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| Broad & Market Street - Newark, New Jersey |
by Christopher Flowers
Jersey's contribution to House Music has been obscured by time and
eclipsed by its Chi-town birthplace and the mighty swagger of New York City's
House music offerings. Those of you who were too young to be clubbing or weren't clubbing in the years between 1985 - 1989 or even in the early 90s, maybe because the scene had changed from the Disco era of the late '70s and early '80s or you got caught up in whatever popular drug vice at the time or you stopped twirling on the dance floor to raise children. It was during this period that the Chicago House/Deep House phenomenon swept the dance music world away. Essex County was already fanatical with Disco/Club Music and Chicago House permeated every nook and cranny from Frelinghuysen Avenue to 18th Avenue to Main St.in East Orange/Orange and spread out across the county.
Newark, New Jersey's Club Zanzibar was seven years in from its grand opening in 1979, and past its early 80's glory days and worked hard to keep the level of entertainment going with its festive parties and top-notch dance music showcases.
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| Club Zanzibar - Newark, New Jersey circa 1985-86 |
Going out dancing all night long until breakfast had not fallen out of favor with the twenty-somethings and teens who were able to get past the pay booth. The Chicago House sound was in heavy rotation at Zanzibar alongside the Italo-Disco, UK Jazz-Funk, NY "boogie-funk", DOR and 70s/early 80s R&B Disco & Disco Classics that was being played.
However, between those Chicago House tracks, a melodic, jazzy/gospel/funky vocal-dance music style began to weave between the "jack-jack-jack-your-body", "don-da-don-da-donnie" and "la-la-la-la-like-this" output. This music came from various Newark hoods that had at-home recording capabilities, places such as North 6th Street and Sussex Avenue to name a few. These local Newark and Essex County-based
producers started to create their own brand of electronic soulful dance music. Borrowing elements of Chicago's House Music but injecting chords, melodies and focusing on lyrics and the vocal performance sung in the R&B/Gospel vernacular that became, with each release another new, dance music phenomenon that would, for a brief period go around the world.
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| Tony Humphries |
Zanzibar's resident DJ, Tony Humphries was the head-maestro-in-charge who introduced this local, Newark/Jersey homegrown dance music to his weekly audience at the club and via his WRKS-FM "98.7 KISS Mastermix" show. Movin' Records, an East Orange record shop and record label on Central Avenue supplied Tony's arsenal of musical weapons for Zanzibar and his radio show. This triage became the machine that catapulted local NJ producers and artists to worldwide legendary status.
These tunes, mostly vocal-oriented, gospel-influenced with R&B
sensibilities and sophisticated Jazz and Funk grooves were juxtaposed with the
best of what underground US House music had to offer. The major four Jersey production camps:
Blaze Productions, Smack Music, Ace Beat/B.O.P and Backroom between 1985 - 1992 were
responsible for a majority of the "Jersey Sound" output that became some of House
Music's influential worldwide hits.
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| Smack Music Productions |
Other forthright producers like James Bratton (NJ), Kerri Chandler (NJ), Jovonn (NY), Kyle “Small”
Smith (NJ) Stephon Johnson (NJ), Shedrick Guy (NJ) among others also contributed heavily to defining the "Jersey
Sound".
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| Kerri Chandler |
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| Jovonn |
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| Kyle "Smalls" Smith company logo |
It was common for underground club aficionados to set up their tape decks to records Tony's KISS-FM Mastermix shows before going to the club. These tapes, precious and valuable then as they are now made their way to London and by 1987; one of the first "Jersey Sound" DJ/Artist tours was organized by London promoters. By October 1989, the "Jersey Sound" exploded across the UK and a second London trip was organized with Tony Humphries who brought some of the patrons/employees of Zanzibar with him.
During the 1990 New Music Seminar in New York, a special event was scheduled at Club Zanzibar to take advantage of this high profile seminar by showcasing the music, producers, and artists. The Jersey Jams showcase sponsored by Movin' Records and Club Zanzibar was extremely successful became an unofficial point-of-interest for New Music Seminar attendees. Later, The Jersey Sound Coalition was formulated by Movin' Records and other Jersey producers and labels to regulate marketing, advertising and producer/artist development.
The Jersey Sound continued on after 1992 with a host of new, local producers making their mark and taking the sound to inventive heights. It became more sophisticated and began to blend with whatever the current House sound was but always kept its early soulful integrity. Other production camps around the US and the world would borrow from the "Jersey Sound" infusing their regional "House" music elements.
