On 808 day, here are Addison Groove's favourite 808 tracks

Today producer Tony Williams of Addison Groove and Headhunter alerted us to the fact that it’s 808 day this monday (the date is 08/08, geddit?). His own tunes, most famously Footcrab, and his brilliant live set rely heavily on the instrument, so he agreed to quickly put together a playlist of his favourite tracks made using the Roland TR-808. Enjoy the whiplash snappiness of the rhythms and the prose. Happy 808.

The Egyptian Lover – Electro Pharaoh

The original 808 master who still rocks parties today.

2 Live Crew – Throw The ‘D’

First ever 2 live crew tune i owned on vinyl. Love the lyrics.

Hashim – Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)

This was a tune that had me going ‘wtf is this’ about 15 years ago… I found out about a year ago it was this tune by going thru about 10 other tunes that sampled it.

Cybotron – Clear

Where electro met techno.

Freestyle – Don’t stop the rock

Groovy… love the melody in this.

Afrika Bambaataa – Planet Rock

I play this to this day. Anyone who was around in the 80’s would know this tune.

Dynamix II – Just Give The DJ A Break

A Percy fav that still goes off today.

Tyree. Ft. Chic – I Fear The Night

Tyree has so many amazing tracks, the bashing 808’s in this are sick.

Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing

I have to say I don’t love love the tune, but this was the first time anyone heard the 808 in the charts.

Loose Ends – Hangin’ On A String

Again, not my fav tune, but the first few bars are 808 heaven.