It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right

Recently I've stopped reading the news (or listening to or watching it). It's just too grim. We are stuck in the middle of the tabloid silly season during a Conservative Party leadership election where both candidates are competing in a contest that resembles something more akin to Strictly Come Fascism, while the UK slides daily further into failed state territory. It's depressing. Sometimes it's better to just switch it off and allow yourself to be distracted. Here's some party music to do just that.

In 1988 Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock released a single that is a pinnacle of 80s rap, the sound of two men, a bag of records, two turntables and a microphone creating an utterly infectious piece of party music. It Takes Two samples Galactic Force Band for its intro and the Woo yeah! vocal hook from a 1972 single by Lyn Collins, Think (About It), produced by James Brown. 

It Takes Two

It Takes Two was so danceable that it was part of the sub- genre known as hip house. There are of course arguments about who invented hip house- both Tyree and The Beatmasters claim they were first. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock were among the best but you can't do hip house without the following two records. 

I'll House You by The Jungle Brothers, also released in 1988, with Todd Terry at the control desk- crossover pumped up house rhythms, drawled rapping and samples from Royal House, Peech Boys, Malcolm X/ Public Enemy and Liquid Liquid. Inevitably causes mayhem at parties frequented by people of a certain age. 

I'll House You 

Doug Lazy's Let It Roll came out in early 1989. A rolling rhythm, cowbell, thundering bassline and Doug's vocal- another record that crossed over in the summer of 1989. 

Let It Roll

Step Off The Train

This song, Missing as remixed by Todd Terry, was an enormous hit for Everything But the Girl in 1995. It was ubiquitous. You couldn't leave the house without hearing it. Or stay in the house for that matter. As a result familiarity led to contempt. When I hear it now twenty two years later, especially when played at some volume in a shop say, it sounds good and transports me back to my mid 20s in the mid 90s.

As a song it's a fairly standard and simple remix job, Terry adding on the New York deep house vibes and clattering drumbeat but it works as happy/sad dance music, the upbeat drums against Tracey's vocals and lyrics.

Missing (Club Mix)

You In My Hut Now

A full on, all the bells and whistles, Marshall Jefferson sampling 1988 hip-house hit (with the emphasis on house as much as the hip hop) from Jungle Brothers and Todd Terry on production. Still sounds massive and still likely to cause spontaneous dancing and throwing of shapes.

I'll House You