Yabby You
Yabby You was born Vivian Jackson in a Kingston ghetto. By the time he was 17, Jackson was so malnourished that he had to be hospitalized. He was eventually left with severe arthritis and crippled legs. While he could not work, he had musical talent and -- taking his cues from divine inspiration that he felt came from the sounds of nature around him (and the help of friends) -- founded a harmony trio, the Prophets, in 1972. They made their single debut with "Conquering Lion," a classically styled reggae song with a deeply personal message. They made a few more singles and eventually they all appeared on Jackson's debut album, Conquering Lion. Throughout the decade, he recorded frequently on his Prophet label. He was closely affiliated with King Tubby, whose dubs often appeared on the B-sides of Jackson's singles. It was Tubby who gave Jackson his famous nickname, Yabby You. Some of Yabby You's better-known albums from this period include Chant Down Babylon Kingdom (1976) and Deliver Me from My Enemies (1977).
When not recording his own material, Yabby You launched the careers of other new singers including Michael Prophet, Wayne Wade, and Tony Tuff. He also began producing the early recordings of such performers as Willie Williams, Ras I-buna, and Half Pint. A Yabby You-produced recording usually featured a distinctive bassline combined with organs, horns, and soaring harmonies that he used to create a meditative, spiritual atmosphere. He continued recording steadily through the mid-'80s, and then abruptly stopped after a 1985 North American tour with his backup band, the Gladiators. He often needed crutches to perform. He recorded after that but nothing was released, so, in essence, Yabby You disappeared until 1991 when some of those recordings began to emerge. After that, he resurfaced and began releasing new and old material again. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown; the album included a remix of "Conquering Lion" by Smith & Mighty. Yabby You died on January 12, 2010, from a ruptured brain aneurysm.
© Sandra Brennan /TiVo
Discography
13 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Walls Of Jerusalem
Reggae - Released by Pressure Sounds on May 24, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Conquering Lion (Expanded Edition)
Reggae - Released by Pressure Sounds on Feb 5, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One Love, One Heart
Reggae - Released by Shanachie on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
King Tubby's Prophecies of Dub
Reggae - Released by Pressure Sounds on Jan 31, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dread Prophecy (The Strange And Wonderful Story Of Yabby You)
Reggae - Released by Shanachie on Feb 6, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Yabby You Sound - Dubs & Versions
Reggae - Released by Pressure Sounds on Apr 8, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jackpot Presents Yabby You Meets the Aggrovators at King Tubby's Studio
Reggae - Released by Gorgon Records on Nov 30, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yabby You Meets the Aggrovators at King Tubby's Studio
Dub - Released by Gorgon Music - VPAL Music on Jan 20, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yabby You Live in Bilbao (Live)
Yabby You, Mad Professor, The Robotics
Dub - Released by Ariwa Sounds Ltd. on Mar 24, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fleeing From The City
Reggae - Released by Shanachie on Jan 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Reggae Stream
Tappa Zukie, Yabby You, King Tubby
Reggae - Released by Reggae Library on Aug 26, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yabby You Meets the Aggrovators at King Tubby's Studio
Dub - Released by Gorgon Music - VPAL Music on Jan 20, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -