Yabby You

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Vivian Jackson (born 14 August 1946, Kingston, Jamaica [1]), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), is a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his work with King Tubby and Lee "Scratch" Perry.

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[edit] History

One of seven children, Jackson left home at the age of twelve to find work at a furnace in Waterhouse. At seventeen, the effects of malnutrition had left him hospitalized, and on his release he was left with severe arthritis which had partially crippled his legs. His physical condition meant that he was unable to return to his previous work, and he was forced into hustling a living on the streets of Kingston.

His Christian beliefs were markedly different from that of his Rastafarian comtemporaries, which often prompted debate on religio-philosophical matters, and it was after one of these discussions that Jackson first headed towards a recording studio, having heard music "like a strange ting, inside a my thoughts - like an angel a sing".

Another spell in hospital meant that finding money for recording was difficult, but eventually the "Conquering Lion" single was released late in 1972, credited to Vivian Jackson and the Ralph Brothers. Cut for King Tubby, the popularity of the song and its distinctive introduction (the chant of "Be-you, yabby-yabby-you") earned Jackson the nickname "Yabby You", which has remained with him during his entire career.

The next few months saw the recording of several more singles, released under different names on various record labels, (although usually credited to Vivian Jackson and the Prophets, and often featuring a King Tubby 'version' on the b-side); culminating in the release of the Conquering Lion album. A King Tubby mixed dub set, King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub, was also issued, albeit on a limited run of 500 copies, helping to establish Jackson as a roots artist.

Yabby's success allowed him to branch out as a producer, and he began working with both upcoming and more established artists including Wayne Wade, Michael Rose, Tommy McCook, Michael Prophet, Big Youth, Trinity, Dillinger and Tappa Zukie, while continuing to release his own material.

Jackson continued to record, produce and perform (often with the aid of crutches) until the mid 1980s. He re-emerged in the early 1990s, issuing both new and old material, and his recordings have been the subject of several high quality reissues in recent years. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown. The album included remixes of "Conquering Lion" by Smith and Mighty and a remix of Glen Brown by Small Axe and Terminal Head.[2]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • Conquering Lion (1975) Vivian Jackson
  • Ram A Dam (1975) Lucky (UK)
  • King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub (1976) Prophets (reissued (1994) Blood and Fire)
  • Chant Down Babylon Kingdom (1977) Nationwide (reissued as King Tubby Meets Vivian Jackson (Yabby You))
  • Deliver Me from My Enemies (1977) Grove Music
  • Beware (1978) Grove Music (reissued (1991) ROIR)
  • Vocal & Dub (1979) Prophet (Yabby You and Michael Prophet)
  • Yabby You Meets Trinity At Dub Station (197?) Yabby U (with Trinity)
  • Jah Jah Way (1980) Island
  • Yabby You & Michael Prophet Meets Scientist At The Dub Station (1981) Prophet (with Michael Prophet and Scientist)
  • African Queen (1982) Clappers
  • Time to Remember (1982) Prophet (with King Tubby)
  • Prophecy (1982) WLN (with Michael Prophet and Wayne Wade)
  • Yabby U Meets Sly & Robbie Along With Tommy McCook (1982) WLN (with Tommy McCook)
  • One Love, One Heart (1983)
  • The Yabby You Collection (1984) Greensleeves
  • Fleeing from the City (1991) Shanachie
  • Yabby You Meets Mad Professor & Black Steel in Ariwa Studio (1993)
  • Jesus Dread (1972-1977) (1997) Blood and Fire
  • Dub It to the Top (1976-1979) (2002) Blood and Fire
  • Yabby You Meets Sly & Robbie At The Mixing Lab Studio (recorded 1979) Prophet
  • Yabby You Meets Michael Prophet In Dub Prophet (with Michael Prophet)
  • Yabby You Meets Tommy McCook In Dub (Sounds Of The 70's) Peacemaker
  • Hits of The Past Vol. 2 Prophet
  • Yabby You Presents King Tubby's Boom Sounds Vol 4 Prophet

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


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