You've Come a Long Way, Baby

by Fatboy Slim

Overview

Fatboy Slim's debut album, Better Living Through Chemistry, was one of the surprises of the big beat revolution of 1996 -- an eclectic blowout, all tracked to thunderous loops and masterminded by Norman Cook, a former member of the British pop band the Housemartins. It might not have been as startlingly fresh as the Chemical Brothers, but the hard-hitting beats and catchiness, not to mention consistency, of Better Living was a shock, and it raised expectations for Fatboy Slim's second album, You've Come a Long Way, Baby. And that record itself was something of a surprise, since it not only exceeded the expectations set by the debut, but came damn close to being the definitive big beat album, rivaling the Chemicals' second record, Dig Your Own Hole. The difference is, Cook is a record geek with extensive knowledge and eclectic tastes. His juxtapositions -- the album swings from hip-hop to reggae to jangle pop, and then all combines into one sound -- are wildly original, even if the music itself doesn't break through the confines of big beat. Then again, when a record is this forceful and catchy, it doesn't need to break new stylistic ground -- the pleasure is in hearing a master work. And there's no question that Cook is a master of sorts -- You've Come a Long Way, Baby is a seamless record, filled with great imagination, unexpected twists and turns, huge hooks, and great beats. It's the kind of record that gives big beat a good name. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2023
Label:	Skint Records / Warner Bros.
UPC:	4050538919004
Rank:	33700

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fatboy Slim   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards
Eddie Willis   Primary Artist
Jimmy Bryant   Primary Artist
Vic Flick   Primary Artist
Les Reed   Primary Artist
Dennis King   Primary Artist
Franklin Bryant   Primary Artist
Leslie Hurdle   Primary Artist
Freddy Fresh   Vocals
Camille Yarbrough   Vocals
MC Tunes   Vocals
Jimmy Stead   Sax (Baritone)

Technical Credits

Fatboy Slim   Producer,Composer,Lyricist,Musician
Simon Thornton   Mixing,Concept,Engineer,Photography
Stephen Jones   Composer
Earl Nelson   Composer
Florian Schneider   Composer
Mashonda Tifrere   Composer
John Barry   Composer,Lyricist
Ralf Huetter   Composer
Martin Jenkins   Musician
Norman Cook   Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer
Kasseem Dean   Composer
Moulin Rouge   Composer
Mr. Natural   Composer
Camille Yarbrough   Composer,Studio Assistant,Studio Personnel
Joe Walsh   Composer
John Terry   Composer,Lyricist
Marius de Vries   Composer
Jim Broadbent   Composer
Dale Peters   Composer
Lincoln Jean-Marie   Composer
Eve Jeffers   Composer
Myke Wilson   Composer
Fred Smith   Composer,Composer
Aaron Gilbert   Composer
Emil Schult   Composer
Mark Hornby   Musician
Winford Terry   Composer
MC Tunes   Composer
Dust Junkys   Composer
Nicky Lockett   Composer
Josh Davis   Composer
Rick Smith   Composer
Jay Jackson   Composer
Patricia Miller   Composer
Camille Yarborough   Composer
Joseph Walsh   Composer
Joseph Fidler Walsh   Composer
Winfred Terry   Composer,Lyricist
Delmar Lovell Edwards   Composer
Trevor Fisher   Composer
Sam Brox   Composer
Ganiyu Pierre Gasper   Composer