Digging deeper into the roots of Acid Jazz you will find the group "Night Trains". Originally a live band led by bassist and founder Hugh Brooker their first single was "Open Channel D". The group also appeared on Polydor's "Acid Jazz And Other illicit grooves" compilation with "Now We Have Rhythm", and on Acid Jazz's "Totally Wired 2" with "The Killer". That was 1987, when Acid Jazz ruled the club scene in London.

The band toured with Africa Bambata, a legendary rapper, who is also to listen on some of their tracks of their first album "Checkmate", which was released in Europe and Japan in 1989. Caused by personal problems Hugh Brooker stopped band activity for a period and formed "the Humble Souls" with Simon Anniki (AKA Wildski) erstwhile rapper with Norman Cook's Beats International. But things didn't run well with this group and Hugh Brooker revived his old group "Night Trains" recording in July 1992 "Loaded". The album was recorded in one week in Acid Jazz' West End studios. Famous artists like "The Sandals" and "Jamiroquai" are also featured on this album. Grooves and rhythms were the ingredients of this album.

But Hugh Brooker prefered more melody structures and live performances. That's the content of the third album "Sleazeball" (1994). The single "Lovesick" was a commercial success with a wide radio play. The album appeared in U.S.A. on the Instinct Records label under the title "Miles Away". 

In 1997 they released still on the Acid Jazz label "Obstruct the doors, cause delay, and be dangerous". You find the title on many plates in London's tube. The infectious single of this album "The Wave" is one of my favorites and awaked my interest for this group.