Prince Fatty Crucial Dub

The contradictory character of Prince Fatty

  1. Prince Fatty Crucial Dubbed
  2. Prince Fatty Crucial Dubai

Prince Fatty is the highly praised UK producer and sound engineer responsible for wicked and clever albums from Hollie Cook, The Skints and Little Roy among others. His latest effort is Prince Fatty Versus the Drunken Gambler, an album described as a mix of hip hop fantasy and reggae reality. To United Reggae he talks about his inspirations, the album and the artists featured on it.

Prince

The Prince Fatty sound is designed to Dub your feet with Rock Steady beats and stimulate brain waves in a jazz-like waydelivered in an up-beat, positive and organic funk fashion. Mixed in an analog haze of vintage spring reverbs, tape echoes and custom hi-grade mixing console, Prince F read more. Prince Fatty is a champion in the Dub Arena, and Loopmasters welcome this masterful Dub Engineer to the Artist Series with open arms, to present “Crucial Dub”, the all in one sample collection for Dub, Reggae, Roots and Dubstep lovers worldwide! The Prince Fatty sound is designed to dub your.

Mike Pelanconi, better known as Prince Fatty, is a renowned sound engineer and record producer. His artist alias is according to Wikipedia meant as a tongue-in-cheek reference to legendary Jamaican producer and sound engineer King Tubby, but he says it’s rather about his preference for fat girls when he was in school.

Regardless of his name, he has been a prominent and vital force on the reggae and dub scene in the UK for almost 15 years where he has worked with several reggae artists, including Gregory Isaacs and Little Roy. But he has also tried his hands on other genres as well working with rock and pop musicians such as Lily Allen and Graham Coxon from Blur.

Busy year

This year has been a busy one for Prince Fatty. He has put a dub version of Hollie Cook’s self-titled debut album, a western inspired ska album with Mutant Hifi and helmed production on ska punkers The Skints second album Part & Parcel.

But the latest addition to his productions is his own various artists album Prince Fatty Versus the Drunken Gambler, a set where he tears down and builds up classic reggae, pop and hip-hop tracks along with some original material. As with his previous productions, the album oozes 60’s and 70’s reggae, a sound Prince Fatty creates using vintage equipment and recording techniques.

“It’s inevitable that I get the old time feel as we record 100 per cent live and with real drums, piano, organ and guitars and so on. This is how reggae should sound to me. The engineering skills required are more advanced than normal rock recordings. My equipment is mostly 70’s also. It came from the BBC when they were throwing stuff out in the late 90’s, and I still use tape machines and I built a big studio especially modified with reggae, soul and afro beat in mind,” explains Prince Fatty.

Broad inspirations

When listening to the new album and his previous productions it’s apparent that Prince Fatty has broad inspirations. I mean, you can’t just be a reggae addict when doing a covers of the Andrew Sisters’ Bei Mir Bist du Schon, The Whisperers’ The Beat Goes On or hip-hop classics such as Gin & Juice and Got Your Money.

“Rebels influence me and sometimes even moods. Music is just a vehicle for the message or melody. I don’t like Jazz but I love Charles Mingus. I hate rock music, but I like Jimi Hendrix and early Black Sabbath, so I confuse and contradict myself with vinyl,” he explains, and continues:

“I take the DJ mentality to record production, but instead of sampling I re-play it how I want it. The musicians I use are the best and have the skills to convert anything into reggae, so it’s more of a question of direction and personal ambition. Is it for the hot tub or the club? With ice or without?”

Live performance is the backbone

He describes the new ten track album as a crude, but legal 30 minute sampler of what you get when you see him live sound system style.

“It’s basically a mix down of the specials I have been playing out for the last few years with a few new Hollie Cook and Horseman cuts thrown in to keep it fresh. The best cuts I don’t release, you have to catch us live for those,” he reveals.

The album includes some scorching versions of early reggae classics – Max Romeo’s rude and lewd Wet Dream and Dennis Alcapone’s tongue twister Babariba Skank.

