1. Fingers Inc. - Mystery of Love (DJ International, 1986)

(“First commercial success by Larry Heard with more than 30,000 sold records. But DJ International got the money and Larry went to Trax Records. Classic Chicago House Track.” - discogs.com; Robert Owens on vocals; check the totally original vocal placings - a few at the start, then lots at the end, nothing but House in-between; also, the stop-start 808 patterns - the true beginnings of House, 1986)

2. L.F.O. - What Is House? (Warp, 1990)

(“House. What is House? Technotronic, KLF, or something you just live in? To me, House is Phuture, Pierre, Fingers, Adonis, etc. The pioneers of the hypnotic groove: Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode and the Yellow Magic Orchestra. This [mix] is dedicated to you.”)

3. L.F.O. - L.F.O., The Leeds Warehouse Mix, (Warp, 1990)

(“The bass was so low on this track that many club speakers blew when 1st playing this in 1990 - but then again LFO *does* stand for Low Frequency Oscillator!” - discogs.com)

4. The Reese Project - I Believe, Laurent Garnier Frenchman in Stoke-on-Trent Ambient Chill Baseroom Mix, (Network, 1992)

(Paris meets Detroit in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

5. Adonis - No Way Back (Trax, 1986)

(“One of the greatest records of the early Chicago house scene sees an official re-issue on the newly relaunched Trax label. This is one of those records that it's sort of pointless to pontificate on, but I got a big mouth and record-nerd ego to match, so here goes. Possessed of one of the fattest, juiciest 303 basslines ever, "No Way Back" is a true masterpiece of jackin' Chicago minimalism, and it's been a DJ favorite since the original release in 1986. Its paranoid funk, replete with lyrics like "too far gone/I've lost control," captures the sweaty, late-night warehouse vibe of the Chicago sound perfectly, and needless to say, "No Way Back" murders the dancefloor to this day. An absolutely essential track that begs for a home in your crate if you ain't got it. Includes vocal, instrumental and the two part "The Advent's No Return." - turntablelab.com)

6. Tuscany - Need Ya Help (Healing Effect, 1996)

“Lesser known, you could say “throw-away” track, but those hats still rock the floor today. Totally basic. Totally monotonous. Totally great.” - Tod Terry, Mixmag, 2004

7. CJ Bolland - Horsepower (Ravesignal III) (R&S, 1991)

No words necessary. Doesn’t get more classic than this. A riff to die for.

8. Lil Mo’ Yin Yang - Reach, Basement Jaxx Firecracker Mix, (Jive, 1995)

(“Caned by just about every DJ there was in the mid-nineties. Simple yet effective, the Jaxx headed to more original and experimental jackin’ at precisely this point. Check the two-bar inserts of a twisted 808 loop sample - thrown in now and again, when they fancied. Priceless.” - Dave Seaman, Mixmag, 2001)

9. Rhythm Quest - Closer to All Your Dreams (Network, 1992)

(“Hardcore piano anthem on Network. For a couple of years the sub-genre of hardcore house, with pianos, breaky-beats, squeaky voices and sometimes silly samples took over the UK scene, at least in the north Not to be confused with just “Hardcore” (180bpm madness over in Holland), this was a bizarre episode in the history of British House. White gloves, whistles (heard on the track), mouth masks, and far too much readily-available ecstasy went hand-in-hand with these tunes. This one is one of the more time-tested, though you can’t get away from the cheesiness, and never will. Only for the most confident and daring of DJs today.” - Ian Ossia, Mixmag, 2000.

10. Praga Khan - Injected with a Poison (Profile, 1992)

(“Although considered by most as a really commercial piece of [140bpm] cheesy rave, Injected with a Poison is, in my opinion, a rather good little rave-up. Ok, so the female vocals are as crap as it's gonna get [I think they’re great! - NH], but the main riff is really rather dark and hard. Also it's had loads of requests to be added here.” - backtotheoldschool.co.uk

11. Castle Trancelott - The Gloom (Slate, 1995)

“Caned by Digweed, Sasha, Oakenfold, in fact just about everyone at the time. Still drop-able for a darker “on-one” ‘floor. Monotonous mega-riff from Hell. Stomp to this.” - Patrick Gill, Jockey Slut, 2000.

12. Drum Club - Sound System, Underworld Mix (Big Life, 1993)

“Dreadful production (Underworld? Eh???), but despite that, a solid riff-driven belter of a journeying Prog track, with subtle use of a (single!) key change and modest female vocal.” - Gerry Cooper, Mixmag, 1993.

13. Bedrock - For What You Dream of, Full-on Renaissance Mix (Stress, 1993)
(“First time I heard a bit of the "Full on Renaissance Mix" in 1993 once on the radio and liked it but somehow that was it. Then it came back to my memory with the Trainspotting-Movie in 1996(?). Some of my friends bought the Trainspotting-Compilation and I remembered that tune and I even liked it much more. It took 10 years to get a copy of this pressing and now I think this is one of the strongest progressive-house-monsters ever produced. I just love the progression of that tune and when it all changes at the end into a really jolly house tune to sing-a-long to. A fantastic record that I keep playing in 2005 and really rocks. Some strange thing about this pressing: My one also says "BED1" on the runout groove and I have a cover with the 2 correct mixes on the vinyl but there it says "STR 23".” - discogs.com

14. Hardfloor - Da Revival (Brique Rouge, 2005)

(It was only a matter of time before Germany’s acid house heroes Hardfloor joined the tweakin’ 303 revival, & as per usual, Oliver Bondzio & Ramon Zenker are straight in there, no messin’, rapid eye movement a plenty, as smoke-fuelled & strobe-lit influences go through the roof. It’s definitely time to jack. 5/5” - Dean Thatcher, dmcupdate.com)

15. The Loungin’ Kollective - Riddim Come 4ward, Herve’s Fire Pon Dem Version (Loungin’, 2008)

Old-School Revival - 2008-style: “Riddim Come 4ward has its roots in a very messy night back in the day when Trevor Loveys and Chris Belsey had had one too many and got talking about old skool rave. They eventually wound up buying some old tracks on ebay, which swiftly brought the memories of partying in their youth as vividly as if they were yesterday. About a year later Herve’s Fire Pon Dem Version was born in a similarly messy studio session.” – streetwisemusic.co.uk

http://www.nickhodgkins.com
Old-School House (1986-1996): Da Revival, Fridays @ Quadrobar (http://www.quadrobar.ru)