You've Come a Long Way, Baby

Editing

You've Come a Long Way, Baby was recorded entirely using Atari ST computer, Creator software and floppy disks. The album faced issues regarding the use of profanity, most notably on the track "Fucking in Heaven" (renamed "In Heaven" in North America, and "Illin in Heaven" on the censored version), where the word 'fucking' is spoken 108 times by Freddy Fresh. The word "shit" is used in "Gangster Tripping" 57 times, which makes a total of 165 profanities. Because of this, the album was given a Parental Advisory sticker. It is possible that the repeated use of "druggy" in "Kalifornia" also required the sticker, which is not limited to simply profanity but also to drug references.

Title and artwork

The title You've Come a Long Way, Baby was derived from a marketing slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes. Conceived by Red Design, the album's primary cover art features an obese young man dressed in a T-shirt bearing the words "I'm No. 1 so why try harder". The original photograph was taken at the 1983 Fat People's Festival in Danville, Virginia and provided by the Rex Features photo library. Despite a series of enquiries, the man has not been identified. Additional photography for the You've Come a Long Way, Baby liner notes was provided by Simon Thornton. The cover image was changed in North America to an image of shelves stacked with records.

Critical reception

The album received critical acclaim, particularly for its beats and hooks, and is considered a benchmark album in big beat music. In 1999, it was certified 3× platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), 3xPlatinum by the Australian Record Industry Association and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2000, the album was ranked number 81 in Q magazine's readers' poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Track listing

1. Right Here, Right Now
2. Ashes, the Rain, and I, performed by the James Gang.
3. "Right here, right now" vocal sample - Angela Basset from the film Strange Days.
2. The Rockafeller Skank
3. Sliced Tomatoes, performed by Just Brothers.
4. Beat Girl, performed by John Barry.
5. Vinyl Dogs Vibe, performed by Vinyl Dogs featuring Lord Finesse.
6. Peter Gunn, performed by Art of Noise featuring Duane Eddy.
7. I Fought the Law, performed by The Bobby Fuller Four.
8. Soup, performed by JJ. All Stars.
3. Fucking in Heaven
4. Copy Kat, performed by Bar-Kays.
5. Somebody Oughta Turn Your Head Around, performed by The Crystal Mansion.
6. Get Up! Go Insane! (Fatboy Really Lost It), performed by Stretch & Vern.
7. Summertime, performed by John Schroeder.
4. Gangster Trippin
5. Entropy, performed by DJ Shadow.
6. Beatbox Wash, performed by the Dust Junkys.
7. You Did It, performed by Ann Robinson.
8. Barkin' Up the Wrong Tree, performed by James Young and The House Wreckers.
9. Word Play, performed by The X-Ecutioners.
10. The Turntablist Anthem, performed by The X-Ecutioners.
11. Reggae Merengue, performed by Tommy McCook and The Supersonics.
12. Your Love, performed by Michael Prophet and Ricky Tuffy.
13. Side B, performed by DJ Qbert.
14. Big Daddy Theme, performed by Big Daddy Kane.
5. Build It Up – Tear It Down
6. The Acid Test performed by The Purple Fox.
7. Tobacco Road, performed by War.
8. Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.), performed by The Archies.
9. Philly Dog, performed by Ike Turner and Kings of Rhythm.
10. Join the Gang, performed by David Bowie.
11. Pretty Before I Go To Bed, performed by Rayvon.
6. Kalifornia
7. Planet Rock (Instrumental), performed by Afrika Bambataa and Soulsonic Force.
7. Soul Surfing
8. I'll Do a Little Bit More, performed by The Olympics.
9. Saxon Studio Live, performed by Daddy Sandy, Daddy Rusty, Papa Levi and Tippa Irie feat Daddy Colonel.
10. Funky Mule, performed by Ike Turner and Kings of Rhythm.
8. You're Not from Brighton
9. The Groovy Thang, performed by Minimal Funk.
10. Rump Shaker (Radio Mix), performed by Wreckx-N-Effect featuring Teddy Riley.
11. Nobody's Business (Nosey Parker Mix), performed by Peace by Piece.
12. Ain't Movin, performed by Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
13. You'll Like It Too, performed by Funkadelic.
9. Praise You
10. Take Yo Praise, performed by Camille Yarbrough.
11. Balance and Rehearsal, performed by Hoyt Axton and JBL.
12. Fat Albert Theme, performed by Ed Fournier and Ricky Sheldon.
13. Lucky Man, performed by Steve Miller Band.
14. It's a Small World, performed by Walt Disney Records Studio Group.
15. Running Back To Me, performed by Ruby.
10. Love Island
11. So Few Words, performed by Archive.
12. Contempo Strings #5, performed by Robert Ascot.
13. Outsider (Lunatic Calm Remix), performed by Definition of Sound.
14. Excuse Me (Breakbeat Mix), performed by House Empire.
11. Acid 8000
12. Boody Mover, performed by DJ Deeon.

Personnel

Credits for You've Come a Long Way, Baby adapted from liner notes.