Yabby You Vibration Tribute - Vivian Jackson Productions 1972-85
This one's been in the making for over 4 years, since the great singer and percussionist's passing in 2010. I got slightly carried away as there are about 180 track snippets here. Jackson's songs stand out in the roots genre for the level of humility and biblical imagery. He also comes across as very sincere and, like all the great songwriters, many of his songs were evidently penned in response to immediate personal experiences - check Blood A Go Run Down King Street for one! A long-running collaboration with King Tubby lends a harder, tuffer edge to the dubs and deejay cuts. Other mixes by Scratch, Scientist and Prince Jammy. Backing band - the Prophets All-Stars - comprised the cream of JA session musicians, man like Horsemouth, Family Man, Sly & Robbie, The Gladiators, Augustus Pablo, Chinna, Pablove Black, Ansel Collins, Skully.... Mighty horns from Viv Gordon, Bobby Ellis, Dirty Harry and Tommy McCook, who's flute playing adds vastly to the uplifting/devotional vibes. Vocal harmony from the Prophets (Jackson, Alaric Forbes & Bobby Melody). Rhythm tracks recorded at Channel One, Harry J's, Joe Gibbs, Dynamic, King Tubby's and Black Ark
In-house chanter Trinity adds to the righteousness throughout with some of his best work. He's joined by fellow deejays Dillinger, Clint Eastwood, U Brown, Stepping King Miguel, Tapper Zukie, Jah Stitch and Big Youth on some of the Prophet's biggest tracks. Big Youth's Lightning Flash Weakheart Drop aka Yabby Youth on the Conquering Lion is a major classic. Other big riddims include the Jah Vengeance, Black Is Our Colour, Death Trap, King Pharaoh's Plague, Pick Up The Pieces, Gang War, Every Tongue Shall Tell, Heptones Gonna Fight, Judgement On The Land, Run Come Rally, Born Free, Anti-Christ & Warn The Nation. While these are all classics, Deliver Me From My Enemies and Conquering Lion are probably the most evocative..
Yabby You produced important LPs for Michael Prophet, Tony Tuff and Wayne Wade and nuff great tunes for a host of other artists like The Melodians, Patrick Andy, Barrington Spence, Horace Andy, Cornell Campbell, Dicky Burton, Lenroy Swaby, Michael Rose, Errol Alphonso, Junior Brown and Willie Williams. Tommy McCook leads on many superb instrumentals including Love In Zimba on the Shank-I-Shek and an amazing guitar-flute-horns duel on Babylon Fall. Leroy Smart voiced several Prophets riddims though there must have later been a colossal misunderstanding (lol!) leading to Yabby You teaming up with Wayne Wade and Clint Eastwood for a major dis - Ballistic Dreadlocks
