14
COLDCUT
DOCTORIN’ THE HOUSE
(No.6, 1988)
Shortly before transforming Otis Clay’s
soul obscurity The Only Way Is Up into
a Hi-NRG chart-topper, Coldcut fi rst teamed
up with Yazz and her Plastic Population on
this sampling free-for-all. Howdy Doody’s
catchphrase, Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock
and the Justice League Of America theme are
just a handful of the curios that Matt Black
and Jonathan More threw in. Sure, Doctorin’
The House sounds like a kid playing with a
new toy, but it’s as enjoyable to hear as it
undoubtedly was to create.
2O
RAZE
JACK THE GROOVE
(No.20, 1986)
Kickstarting the trend of referencing
‘jack’ or ‘house’ in practically every
dance hit, US outfi t Raze’s debut single was
only the second time the genre had
penetrated the UK Top 20. However, by the
time it fi nished its chart run, Bruno Brookes
was introducing a new blend of repetitive
vocal loops, arpeggiated synths and 808
beats every Sunday. Jack The Groove sounds
rather basic to 2019 ears, but it helped pave
the way for all the more interesting twists and
turns that the scene would take.
13
D-MOB
WE CALL IT ACIEEED
(No.3, 1988)
The late London scenester Gary
Haisman once insisted that, contrary to
popular opinion, his high-pitched cries of
‘”acieeed” weren’t in any way, shape or form
advocating the use of illegal drugs. But
nevertheless, the kneejerk BBC of the 1980s
still banned D-Mob’s breakthrough hit for his
distinctive vocal contribution. Unsurprisingly,
the controversy helped propel the borderline
novelty song to No.3 behind the equally
elated Bobby McFerrin and the presumed-to-
be-squeaky-clean Whitney.19
JACK‘N’CHILL
THE JACK THAT HOUSE BUILT
(No.6, 1987)
Not to be confused with Tracie’s 1983
hit The House That Jack Built, this
cleverly-titled club classic was the fi rst entirely
instrumental house track to grace the UK Top- It was the brainchild of Surrey University
graduates Vlad Naslas and Ed Stratton, the
latter of whom would later found one of the
world’s fi rst major music sampling libraries.
And The Jack That House Built is a prime
example of how to assemble a dizzying array
of beats, basslines and daytime quiz show
sound effects into a bona fi de fl oorfi ller.
12
FARLEY ‘JACKMASTER’ FUNK
& JESSIE SAUNDERS
LOVE CAN’T TURN AROUND
(No.10, 1986)
The genesis of the house music
crossover. Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley may have
been the fi rst to mould Isaac Hayes’ disco
favourite I Can’t Turn Around into a Chicago
house anthem. But it was Farley ‘Jackmaster’
Funk who took the idea and ran with it,
changing its lyrical narrative from everlasting
love to heartbreak, adding an infectious vocal
hook and allowing guest vocalist Darryl
Pandy to showcase his fl amboyance in all
its glory.18
SIMON HARRIS
BASS (HOW LOW CAN YOU GO)
(No.12, 1988)
Chuck D’s bark of “Bass” on the
a capella version of Public Enemy’s
Bring The Noise is reportedly one of the most
sampled seconds in music history. And it’s
Simon Harris who’s credited with lifting it fi rst.
In fact, Bass (How Low Can You Go) was
apparently fi nished within an hour of Bring
The Noise‘s world premiere on Tim
Westwood’s Capital Radio show. And
Harris’ quick thinking sure paid off – the
track also made it to No.3 on the Billboard
Dance chart.80 s HOUSE HITS TOP 20