Roots Archives Forum

Is Fatman different than the Fatman of Fatman Riddim Section? I ask because I'm wondering what's the story with Fatman Presents Unleashed Dub from King Tubby's Studio Vol 1
http://www.roots-archives.com/release/1241#rel5641

This is a very good, but strange dub album. It says "specially mixed by Fatman" and "tracks compiled by Flip"

The reason it's strange is that the riddim tracks are clearly from very different sessions, even years. There's some early dancehall Roots Radics sounding stuff (though it's all credited to Aggrovators), and some mid to late 70's stuff that sounds more like Bunny Lee/Aggrovators.

So, did Fatman just get a bunch of riddims and remix them for this album?

Is this just some random bootleg comp cobbled together, or what?

(1) fatman is a UK producer/sound system owner/label owner/licensee - has his name on some good tunes/LP's "Shaka vs Fatman" (live and love, 1st 2nd 3rd generation dub (king jam)which is "produced by the mighty fatman", also don carlos UK issue of "late night blues" - maybe some JA tracks released in UK because of his connections, maybe he is involved in some remixing etc

(2) fatman riddim section totally different - basically lewis bros/inner circle band members - backed jacob miller and others in the late 70's and issued a series of brilliant LP's on top ranking label - presumably called fatman because they are big guys who have provided some of the heaviest dub on record - Israeltafari is one on all time favourite dubs

(3) as far as the unleashed LP you refer to thats the UK one being referred to - seems to be tried and tested bunny lee stuff that has either got a new issue or slight remixes

Fatman, the UK producer/soundman, (real name Ken Gordon) ran Fatman Hi Fi and the KG Imperial label in the Seven Sisters road area of Tottenham.

http://www.roots-archives.com/label/219

It seems he had a good relationship with Bunny Lee and Prince Jammy, as he issued a lot of their material and even takes some producer credits. This compilation LP is an outstanding example of his productions

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He also released some killer 12's from Badoo and Roy Rankin with Raymond Naptali, among others.

Roots Archives lumps the two together (the Lewis Brothers and Ken Gordon) so I think part of the confusion is there. RA does credit him as Fatman UK on this dub LP, which is one of the heaviest of all time and IMO even better than the Unleashed Dub (which is excellent as well).

[cover=3602,3800]

Not really sure about his mixing role on the Unleashed set, though.

I'm a huge fan of his material, have tried to collect all of it!