“These are some of the popular cuts from the sound system and are some of my favorite classics. Think of it as a small part of my private dub plate collection exposed. When we play out it is to a mixed crowd, so I like to expose and remind people of the classics. For a purist reggae audience the selection changes and I can go deep into Channel One and Volcano territory,” he says.

Prince Fatty’s ideology

The artwork and title of the album suggest an interest in martial arts, and it turns out that it means a lot to Prince Fatty.

“Kung-fu is a great ideology, perhaps the best, and I hope to inspire some discipline and martial arts in the dance,” he explains.

Crucial connections

Over the years Prince Fatty has recorded a lot with Hollie Cook – daughter of former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook – and vintage styled deejay Horseman. These two artists are almost synonymous with Prince Fatty today.

He met Horseman at a studio session at Lion Studio in Brixton, London, and the connection was instant.

“From the first session I knew we were going to be a team. He talks the reggae talk and has the reggae walk,” he explains, and continues to explain how he met Hollie Cook:

“Hollie heard some of my work and a mutual friend put us in touch. I had been thinking for ages about the lovers rock vibes. We had made Milk and Honey and were waiting for the right voice to come along. Hollie smashed it in two takes and we have been working on our vibes ever since. We share similar music tastes and we all love early 80’s sound system tapes like Volcano and Metro Media. Hollie can dub the mixer and run a siren, so it’s a team vibe.”

Soul singers at disposal

Apart from these two relatively newcomers, he has also teamed up with Studio One veterans Winston Francis and Dennis Alcapone as well as George Dekker from The Pioneers and Little Roy, with whom he recorded one of last year’s best albums – the Nirvana cover album Battle for Seattle.

“I’m very lucky to have these great musicians and singers at my disposal, and I have to tell you straight up. Winston Francis and George Dekker are real singers, soul singers in the true sense of the word. It’s a real pleasure to record them. Winston is always at my studio writing and singing, and I’m preparing an album with him for next year,” he explains, and continues:

“George does most of the backing vocals on my productions and is also on Hollie Cook's songs. Dennis Alcapone, Big Youth and Horseman are my favorite MC's. Unique, versatile, original and above all know how to control a crowd. My job is made easy with them, when we work live I’m the selector and dub instigator, they control the microphone to the fullness.”

Born26 October 1947 (age 73)
Montego Bay, Jamaica
GenresReggae, dub, dancehall, ragga
Occupation(s)Record producer

Lloyd James (born 26 October 1947, in Montego Bay, Jamaica[1]), who is better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio. His dubs were known for their clear sound and use of effects.[2]

Biography[edit]

After earning money from building amplifiers and repairing electrical equipment from his mother's house in Waterhouse in the late 1960s, he started his own sound system.[3] He also built equipment for other local systems.[3] After leaving Jamaica to work in Canada for a few years in the early 1970s, he returned to Kingston in 1976 and set up his own studio at his in-laws' home in Waterhouse,[3] and released a couple of Yabby You productions.[1] When Phillip Smart left King Tubby's team to work in New York City, Jammy replaced him, getting to work with Bunny Lee and Yabby You.[3]

In the late 1970s he began to release his own productions, including the debut album from Black Uhuru in 1977.[3] In the 1980s, he became one of the most influential producers of dancehall music. His biggest hit was 1985's 'Under Me Sleng teng' by Wayne Smith, with an entirely-digital rhythm hook. Many credit this song as being the first 'digital rhythm' in reggae, leading to the modern dancehall era. Later into 1980s, Jammy improvised Reggae and Dancehall, he digitalized old riddims, like Real Rock, and Far East. King Jammy then began working with top artists in Jamaica throughout the 1980s and 1990s such as Admiral Bailey, Admiral Tibet, Chaka Demus, Frankie Paul, Lieutenant Stitchie, Pinchers, and even Dennis Brown. Jammy's productions and sound system dominated reggae music for the remainder of the 1980s and into the 1990s.[3] He continues to work as a producer, working with some of today's top Jamaican artists, including Sizzla.

