Yabby You - (1997) Jesus Dread (1972-1977) 2xCD

 Blood & Fire ‎– 021

Born Vivian Jackson, 14 June 1949, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Yabby acquired his nickname from the drawn-out, chanting refrain on his 1972 debut single, "Conquering Lion": "Be You, Yabby Yabby You". Despite courting controversy in his repudiation of Rastafarian godhead Haile Selassie, in favour of a personalized form of Christianity, his output throughout the 70s and early 80s nonetheless rarely deviated far from the orthodox Rastafarianism typically expressed at the time. As leader of the Prophets (additional personnel at various times included Alric Forbes, Dada Smith, Bobby Melody and the Ralph Brothers), Yabby recorded a remarkable series of roots reggae classics, including "Jah Vengeance", "Run Come Rally", "Love Thy Neighbours", "Valley Of Jehosaphat", "Judgement On The Land", "Fire In Kingston", "Chant Down Babylon' and many others, mostly appearing on his own Vivian Jackson and Prophets labels in Jamaica.

One of the most crucial B&F compilations, if also one of the most obsessive - no less than five versions of 'Jah Vengeance', for instance, follow the original at the close of the first CD. This is one reason why it's so great though - few other collections give you the chance to see rhythms evolving into so many amazingly diverse and subtle new forms, especially in Tubby's hands. Dillinger's version of the Vengeance rhythm, 'Freshly', is probably the deepest bit of dub Tubby ever produced, absolute genius and well worth the admission price by itself.