The "Jersey Sound" - Top 100 tunes (30 Years Later and the music lives on!)

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. 

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.   

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.

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". 

Kerri Chandler

Jovonn

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").

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). 

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. I Don’t Need Your Love – JoAnn Jones – Champion – 1989

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 6^th 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.)