Partial discography[edit]

Prince Fatty Crucial Dubbed

Solo records or records with co-billing[edit]

1975[edit]

  • His Majestys Dub (Prince Jammy v. King Tubby)

1979[edit]

  • Fatman Dub Contest (Crucial Bunny Vs Prince Jammy)
  • Kamikazi Dub
  • Harder Na Rass (The Rass-es Band & Prince Jammy)

1980[edit]

  • Fatman vrs. Shaka in a Dub Conference
  • Big Showdown (Scientist v. Prince Jammy)....Scientist said that Jammy never mixed one track on this album.

1981[edit]

  • First, Second And Third Generation of Dub (King Tubby & Prince Jammy & Scientist)
  • Strictly Dub

1982[edit]

  • Uhuru in Dub (Black Uhuru & Prince Jammy)
  • Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders
  • Dub Landing Vol: 2 (Scientist & Prince Jammy)

1983[edit]

  • Dub Culture
  • Osbourne In Dub
  • Scientist & Jammy Strike Back (Scientist & Jammy)

Compilations[edit]

  • Dub Gone 2 Crazy (King Tubby & Prince Jammy – 1975–79)
  • Dub The Old Fashioned Way (Lee Perry & Prince Jammy – 197?)
  • Dubwise Revolution (King Tubby & Prince Jammy & Scientist – 197?)
  • The Rhythm King (Prince Jammy & Various Artists – 198?)
  • Umoja – 20th Century DEBwise (Dennis Brown Presents Prince Jammy – 1978)

Appearances on various artist compilations[edit]

  • Big Showdown
  1. Round 2
  2. Round 4
  3. Round 6
  4. Round 8
  5. Round 10
  • Black Black Minds
  1. Peace And Rest Version
  2. How Long Version
  3. Keep On Trying Version
  • Bunny Lee Meets King Tubby & Aggrovators
  1. Channel One A Boy
  • Creation Rockers
  1. You're No Good
  • Don Letts Presents The Mighty Trojan Sound
  1. Out Of Order
  • Dub Chill Out
  1. Slow Motion Dub
  2. Black And White Dub
  3. Dub It In The Dancehall Dub
  4. Jump Song Dub
  • Dub Massive Chapter 1
  1. Out Of Order
  2. Fist Of Fury
  • Dub Massive Chapter 2
  1. Throne Of Blood
  2. Shaolin Temple
  • Dub Sessions
  1. Dub Investigation
  2. Brothers Of The Blade
  • Dubwise & Otherwise
  1. Wreck Up A Version
  • Fat Man Dub Contest
  1. Jammy A No Fool
  2. Jammy's On The Move
  3. Jammy's A Shine
  4. Jammy's A Satta
  • Fatman Presents Twin Spin Vol I
  1. Second Generation
  • First, Second And Third Generation Of Dub
  1. Second Generation
  2. On The Scene
  • Flashing Echo
  1. Fist Of Fury
  2. Jammin For Survival
  3. Out Of Order Dub
  • Haul & Pull Up Selecta
  1. You're No Good (12)
  2. Jammin' For Survival (12)
  • Heavyweight Sound
  1. Problems Dub
  • In Fine Style
  1. A Useful Version
  • King Jammy In Roots
  1. Slaughterhouse Five
  2. Born Free (Extended Mix)
  3. Youth Man Dub
  • Kung Fu !
  1. Shaolin Temple
  2. Throne Of Blood
  3. Fist Of Fury
  • Punky Reggae Party
  • Run It Red
  1. Chapter Of Money
  2. Dub Ites Green & Gold
  3. Higher Ranking
  4. A Stalawatt Version
  5. Mr. Bassie Dub
  6. Music Dub
  • Scratchy Sounds

