almost the template by which other house records should be measured - just ask DJ Pierre who made the thing.
Bam Bam - Where's Your Child?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyxyRcZWBA
Even more sinister and apt in these awful times, this precautionary tale has a driving relentless beat, bassline and acid-break throughout, decorated liberally with vocoder scariness, smashed glass samples and some 'mwahahahaha' laughing. Oh and more acid. A stone-wall classic.
Robot Man - Do Da Doo (Plastikman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWVnRQHh4l4
Beautiful and menacing in equal measure, another thirteen minutes well spent with one of techno's kings - Richie Hawtin. Crikey, can he crank up the acid or what? Rather than do his usual minimal mix, he's turned this into a pounding house classic that rivals anything that came out of Chicago AND Detroit for that matter. Yep it's 1994 and most of the acid casuals had moved on but boy, did they miss out on this.
A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray (Rham Acid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihm0YpxJwbU
For me, the superior mix of this iconic tune straight out of Manchester and a Hacienda staple. Gerald's been in the underbelly of British dance music for nigh-on 25 years but hardly gets the props he should. House, acid, jungle, drum and bass, dark-wave - he's pretty much done it all without compromising his vision.
Maurice - This Is Acid (Original)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ius0C32Uw2M
Later converted into a 'ravey-davey' essential, this earlier deeper mix is as simple as it is effective. Can you feel it? Jack the house? Familiar themes and phrases that became second language to many, later on.
Phuture - Slam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuagec-maMI
Proof that DJ Pierre was more than a one-hit wonder and one of the principal producers of his time, 'Slam' packed in a lot of action during its short five minutes or so. Trax Records were so bang on the money - Frankie Knuckles, Virgo and this man turned out some belters.
Acid Wash - Love Trak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngE2vaxeCrs
Recently included on the terrific Soul Jazz Records compilation Mysterons Invade The Jackin Zone, 'Love Trak' is an unassuming roller that engages the brain one way and the feet the other, making this a classy acid-banger.
Lords of Acid - I Sit On Acid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGoLM2EOUwM
The Belgians got in on the acid act with a few convoluted variations on the theme, some awful, a fair few average and a handful that were top-notch such as this. Smutty like many Benelux releases on Beat Box, Dance Opera and BCM, I Sit On Acid came blessed with the subtle 'I Wanna Sit On Your Face' motif and a backing track that wouldn't sound amiss on a Tubeway Army album or a seedy strip-joint in Amsterdam or Brussels (perhaps).
Rodney Bakerr - Helicopter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_MxupdssMA
As basic a track as you could wish to jack to, Bakerr's minimal acid killer came as part of the Lost Tracks EP, recently reissued after twenty years out of print. D.I.Y. label Rockin' House knocked out loads of understated acid and house tunes in the '90s, most of which remain undiscovered.
Charles B - Lack Of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-35AnIPsGg
Perhaps not as 'acciiieed' as other from the era but 1988's Adonis-produced house-groover successfully fused acid-tweaks and soul chops together in the same way that Soul II Soul mixed downbeat, garage and soul together just a few months later. A Hacienda floor-filler and an essential timeless acid-house staple in any self-respecting DJ's crate. A shame it was distributed by a struggling minor company - it could very well have been a hit.
Major Problem - Acid Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D23ezXJMNQs
"I want you to get down on your hands and knees..." and "Show me your pussy.." guaranteed notoriety for this Belgian-released club hit from 1988 which may well have ridden the wave of European acid-house copycats - but boy, did it sound and feel good. One of several smutty records to come out of Northern Europe, in particular Belgium's New Beat scene, 'Acid Queen' still sounds as menacing and seedy as it did all those years ago.
Mystic - House Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQngGNtqkRQ&list=PLAD765539EB235567
Another from the Rockin House imprint, this time from the late '80s. Simplistic, insistent and basic in its approach, 'House Girl' had some nifty hi-hats and smash snares going on and a nagging acid-tweak throughout. Somebody needs to compile a decent compilation of this label and soon.
Mr Lee - Pump Up Chicago (Acid Mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-MJbJY1HSE
"This ain't no joke" indeed. A stepping stone of sorts between straight-edged electro, Chicago house and hip-house, Mr Lee nailed it with this Mike 'Hitman' Wilson throbber that tore up dancefloors during '88. A bona-fide classic, I've seen people body-pop to this on a square of lino outside shopping centres (Plymouth, I seem to remember).
808 State vs Aphex Twin - Flow Coma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm4B98DkySI
OK, not quite 'proper' acid but a bloody good try from Manchester and Cornwall's finest sound-manglers. Reissued on Rephlex, a label synonymous with acid-bleeps and techno-squeaks, this 12" embodies all the great and good about acid-house and those that continue to perform it to this day.
(image from markmoore.com)