80s House Music: The Best of the Decade
From Frankie Knuckles to Mr. Fingers, explore the best of 80s house music. Discover the stories and sounds that defined a decade and continue to influence house music today.
Introduction
Few genres of music have been as vital and endureing as house music. House music originated in the early 80s in Chicago, and quickly spread to the rest of the world. House music is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, often created with a drum machine, and a variety of electronic sounds. House music quickly became popular in nightclubs, and soon there were sub-genres such as techno and acid house.
While house music has undergone many changes since its inception, it remains one of the most popular genres of music today. This list aims to compile the best house tracks of the 80s, a decade that saw the genre rise to prominence. From tracks that were strictly for dancing to more experimental fare, these are the best of the best when it comes to 80s house music.
The Birth of House Music
In the 1980s, a new type of music emerged from the American Midwest, influenced by disco, soul, and electronic dance music. This new style became known as house music. House music is characterized by a 4/4 beat, synthesizer melodies, and minimal vocals.
The first house tracks were produced in Chicago, by DJs such as Frankie Knuckles and Jesse Saunders. These early tracks were played at underground nightclubs such as the Warehouse and the Music Box. House music quickly spread to other American cities such as Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles. By the end of the 1980s, house music was being played all over the world.
In the 1990s, house music underwent a major transformation. A new subgenre known as techno emerged from Detroit. Techno is characterized by more complex beats and melodies than regular house music. Other subgenres of house music also developed in the 1990s, such as trance and acid house.
Today, house music is still very popular all over the world. It can be heard in nightclubs, on the radio, and in many popular songs.
The Golden Age of House Music
The 1980s was a decade that was truly dominated by house music. This was the decade when the genre first started to take off and gain widespread popularity, with iconic tracks and artists emerging from all over the world. House music in the 80s was truly global, with artists from the US, UK, Europe, and beyond all making their mark on the genre.
There are too many classic 80s house tracks to list them all here, but some of the most iconic include tracks like ‘Jack Your Body’ by Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, ‘Pump Up The Volume’ by MARRS, and ‘Raving I’m Raving’ by East 17. These are just a few of the many classic house tracks that defined the sound of the genre in its early years.
If you want to experience the best of 80s house music, then you need to check out some of the classic tracks and artists that defined the genre. This is the definitive guide to the best of 80s house music.
The Legacy of House Music
In the late 1970s, a new style of music emerged from the clubs of Chicago. This sound became known as house music, and it would soon take the world by storm.
For the next decade, house music would dominate dance floors around the globe. The sound was characterized by its use of synthesizers, drum machines, and danceable rhythms. It would go on to influence other genres of music, including techno, trance, and even pop.
While the origins of house music are often disputed, one thing is certain: the 1980s were a defining decade for this genre. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best 80s house tracks that still hold up today.