Prince Fatty Crucial Dubai

  1. Brothers of the Blade
  • Straight To I Roy Head
  1. Channel One A Boy
  • The Crowning Of Prince Jammy
  1. Life Is A Moment In Space
  2. The Crowning Of Prince Jammy
  3. Return Of Jammy's Hi-Fi
  1. Chapter of Money
  • The Trojan Story Vol 1&2
  1. Throne of Blood
  • Third World Disco Vol 1
  1. Love Can Conquer
  • This Is Crucial Reggae Dub
  1. Throne of Blood
  • Trojan 12' Box Set
  1. You're No Good
  2. Born Free
  • Trojan Dub Box Set Volume 2
  1. Fist of Fury
  2. Throne of Blood
  3. Shaolin Temple
  • Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza
  1. Sweet Teng
  • X-Ray Music
  1. Step It Up in Dub
  2. Dub There
  3. The Champion Version
  4. Dub Is My Occupation

Albums produced[edit]

  • Anthony Johnson – A Yah We Deh (1985)
  • Barry Brown – King Jammy Presents Barry Brown (1980)
  • Barry Brown – Showcase (1980)
  • Black Crucial – Mr. Sonny (1985)
  • Black Sounds Uhro – Love Crisis (1977)
  • Black Uhuru – Black Sounds of Freedom (1981)
  • Black Uhuru & Prince Jammy – Uhuru in Dub (1982)
  • Cocoa Tea – The Marshall (1985)
  • Dennis Brown – History (1985)
  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down (1985)
  • Errol Holt – Vision of Africa (1978)
  • Frankie Paul – Sara (1987)
  • Frankie Paul & Michael Palmer – Double Trouble (1985)
  • Half Pint – Money Man Skank (1984)
  • Half Pint – One in a Million (1984)
  • Kruxial Selecta- Long inna Time (1986)
  • Horace Andy – Haul And Jack Up (1987)
  • Hortense Ellis – Reflections (1979)
  • Hugh Mundell Featuring Lacksley Castell – Jah Fire (1980)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Folly Ranking (1980)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Mr Body Bye (198?)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Musical Chopper (1983)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping (1983)
  • Jolly Brothers – Consciousness (1979)
  • Junior Reid – Boom Shack A Lack (1985)
  • King Tubby & Prince Jammy & Scientist – Dubwise Revolution (197?)
  • Leroy Smart – She Just A Draw Card (1982)
  • Leroy Smart – Showcase (1985)
  • Leroy Smart – We Rule Everytime (1985)
  • Little John – Clarks Booty (1985)
  • Michael Palmer – I'm So Attractive (1985)
  • Natural Vibes – Life Hard A Yard (1982)
  • Niccademos – Dance Hall Style (1982)
  • Noel Phillips – Youth Man Vibrations (1981)
  • Peter Yellow – Hot (1982)
  • Prince Jammy – Kamikazi Dub (1979)
  • Prince Jammy – Osbourne in Dub (1983)
  • Prince Jammy – Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders (1982)
  • Prince Jammy – Strictly Dub (1981)
  • Prince Jammy & Various Artists – The Rhythm King (198?)
  • Sugar Minott – A Touch of Class (1985)
  • Sugar Minott – Bitter Sweet (1979)
  • Tonto Irie – Jammy's Possee (198?)
  • Travellers – Black Black Minds (1977)
  • U Black – Westbound Thing A Swing (1977)
  • U Brown – Mr Brown Something (1978)
  • U Brown vs Peter Yellow – DJ Confrontation (1982)
  • Various Artists – 10 To 1 (1985)
  • Various Artists – 1985 Master Mega Hits (1985)
  • Various Artists – 1985 Master Mega Hits Vol 2 (1985)
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 1 (197?–8?)
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 2 (198?)
  • Various Artists – King Jammy – A Man And His Music Vol 3 (198?)
  • Various Artists – King Jammy in Roots (197?–8?)
  • Various Artists – King Jammy's at Channel 1 (1977–79)
  • Various Artists – Prince Jammy Presents Vol 1 (1986)
  • Various Artists – Superstar Hit Parade (1986)
  • Various Artists – Under Me Sleng Teng Extravaganza (1985)
  • Wayne Smith – Smoker Super (1985)
  • Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleg Teng (1985)
  • Wayne Smith – Youthman Skanking (1982)
  • Ween – Friends EP (only track No. 4 'King Billy')

