House Music: The Best Books to Read

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for the best books to read on house music? Look no further than this list of essential reads compiled by experts in the field. From history and theory to DJing and production, these books will give you a well-rounded understanding of this ever-evolving genre.

The History of House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the African-American community in Chicago in the 1980s. House music was created by DJs who were playing disco tracks in clubs. The music is characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat and often has a repetitive, hypnotic feel. The first house music tracks were produced by DJs such as Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan.

Where it all began

The origins of house music can be traced back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, when disco and electronic music were becoming increasingly popular. Around this time, a new style of music called “Chicago house” began to emerge. This style was characterized by its use of synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders, as well as its slower tempo and more hypnotic sound.

Chicago was not the only city where this new style of music was being created; other cities such as Detroit and New York also had their own scenes. However, it was in Chicago that the term “house music” was first coined. This is believed to be because many of the early house tracks were released on cassette tapes by a local record label called Trax Records.

As house music became more popular, it began to spread beyond its original geographic boundaries. In the mid-1980s, British DJs began playing house music in clubs, and soon it became one of the most popular genres in the UK. By the end of the decade, house music had also become popular in mainland Europe and Australia.

In the 1990s, house music underwent something of a renaissance thanks to a new generation of producers and DJs who were influenced by the original Chicago sound. This led to the development of subgenres such as deep house and techno-influenced progressive house. House music has continued to evolve since then, with new styles emerging all the time.

The rise of house music

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, disco music was becoming increasingly popular in American nightclubs. However, there was also a large underground dance music scene that didn’t care for disco’s commercial appeal. This scene consisted of all-night parties held in basements and warehouses, where people danced to the latest import records from Europe. One style of music that was popular at these parties was European electronic dance music, or “Euro disco.”

In the mid-1980s, a number of factors converged to facilitate the rise of house music. First, there was a growing number of music venues in Chicago that were geared towards this style of music. Second, several key figures in the Chicago club scene started making their own records. These records often incorporated elements of Euro disco, but they also added elements of R&B and Soul. These records became hugely popular in the clubs, and they helped to define the sound of house music.

Third, a new generation of DJs and producers began to experiment with house music. They created new sounds by using electronic instruments and drum machines to create rhythmic patterns that were different from anything that had been heard before. This experimentation led to the development of “acid house,” a subgenre of house music that featured distorted basslines produced by Roland’s TB-303 bass synthesizer. Acid house became extremely popular in Europe in the late 1980s, and it had a significant impact on the development of house music.

fourth factor that contributed to the rise of house music was the advent of affordable samplers and personal computers. This technology allowed DJs and producers to create new tracks by combining samples from existing records with their own original recordings. This helped to create a more diverse range of sounds within house music, and it made it possible for more people to produce their own tracks.

fifth factor was the birth of rave culture in Britain in 1988. Rave culture was based around all-night dance parties that were often held in warehouses or fields outside major cities. The parties typically featured loud electronic dance music, and they were often associated with illegal drug use. However, rave culture also had a positive effect on house music, as it helped to bring the style to a wider audience.

The final factor that contributed to the rise of house music was the explosion of popularity for club culture in America in the early 1990s. This was due partly to movies like “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) and “Flashdance” (1983), which depicted nightclubs as glamorous places where people could let loose and have fun. In addition, television shows like “Miami Vice” (1984-1989) depicted nightclubs as places where people could hear cutting-edge electronic dance music

The Best House Music Books

If you are a fan of House Music or are looking to get into the genre, reading can be a great way to learn more about it. There are a number of books that cover the history, artists, and tracks that have made House Music what it is today. In this article, we will cover some of the best House Music books.

The House that Jack Built

The House that Jack Built by Matt Thorne is one of the best books on house music. It chronicles the rise of the genre from its humble beginnings in Chicago to its explosion in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s. Thorne interviewed some of the biggest names in house music, including Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, Derrick May, and Frankie Knuckles. The book is full of stories and anecdotes about the music, the culture, and the people who created it. If you’re a fan of house music, this is a must-read.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

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This book is an amazing story of how dance music saved the life of a young girl in Iraq. It is a true story that will inspire and uplift you.

Love Saves the Day

A Documentary History of House, Disco, and Dance Music
Love Saves the Day is a 1994 book by British music journalist Tim Lawrence that chronicles the history of house music and disco. The book was reissued in 2006 with a new introduction by Lawrence.

The book is organized chronologically, starting with the early days of disco in the 1970s and moving through the rise of house music in the 1980s and early 1990s. Lawrence interviewed more than 200 people for the book, including DJs, producers, club owners, and dancers.

Love Saves the Day is considered one of the definitive histories of house music and disco. It was praised for its detail and for Lawrence’s ability to capture the spirit of the time period he was writing about.

The Future of House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the 1980s. It is characterized by a four-on-the-floor drumbeat, repetitive basslines, synthesizers, and often, vocoder-filtered vocals. The first use of the term “house music” is believed to be in reference to Chicago’s Warehouse nightclub, which became a famous destination for young people in the 1980s.

Where is house music headed?

No one can predict the future, but we can take a look at the past to see where house music has been and where it might be going. The genre has its roots in the underground club scene of the 1980s, and it has since evolved and morphed into a variety of different subgenres. Today, there are many different types of house music being made all over the world.

So, where is house music headed? Only time will tell, but we can make some educated guesses based on the trends of the past few years. It seems likely that the genre will continue to diversify as more and more artists experiment with different sounds and styles. We may also see a return to some of the older, classic house sounds as nostalgia for the early days of the genre grows. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure: house music will continue to evolve and change, keeping us dancing for years to come.

The future of the genre

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. House music was initially created by DJs and club goers as a way to keep people dancing all night long. The style of house music has changed over time, but the basic elements remain the same: a strong, steady beat, simple melody, and often samples of other songs or sounds.

In the early days of house music, the genre was heavily influenced by disco and soul music. As house music became more popular, it began to incorporate elements from other genres such as hip hop, techno, and even rock. This mix of different styles makes house music unique and offers something for everyone.

Despite its popularity, there is no one clear definition of what constitutes house music. This lack of a definitive sound has both helped and hindered the genre’s development. On one hand, it allows for a great deal of creativity and innovation; on the other hand, it can make it difficult for new listeners to appreciate all that house music has to offer.

Looking to the future, it is clear that house music will continue to evolve and change. The genre has already proven itself to be incredibly resilient, withstanding the test of time and remaining popular even as other genres have come and gone. As long as there are people looking to dance the night away, house music will be there to provide the soundtrack.

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