30 years later, the "Jersey Sound" can still be heard in subtle nuances in today's Soulful House Music, a testament to the talented musicians, producers, vocalists who for a moment topped the House Music and Pop charts worldwide and put a "bowtie" on the early, track-based "jacking" Chicago House sound. Here are the Top 100 of the dopest "Jersey Sound" tunes that are forever cemented in House Music History.
TOP 100 "JERSEY SOUND" HOUSE MUSIC CLASSICS
1. Let The Rain Come Down - Intense - Movin'
Records -1989
2. Respect - Adeva - Chrysalis/Cooltempo -1989
3. Make My Body Rock - Jomanda - BigBeat -1988
4. In And Out Of My Life - Adeva - Easy Street –1988
5. Reachin' - Phase II - Movin' Records - 1989
6. Love So Special - Ceybil - Atlantic - 1990
(Ceybil is from NYC and the producers of the song as well. The producers were hanging heavily at Club Zanzibar (1989-90) and brought the demo to Tony Humphries and the rest is history. She even said that she's a part of the "Jersey Sound").
(Ceybil is from NYC and the producers of the song as well. The producers were hanging heavily at Club Zanzibar (1989-90) and brought the demo to Tony Humphries and the rest is history. She even said that she's a part of the "Jersey Sound").
7. Warning – Adeva – Cooltempo (UK) - 1989
8. Someday – Ce Ce Rogers – Atlantic – 1987
(This is the
point where Chicago & Jersey connect)
9. Follow Me - Aly-Us – Strictly Rhythm -1992
10. Little Girl – Viola – Nervous - 2001
11. You Are My Friend – Kenny & Friends – Cover -1995
12. Turn And Run Away – Jovonn – Warner Bros. - 1989
13.When Can Our Love Begin – Kimara Lovelace – King St. -1998
(Kimara Lovelace is from NJ, not too sure where Roland Clark, the songwriter, and producer of the song is from. Although Timmy Regisford's mix made this song legend, it had all the elements of a "Jersey Sound" styled House tune of the late 80's and early 90's. Not to mention that it was a HUGE hit in New Jersey. Hence, it is included here).
(Kimara Lovelace is from NJ, not too sure where Roland Clark, the songwriter, and producer of the song is from. Although Timmy Regisford's mix made this song legend, it had all the elements of a "Jersey Sound" styled House tune of the late 80's and early 90's. Not to mention that it was a HUGE hit in New Jersey. Hence, it is included here).
14. My, My Lover - Dee Dee Brave - Movin' Records - 1990
15. Feel Like Singin' - Sandy B. - Nervous – 1992
16. One Man – Chanelle – Profile - 1988
17. Deeper (KAQZ 6:23) – Susan Clark – 111 East – 1992
18. Baby Love – Cassio – Street Style - 1992
19. Respect – Michelle Ayers – Emotive – 1992
20. Don’t You Want My Love – Jomanda – Big Beat - 1989
21. Musical Freedom (Free At Last) – Adeva/Carmen Brown – Cooltempo (UK) - 1989
22.