Albums engineered and/or mixed[edit]

  • Agrovators – Kaya Dub (19770
  • Alton Ellis – Many Moods of Alton Ellis (1978–80)
  • Alton Ellis & Heptones – Alton Ellis Sings, Heptones Harmonise (1978–80)
  • Augustus Pablo – El Rocker's (1972–75)
  • Augustus Pablo – Rockers Meets King Tubby in a Fire House (1980)
  • Augustus Pablo – Original Rockers (1972–75)
  • Barrington Levy – Englishman (1979)
  • Barrington Levy – Englishman – Robin Hood (1979–80)
  • Barry Brown – King Jammy Presents Barry Brown (1980)
  • Barry Brown – The Best of Barry Brown (197?)
  • Barry Brown Meets Cornell Campbell – Barry Brown Meets Cornell Campbell (197?)
  • Bim Sherman – Ghetto Dub (1988)
  • Bim Sherman Meets Horace Andy And U Black – In A Rub A Dub Style (1982)
  • Black Sounds Uhro – Love Crisis (1977)
  • Black Uhuru – Black Sounds of Freedom (1981)
  • Black Uhuru & Prince Jammy – Uhuru in Dub (1982)
  • Carl Harvey – Ecstasy of Mankind (1978)
  • Carlton Patterson & King Tubby – Psalms of Drums (197?)
  • Cornell Campbell – Boxing (1982)
  • Cornell Campbell – Follow Instructions (1983)
  • Cornell Campbell – Turn Back The Hands of Time (1977)
  • Creation Rebel – Close Encounters of the Third World (1978)
  • Crucial Bunny Vs Prince Jammy – Fat Man Dub Contest (1979)
  • DEB Music Players – 20th Century DEB-Wise (1978)
  • David Jahson – Natty Chase The Barber (1978)
  • Delroy Wilson – Go Away Dream (1982)
  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down (1985)
  • Dennis Brown Presents Prince Jammy – Umoja – 20th Century DEBwise (1978)
  • Dillinger – Cornbread (1978)
  • Earl 'Chinna' Smith – Sticky Fingers (1977)
  • Eek A Mouse – Wa Do Dem (1981)
  • Frankie Paul & Michael Palmer – Double Trouble (1985)
  • Gregory Isaacs – Slum in Dub (1978)
  • Half Pint – One in a Million (1984)
  • Horace Andy – In The Light / In The Light Dub (1977)
  • Hortense Ellis – Jamaica's First Lady of Songs (1977)
  • Hugh Mundell Featuring Lacksley Castell – Jah Fire (1980)
  • I Roy – Can't Conquer Rasta (1976)
  • Jah Frankie Jones – Satta An Praise Jah (1977)
  • Jah Lloyd – Black Moses (1979)
  • Jah Stitch – Original Ragga Muffin (1975–77)
  • Johnny Clarke – Don't Stay Out Late (1977)
  • Johnny Clarke – Dread Natty Congo (1977)
  • Johnny Clarke – Sweet Conversation (1977)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Folly Ranking (1980)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Musical Chopper (1983)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping (1983)
  • Junior Reid – Boom Shack A Lack (1985)
  • Keith Hudson – Rasta Communication (1978)
  • King Tubby – Dub Gone Crazy (1975–79)
  • King Tubby – Dub Like Dirt (1975–77)
  • King Tubby – Majestic Dub (197?)
  • King Tubby's and the Agrovators – Dubbing in the Back Yard (1982)
  • King Tubby & Aggrovators – Shalom Dub (1975)
  • King Tubby & Prince Jammy – Dub Gone 2 Crazy (1975–79)
  • King Tubby & Prince Jammy & Scientist – First, Second And Third Generation of Dub (1981)
  • Leroy Smart – Reggae Showcase Vol 1 (197?)
  • Leroy Smart – Superstar (1977)
  • Leroy Smart – Superstar (1976)
  • Linval Thompson & Wayne Jarrett & Ranking Trevor – Train To Zion Dub (1981)
  • Lord Sassafrass – Horse Man Connection (1982)
