Released April 1988 Recorded 1988 Length 3:55 | Format 7"12"MCDcassette Genre Acid house Label Rhythm KingCapitol | |
"Theme from S-Express" is an acid house song by English dance music band S'Express, from their debut studio album, Original Soundtrack. It peaked at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1988 for two weeks.
Contents
Song information
One of the landmarks of early acid house and late 1980s sampling culture, the single became an instant hit upon its release in April 1988. Written and produced by Mark Moore and Pascal Gabriel the song samples liberally from many songs, including heavy sampling from Rose Royce's "Is It Love You're After" and TZ's "I Got the Hots for You". The hi-hat is sampled from an aerosol spray.
The track's "S express" refrain makes reference to the 42nd Street Shuttle, or, as it is sometimes known, the "S Express", a well-known line on the New York City Subway.
The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in April 1988. It fared less well in the United States where it scraped into the Billboard Hot 100 at number 91, but it reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It peaked at number 11 in Australia and number two in West Germany and the Netherlands.
The song prominently sampled Karen Finley's "Drop that ghetto blaster" vocal. The song's predominant "I've got the hots for you" hook has been described as "campy".
The song was featured in the film Arthur and the Invisibles.
The Norwegian Broadcasting Company used parts of the song for the intro music of their weekly sports programme.
Samples used
This is a list of samples used in "Theme from S-Express".
Track listings
- "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
- "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:41)
- "Theme from S-Express" (Herbal Tea Casualty Mix) – (8:05)
- "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
- "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (4:18)
- "Theme from S-Express" – (5:58)
- "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:40)
- "Theme from S-Express" – (3:55)
- "Theme from S-Express" (Herbal Tea Casualty Mix)
- "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:40)
- "Theme from S'Express" – (3:55)
- "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix) – (5:53)
- "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix) – (3:53)
- "The Trip" (Microdot House Mix) – (5:53)
- "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix)
- "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix)
- "The Trip"
- "Theme from S-Express" (7" U.S.A. Mix)
- "Theme from S-Express" (12" U.S.A. Mix)
- "The Trip"