23. I’m Attracted To You
(Demo Version) – Ann Robinson – (Acetate) – 1990
24. Not Gonna Do It – Vicki Martin – Movin’ – 1988
25. I Got That Feelin’ – Dreamer G. – Big Beat – 1992
26. I Need Somebody - Keshia Jenkins - Profile – 1987
27. Drink On Me - Teule - Profile – 1990
28. Everybody Be Somebody – Ruffneck feat. Yavahn – MAW -
1995
29. SuperLover – Three Generations ft. Chevell – Atlantic
- 1990
30. I Shall Not Be Moved – Underground Ministries feat.
Kenny Bobien – Flatline - 1999
31. Never Thought I’d See You Again – Cassio- Street Style - 1993
32. Got A Love For You – Jomanda – Big Beat - 1991
33. Why We Sing – Kenny Bobien And Friends – Equip - 1997
34. Always There - Charvoni - Capitol - 1989
35. Can't Win For Losin' - Blaze - Quark – 1987
36. Mr. Right – Redd – 111 East - 1992
37. Don't You Want My Love - Jomanda - Big Beat – 1988
38. Falling In Love - Sybil - Next Plateau - 1986
39. I See You - Intense - AceBeat - 1991
40. Let's Get Jazzy (Dope Dub Mix) – Flightt – TMT - 1987
41. No Time For Crying – Spring – Black Rain – 1992
42. Trouble – Kim Beacham – 111 East - 1992
43. Just Started - Lachandra - Garage Trax/Movin' Records
- 1989
44. If You Should
Need A Friend - Blaze - Quark – 1987
45. Lock It Up – The CRJ Project – Ace Beat - 1991
46. Call Him Up – The Voices Of 6th Ave –
AceBeat – 1992
47. Alright (Zanzibar Mix) – Urban Soul – Polar – 1990
48. Keep On Pumpin' It Up (Zanzibar Mix) - D'borah - SBK - 1990
49. It's Not Over (Demo Version) - Hunter Hayes - (acetate) -1990
50. Problem#13 (Baseball Bat) - Johnny Dangerous – Hourglass - 1992
51. Are You Faithful - Valerie Ingram - Movin' - 1989
52. Brighter Days – Big Moses & Kenny Bobien – King
St. - 1995
53. Say You’re Gonna Stay
(Original Mix) – Darryl D’ Bonneau – K.O.L.A. – 1993
54. I Just Can’t
Quit Lovin’ You – Charvoni – AceBeat - 1987
55. Come Into My Heart – Kenya Travitt – Big Beat - 1989
56. Join Hands – Taravhonty – Big Beat - 1987
57. I’m Glad You Came To Me – Bas Noir – Nu Groove - 1989
60. Think – Franda Robertson – MicMac – 1988
61. Pump Up The Music (Girly Girl Mix) – Gordon Nelson
Jr. – Spin City - 1989
62. You're No Good For Me - Kelly Charles - Next Plateau
– 1987
63. Unity – On Top – BigBeat - 1989
64. Someone To Love Me (Demo Version) - Jomanda – (Acetate) 1990
65. Victim (Zanzibar Mix) – Park Avenue – Attitude - 1991
66. It Works For Me – Saybrynaah Pope – King St - 1994
67. Sweet Chariot (Soul Creation Original Mix) – Club
Artists United – Le Millennium - 1997
68. Come On Move With The Beat – B.O.P – Big Beat – 1991
69. I Thank You – Adeva – Cooltempo – 1989
70. My Love Is Magic – Bas Noir – Nu Groove - 1988
71. Can’t Get Over It – Dee Dee Brave – Champion - 1991
72. Off The Wall - Paul Scott - Acebeat - 1985-86
73. She’s Crazy – Grandpa – Movin’ - 1992
74. Luv 4 2 – Michael Watford – EastWest - 1992
75. 4 Da Love Of U – Alex & Rai – Smack – 1994
76. Fantasy – Cassio feat. Sajadah – Shelter - 1994
77. How Hard I Search (Vocal Mix) – Gena Bess – KULT -
1994
78. Good Time (Fair Jack Version) – Johnny Dangerous
feat. Jazmina/Pzaz – KULT - 1992
79. Holdin’ On – Urban Renewal Feat. Joi Cardwell
& Jay Mac – Freetown - 1994
80. Back To Zanzibar – LY – Nite Grooves - 1994
81. Reach Out For Me – Karen Pollard – Choice - 1995
82. My Beat (Original Mix) – Blaze – Slip ‘n’ Slide -
1994
83. Let Us All Be Friends (Original Version Mix) – Mama’s
Children ft. Lee Truesdale – Colonel - 1996
84. More Than Anything – Darryl D’ Bonneau – New Generation
- 1992
85. Stand Up – B.O.P. featuring Kenny Bobien – Shelter –
1996
86. I Love You (Forever) – Calvin Rock – Grassroots -
1994
87. No More Heartache (Demo Version) – Charvoni - (Acetate) - 1990
88. Choose Me (Joey Negro Remix) – Cookie – Republic -
1990
89. Lift Up Your Hands – Xodus feat. Dawn Tallman – Jellybean - 1996
90. Our Love (It’s Over) – Dee Holloway – Select – 1989
91. Take A Stand (For Love) – Gerideau – Music Station –
1994
92. Can’t Treat Me This Way – Intense – AceBeat – 1989
93. Just Us – Joey Washington ft. The Mens Club – Strictly
Rhythm - 1993
94. We Can Make It - Bonnie Byrd - Wadworth - 1988
95. I’ll Give It To You – Jomanda – Quark – 1988
96. Thank You – Karen Anderson – NottUs – 1993
97. Let Me Show You – Tawanna Curry – Republic – 1989
98. Definition Of A Track - Backroom Productions – 1988
99. This Love Will Grow – T. Solomon – Downtown 161 –
1993
100. Don’t Turn Your Love – Park Avenue – Movin’ Records
- 1987
Compiled by the FIDA/ThinkSoul Committee
(If there are any true "Jersey Sound" House tunes that should have made the list, let us know in the comment section below. Thanks!)
* (If anyone has something to say or have an issue with this article or this list, the comment section where we can respond to whatever you may have to say is here, not on facebook.)
