As Phuture’s “Acid Tracks” became the pioneering song of the Acid House movement, a host of similar sounding tracks quickly followed. DJ International and Trax Records were the leaders of the new house sound at the time, it was amazing to see all these new house releases on this obscure red label coming out of America. There were good ones but so, so many bad ones too. “Central Station” (my local record store) was filled with so many Trax titles that it became ridiculous. 2 artists that I really picked up on after the first rush of House artists were Fast Eddie Smith and Tyree Cooper. I bought copies of “Tyree’s got a Brand New House” and “Jack to the Sound” – these 2 LPs were on the playlist in my car for a long time. The combinations of Acid, Hip Hop and House all together on an LP was different at the time. 2 standout tracks that did it for me were:

1: Tyree – Acid Over

2: Fast Eddie – Acid Thunder

Both tracks combined elements of House music, complimented with the TB-303 to create the Acid House sound. To me this was a perfect combination of sounds, not one thing overpowering the other but both combining to take you on an Acid journey.

Tyree’s mix of “Acid Over” blends Peter Black’s piano with the TB-303 and made a timeless, soulful Acid track with so much groove.

Fast Eddie’s “Acid Thunder” similarly had a bubbling Acid bassline over vocals, a combination that made the LSD in your system kick in when the rumbling bassline starts, and takes you over the edge when the vocals come in – “Acid Thunder, taking me under”.

Although these 2 tracks are standouts to me, their fame came later with the Hip House explosion. Fast Eddie with “Yo, Yo get Funky” and “Hip House” – and Tyree with “Turn up the Bass”. Before Hip House these guys were already making amazing music – and to me Fast Eddie and Tyree never got their just recognition as pioneers of the Chicago House scene.