  • Michael Prophet – Serious Reasoning (1980)
  • Mikey Dread – African Anthem (1979)
  • Mikey Dread – Dread at the Controls (1979)
  • Mother Liza With Kojak – Chant Down Babylon (198?)
  • Noel Phillips – Youth Man Vibrations (1981)
  • Paragons – Heaven & Earth (197?)
  • Paragons – Now (1982)
  • Pat Kelly – One Man Stand (1979)
  • Peter Yellow – Hot (1982)
  • Prince Far I – Cry Tuff Dub Encounter II (1979)
  • Prince Hammer – World War Dub Part 1 (1979)
  • Prince Jammy – Dub Culture (1983]
  • Prince Jammy – Fatman vrs. Shaka in a Dub Conference (1980)
  • Prince Jammy – Kamikazi Dub (1979)
  • Prince Jammy – Prince Jammy Destroys The Invaders (1982)
  • Prince Jammy – Strictly Dub (1981)
  • Revolutionaries – Goldmine Dub (1979)
  • Rockers All Stars – Chanting Dub with the Help of the Father (1978)
  • Rod Taylor – Ethiopians Kings (1975–80)
  • Scientist – Heavy Metal Dub (1982)
  • Scientist & Jammy – Scientist & Jammy Strike Back (1983)
  • Scientist & Prince Jammie – Dub Landing Vol: 2 (1982)
  • Sly & Robbie – Raiders Of The Lost Dub (1981)
  • Sly And The Revolutionaries With Jah Thomas – Black Ash Dub (1980)
  • Sugar Minott – Bitter Sweet (1979)
  • Sugar Minott – Black Roots (1980)
  • Sugar Minott – Ghetto-ology (1979)
  • Tappa Zukie – Escape From Hell (1977)
  • Tappa Zukie – Tapper Roots (1978)
  • The Agrovators – Jammies In Lion Dub Style (1978)
  • The Rass-es Band & Prince Jammy – Harder Na Rass (1979)
  • Tommy McCook – Blazing Horns – Tenor In Roots (1976–78)
  • Tommy McCook & Bobby Ellis – Blazing Horns (1977)
  • Travellers – Black Black Minds (1977)
  • Trinity – Dreadlocks Satisfaction (1978)
  • U Brown – Mr Brown Something (1978)
  • Uniques – Showcase (1978)
  • Various Artists – Superstar Hit Parade (1986)
  • Wayne Smith – Smoker Super (1985)
  • Wayne Smith – Youthman Skanking (1982)
  • Ween – Friends EP (only track #4 'King Billy')
  • Yabby U – Jah Jah Way (1980)
  • Yabby You – Beware (1978)
  • Yabby You – Dub It To The Top (1976–79)
  • Yabby You & Various Artists – Jesus Dread (1972–77)

As an arranger[edit]

  • Black Crucial – Mr. Sonny (1985)
  • Black Sounds Uhro – Love Crisis (1977)
  • Dennis Brown – History (1985)
  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down (1985)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Folly Ranking (1980)
  • Noel Phillips – Youth Man Vibrations (1981)
  • The Agrovators – Jammies In Lion Dub Style (1978)

As a percussionist[edit]

  • Dennis Brown – Slow Down (1985)
  • Johnny Osbourne – Water Pumping (1983)

Bibliography[edit]

Lesser, Beth (1989). King Jammy's. Muzik Tree, UK. ISBN1-55022-525-1.

References[edit]

  1. ^ abBarrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter: 'Reggae: The Rough Guide', 1997, Rough Guides, ISBN1-85828-247-0
  2. ^Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 357. ISBN1-904041-96-5.
  3. ^ abcdefLarkin, Colin: 'The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae', 1998, Virgin Books, ISBN0-7535-0242-9

External links[edit]

  • Interview part 1 9 April 2007 on BBC Radio 1Xtra; 60 minutes. (RealPlayer)
  • Interview part 2 9 April 2007 on BBC Radio 1Xtra; 27 minutes. (RealPlayer)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_Jammy&oldid=954893255'