By the time that house music began to make its way out of Chicago and filter into the dance scenes of other major cities like New York and London, there were already several names that were associated with what would come to be known as classic house music. To be sure, Frankie Knuckles, the DJ and producer who was most directly responsible for creating the house genre had more than a few titles under his belt. However, there are some other artists whose names are inextricably linked with the commercial growth of house. Let’s take a look at some of the classic house tracks that helped define a generation of club goers.

1. Frankie Knuckles – The Whistle Song. Released in 1991, and helping to lead the surge of house music that was knocking on the door of mainstream chart success, this flute-based track was mellow, had a deep groove and was eminently danceable. All of the ingredients that would come to define house in the 90′s were there – the bass line, the simple drum beat – providing the foundation for hundreds of house tracks to follow.

2. Mr. Fingers – Washing Machine. In 1986, Washing Machine was a revolutionary track that was one of the first to explore the possibilities of the ‘acid’ baseline, a twisting sound that would worm its way into the brains of partiers. The rhythm track was based off of an 808 drum machine, providing the groundwork for a lot of the experimental acid house that would become more prominent as time went on.

3. M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume. A list of classic house music wouldn’t be complete without this entry from the production team of A R Kane and Colourbox. ‘Pump Up The Volume’ is most notable for its heavy use of sampling, and it was a pioneer in this respect. Cut onto vinyl in 1987, the track crossed over onto the mainstream charts and became one of the most recognizable classic house music tunes. It was also the only release from this one-off collaboration.

4. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam. Completely unrelated to its namesake above, ‘Pump Up The Jam’ smashed through barriers in 1989 to become a huge pop hit. Combining a searing vocal with hard-hitting synth lines and an unbeatable bass track, Technotronic scored a number two spot on British charts and a Platinum record for the accompanying album in the United States. This was a huge accomplishment for house music and helped to legitimize the genre heading into the 1990′s.

5. Madonna – Vogue. Ever the chameleon, pop star Madonna hitched her wagon to the rising house star and secured an enormous hit that further mainstreamed dance music. The song contained many of the drum and rhythm elements found in early classic house music, but it combined them with a more pop-oriented song structure and a dynamic, changing vocal. Interestingly, ‘Vogue’ was a soundtrack release meant to accompany the film ‘Dick Tracy’ in 1990.

Beach house decorating should never be a chore, in fact, when deciding how to decorate a vacation home or beach house you need to keep one thing in mind: relaxation.

By its nature, decorating a beach house should not occupy a huge amount of your time. Instead, you should be doing what you bought the beach house for in the first place, relaxing by the beach.

If your beach house is a hideaway retreat for your, your loved on or your family, don’t worry about a large amount of furniture and fancy furnishing. Instead, opt for a simple kitchen setup, one where you can all enjoy a nice breakfast and good meal without worrying about ruining the china or spilling on the table or rug.

Pick chairs and tables that capture the relaxing feel. Leathers and expensive fabrics should be avoided. Think about it, beach means sand dirt, wet bathing suits, shell collections, maybe the occasional bucket full of fish and, most importantly, lots of lounging. Get a few comfy couches for afternoon naps in the ocean breeze.

Wicker has proved enormously popular in beach communities, many choosing it for its durability, its natural and summery feel and the ease in which it can be cleaned. Wicker furniture definitely captures the beachy feel, but without the proper cushioning, can be somewhat uncomfortable. Don’t worry so much about matching. Walk into any beach home, and often the furniture is a rag-tag collection of mixed and matched (or unmatched) thrift store pick ups, discarded old furniture from the main home, or furniture that has been around for ages.

If entertaining is your thing, plastic tables and chairs are not only the perfect solution, but are almost an expected staple of the beach house.

When guest arrive, they are generally there to enjoy the view, soak up the ocean air, and engage in some casual conversation over a cocktail or a nice cup of coffee. While it should not be completely ignored, don’t stress over style and elegance, that’s not the idea here. Instead, the idea is to enjoy the company of others. Since mingling is key, make sure you have extra chairs around that can be pulled out and put away when more people come to join.

A buffet table is a great investment, especially folding ones that can be set aside in a closet or attic and brought out and set up inside or out when the need arises.

Make sure the furniture is lightweight as well. One of the reasons plastic sets prove so popular is they can be moved with ease around the house, and can be taken outside. Another practical reason for plastics is its durability and ability to stand up to the elements, beach house decorating should also take into consideration the fact that rain, high winds and humidity are par for the course. Salt air also can have a negative effect on furniture, which makes plastics such an attractive option. Not only can it be moved when the wind and rain arrive, but it can stand up to the salt air and humidity.

In the end, remember that beach house decorating should be done with the ultimate goal of relaxation. Don’t worry about the furniture, focus on the view.

Interested in investing in a beach house? Many people are nervous about buying beach front property because of the frequently high initial cost and the out of the way location. However, current the recent foreclosure crisis has made now the perfect time to invest in a beautiful piece of beach front property. Read on for why a beach house is one of the best investments someone can make.

A Beach House Is More Than The Structure

Buying a home on the beach is more than just buying the structure of the home. Property with beach access is frequently valued with or without a home currently occupying the location, and many times prospective buyers will be looking to build their own home anyway. This leads to a property market that rises without hinging a great deal on the value and upkeep of the specific home.

A Struggling Economy Makes Beach Homes Cheap

While times of economic prosperity make many people interested in purchasing beach homes for vacation properties and areas to get away, times of economic trouble lower the demand for beach front locations. This means that right now savvy investors can snatch up beach houses for much less than they will probably be worth as the economy continues to recover. Waterfront property is going for much less than it was just a few years ago, and it will probably be the first thing to recover as the economy starts to improve.

Renting Your Beach House

It is important to remember that owning a beach house investment means owning a beautiful getaway on the beach. You can rent out your beach home for instant profits on a seasonal, monthly, or weekly schedule to start earning money from your investment right away. With the right setup and a little bit of furniture, you can keep your beach home earning for you all year long.

Taking A Beach Home Vacation

Because you already have a place to go, you can save a huge expense when you take a vacation by simply visiting your own beach home. A beach house makes your vacations cheap and easy to plan, and since you are setting up any renters you may have you will know in advance when you can travel. By taking a vacation to your second home on the beach, you get to have a great relaxing vacation without worrying about lodging expenses in a foreign environment.

Living In Your Waterfront House

If your lifestyle allows for it, nothing is stopping you from making a beautiful beach residence your primary home. Living in a waterfront home lets you take in stunning beach views and vacation living all year round. You will be able to maintain and improve your beach front home to improve the resale value while benefiting from the scenic area and laid back lifestyle.

Many factors make now the perfect time to consider a beach home investment. There will probably never be a better opportunity for picking up a waterfront home that will increase in value quickly for an affordable price.