Fatboy Slim - Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook Collection

Norman Cook's Fatboy Slim alter ego has become a big-beat legend (if legendary status can be bestowed on such a young genre) and thus a separate entity from Cook's earlier career incarnations. This collection demonstrates, however, that while evolving profoundly from more acoustic pursuits like the Housemartins and the reggae-flavored, early house music of Beats International, Cook has maintained a long musical memory. After 15 years spent producing an impressive roster of other people's records along with his own, the extraordinary diversity and inventiveness he displays on a set of turntables is the inevitable result of sharp, tasteful ears. Reimagining a classic King Tubby reggae melody for "Tribute to King Tubby," Cook acknowledges the de facto inventor of dub music, even while stamping it with his own thoroughly modern dub-beat approach. Likewise, Cook digs around in the space-age pop of early electronic artist Jean Jacques Perrey's "E.V.A.," unlocking that song's cheesy-smooth melodies with sample-laden aplomb. Too often, Cook's Fatboy persona (and big beat in general) is derided for a supposedly brainless approach to dance music, but that criticism misses the point. What's amazing is how he manages, with such an unwieldy assortment of influences, to mix with the ear of an interpreter, rather than a revisionist, while still making it listenable enough to warrant the accusation of brainlessness in the first place. --Matthew Cooke Amazon.com

not for people with narrow tastes and more narrow minds

I had to write something after I saw a couple bad reviews here from people who obviously identify Cook/Fatboy with a very narrow genre, but if you like this artist not for some genre he fits into, but for his endless creativity and the fun he jams into his funk, BUY THIS CD. I can see how some people can't handle everything going on here, from a tribute to original reggae dubmaster King Tubby, to funkmaster James Brown, to "roll the dice" a precursor to the acid beats of "better living thru chemistry", to obscure 60's French synth-rock of Jean Jacques Perry, to Steve Miller (!)... Cook makes it all work and he makes it all his own. March 13, 2007

Sorta-kinda Carribean Techno

An album produced by Fatboy Slim, this is a nice addition to a collection that contains "You've Come A Long Way, Baby." I was first exposed to this album in 2000 and I have come upon it time and time again in different situations. Finally, I have purchased it. Many of the songs have kinda-sorta Carribean beats; there are also some seemingly familiar tunes, maybe from commercials, or perhaps past tunes that were remixed. Whatever the case, it is nice music with which to drive, especially. Take a listen to some of the tracks and see if you like the style, or not! February 5, 2007

Fat Boy Slim/Norman Cook Collection

This album is pretty groovy and funky, but not hugely exciting. It's good background music, or Saturday bopping-around-the-house-doing-some-housework music. Nice and happy, and sure to get you grooving, but it's before the time of Funk Soul Brother, so it's much more basic than his later stuff. Simple, smooth, fun, funky, but not Weapon of Choice. March 20, 2006

Norman Cook is a pioneer! Buy this CD!

All I can say is God Bless Norman Cook... this collection goes way back for me because I was a club dj when all these songs were coming out and I used to spin just about all of them on a regular basis. Todays dance music producers (and even many hip-hop producers) owe a lot to Norman Cook because he helped pave the way for todays scene! This CD Rocks!!! If you were clubing when back when these songs were coming out, you'll remember how refreshing they sounded compared to everything else that was going on!!! so to those who say "don't waste your money", I'd probably guess they have very limited music collections and we're bummed it wasn't "You've Come A Long Way Baby 2", and simply have a long way to come themselves when it comes to music. November 17, 2001

Really, really bad!!

Ok...please do yourself a favor and dont waste your money on this cd, it has just too old tunes and mixes and the only good songs in it are the ones mixed by fatboy slim like "the world is made up of this and that" and "renegade master" but overall the entire cd is boring and has a very slow pace...anyway I wasted my money, dont waste yours peace August 1, 2001

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