This Is Acid
"This Is Acid," also known by its full title, "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze)," is a number one Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart single by Chicago house music DJ and record producer Maurice Joshua, who recorded the track under his first name "Maurice." It reached the top spot in April 1989 and stayed there for two weeks.[2]
"This Is Acid" | |
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Single by Maurice with Hot Hands Hula | |
Released | 1988 |
Recorded | 1987 |
Genre | |
Length | 4:38 (radio edit version)[1] |
Label | Vendetta/A&M |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
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The song contains spoken lyrics performed by male singer "Hot Hands" Hula Mahone. The lyrics introduce the listener to the Chicago acid house sound.
Versions
The original 4:56 version—made with only a Roland TR-808 drum machine, Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer, reverb, and vocals—was first released as a B-side track on the Maurice Joshua with Hot Hands Hula single "I Gotta Big Dick" in 1988,[3] and only Mahone and producer Lidell Townsell were given writing credits.
When the song was later released as a separate single, the artist name was changed to just Maurice and the song was subtitled "A New Dance Craze". Most editions featured only sample-laden Les Adams remixes,[4] by taking the vocals, adding a synth lead from Black Riot's "A Day in the Life", using the rhythm synth from Inner City's "Big Fun", numerous samples from Todd Terry's records, and repeated use of sirens and sexual screams in the background. These releases didn't mention Mahone or Townsell; they only credited Joshua as the only producer and writer, plus Les Adams and keyboardist Mike Stevens for the remixes.[5] This version would later be included in the Trax Records' 20th Anniversary compilation set in 2006.
Media Appearances
Joshua and Mahone performed "This Is Acid" under the billing "Maurice & The Posse" during a March 1989 appearance on Dance Party USA.
Legacy
"This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze)" was Joshua's only hit single, but he did go on to be a Grammy Award-winning producer and remixer.
"This Is Acid" was covered by German duo VooDoo & Serano off their album Radikal Techno 6.
The song can be heard in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the in-game radio station SF-UR.
Track listings
Original version
(on Maurice Joshua with Hot Hands Hula – "I Gotta Big Dick" – Trax Records TX169):
- A1 – "I Gotta Big Dick" (6:20)
- A2 – "I Gotta Big Dick (Instrumental)" (5:23)
- B1 – "This Is Acid" (4:56)
- B2 – "Feel the Mood" (4:15)
12" maxi (US)
(on Maurice – "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze)" – Vendetta Records VE-7016):
- A1 – "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (S & T Mix)" (7:22)
- A2 – "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (Deep Dub)" (5:58)
- B – "This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (K & T Mix)" (6:24)
References
- It was the Les Adams "K&T Remix" that was the hit; the radio edit of this mix was 4:38 and the 12" version was 6:22.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.)
- ""I Gotta Big Dick" master release info at Discogs". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
- ""This Is Acid" master release info at Discogs". Retrieved 2011-02-10.
- Phil Moffa (2011-12-09). "Key Tracks: Les Adams on the K&T remix of Maurice's "This Is Acid"". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 2014-08-10.