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The Roots · Chicago

Jesse Saunders

“On and On” (1984) is widely called the first house record ever pressed to vinyl.

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01

Listen

Start here

  1. On and On 1984, Jes Say Records

Listen to “On and On” for history more than polish: a drum machine, a bassline and a DJ deciding his own tracks could be records.

Search any of these on Spotify or dig for the original pressings on Discogs.

02

The story

Who is Jesse Saunders?

Jesse Saunders was a Chicago DJ who pressed “On and On” on his own Jes Say label in 1984. It’s widely cited as the first house music record released on vinyl.

Its success showed other Chicago DJs and producers that they could make and sell records themselves, which is how labels like Trax and DJ International took off over the following years.

The sound

Bare, early drum-machine house: kick, clap, bass and a lot of attitude.

CityChicago
Breakthrough“On and On” (1984)
LabelJes Say Records
Known forOften called the first house record

03

If you like this

Dig deeper

Under the Radar

DJ Sauce

If Jesse Saunders is your starting point, here’s who to hear next: El Paso born, Juárez raised, Denver based. Lubdub Records founder. Eclectic house melodies to raw acid cuts.

Hear DJ Sauce

04

FAQ

Questions about Jesse Saunders

What was the first house record?

Jesse Saunders’ “On and On” (1984) is the record most often named as the first house track pressed to vinyl.

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikipedia: On and On. Facts checked October 2026. Spot something wrong? Tell us.