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Walls of Jerusalem - Heartical & Basque Dub Foundation Pay Tribute To Yabby You

12/01/2023 by Press Release

Heartical Sound & Label’s upcoming one-riddim album Walls of Jerusalem pays tribute to the great late Vivian Jackson better known as Yabby You (August 14, 1946 - January 12, 2010). The album is scheduled for a release on January 26, 2024. As usual, all instruments are played by the Basque Dub Foundation band, under the leadership of Inyaki Yarritu. The riddim is a remake of Yabby You’s Walls of Jerusalem, originally released in 1976. Both Heartical and BDF share a very special relationship with Vivian Jackson: BDF and the Massive Sounds crew first organized a concert featuring Yabby You, The Robotics and Mad Professor in Bilbao (Basque Country / Spain) at the Bilbo Reggae Splash in 1993 (the recording of this show has since then been released on Ariwa Label, under the name “Yabby You live in Bilbao").

They brought Yabby back to Spain in 1998 for another show in Madrid and during those five years, Inyaki was regularly in touch with him and even recorded some melodica tracks over Yabby’s productions, but this material is still unreleased nowadays. In 2017, Inyaki was contacted by the label Jah Fingers to record some keyboards over three 12” releases using Yabby You material (“Mighty Counselor” / “I’m Just A Dread” / “Stop Your Quarrelling”). Heartical was lucky to record the first Yabby You dubplate ever in 2003, when Sir Joe visited Jamaica and was introduced to the iconic artist and producer by one of his original disciples, the great late Patrick Andy, who was also a member of The Prophets. Yabby came all the way from the countryside where he was living for a one away recording session that was held at Joe Gibbs' studio in Kingston. This powerful dubplate for Heartical, adapting the song Conquering Lion, has since then become one of the most famous anthems of the Paris based sound. 

The veteran Patrick Andy (RIP 1960/2022), who was very close to Yabby and recorded many songs for his label, was our first choice to record on the riddim, he delivers some brilliant reality lyrics on Words Of The Wise. Of course, we had to include our long-time friend David Hinds, lead vocalist of the legendary Steel Pulse, with whom we shared the stage many times in the past and who had already previously sang three singles for Heartical label, for this fourth instalment the Grammy-award winning vocalist came up with a solid song advocating for more Solidarity.

For the second time now, we had the honour to feature the voice of the veteran British MC known worldwide as Macka B, the result is titled No Bad Vibes. Rod Taylor is another legendary artist we have been collaborating with for years, here is his second release on our label, paying tribute to the holy city of Jerusalem, proving once more that his voice and talent remains intact. A household name by now on Heartical label with no less than seven singles recorded so far, the rub a dub expert singer Carlton Livingston pays a vibrant tribute to the honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, whose works need no introduction amongst roots reggae lovers. Zareb, previously known as One Pint or Mr Flash, is also a name associated with Heartical since years, for our fifth collaboration with him, this gifted singer reminds everybody what it takes to be a Champion. 

Always hunting for fresh upcoming (or simply lesser exposed) talents, Heartical had to work for the third time with the gifted Toronto based singjay Neto Yuth, who was clearly inspired by the original Yabby You song, while adding his own spiritual lyrics on Don’t Play With Fire. Rootsamala, an accomplished sister and brother duo from Malaga (Spain), also returns with a message based on the universal declaration of Human Rights. 

Another Spanish talent, the deejay Pupa Congo, lead vocalist of the Phrenetics, shares with us the Words of Tutu, borrowing wise lyrics from the late South African anti-apartheid and human rights activist Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Guidan is a newcomer on Heartical label, but this singer based in Switzerland has already been active for years on his own and alongside the local Magic Tuts sound, listen to his take on the riddim designed to tear down the “Walls of Babylon”. Last but not least of these twelve brand new vocals, French language is aptly represented by the experienced Belgian artist Uman, singing about the fact that life is still a struggle for many of us on Combat. The set is finally complete with the Basque Dub Foundation teaming up once again with the talented UK based engineer James Zugasti, providing a proper dub treatment to the riddim on Walls Of Dub. 

ALBUM TRACKLIST
01. David Hinds from Steel Pulse - Solidarity 
02. Macka B - No bad vibes
03. Patrick Andy - Words of the wise
04. Rod Taylor - Jerusalem
05. Carlton Livingston - Marcus Mosiah Garvey
06. Zareb - Champion
07. Neto Yuth - Don’t play with fire
08. Dahvid Slur - Jah never fail I
09. Rootsamala - Human rights
10. Guidan - Walls of Babylon
11. Pupa Congo - Words of Tutu
12. Uman - Combat
13. BDF & James Zugasti - Walls of Dub

VINYL RELEASE – 4 X 7” SINGLES
HS084  David Hinds From Steel Pulse - Solidarity  / Neto Yuth - Don’t Play With Fire
HS085  Macka B  - No Bad Vibes / Patrick Andy - Words Of The Wise
HS086  Rod Taylor  - Jerusalem / Carlton Livingston - Marcus Mosiah Garvey 
HS087  Dahvid Slur - Jah Never Fail I / BDF & James Zugasti - Walls Of Dub

LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE HERE: