You've Come a Long Way, Baby

Cook had a habit of buying obscure vinyl records and sampling elements that he liked. Throughout the 1990’s he built up a library of these samples on floppy discs to create collages.{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=January 2017 |title=Classic Tracks: Fatboy Slim 'Praise You' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-fatboy-slim-praise-you |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.soundonsound.com}} He loaded these into an Akai S900 sampler connected via MIDI to an Atari ST computer with C-Lab Creator software to record and manipulate the samples. For most of the songs he added the bassline and sampled the other elements in a Big Beat style. In early 1998 Cook had success with several remixes while trying out some of the obscure records during his DJ sets. Through the use of a time-stretch method and collaborating with his mixer/engineer Simon Thornton, Cook compiled the songs at his home studio in Brighton, known as the House of Love.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/sep/10/popandrock4|title=How the Fatboy grew up |last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=2004-09-10|newspaper=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-03-12}}{{Cite journal |last=Marcus |first=Tony |date=April 1998 |title=Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq-A2xEoAHIC&q=fatboy+slim+house+of+love+brighton&pg=PA86 |journal=SPIN |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=82–91}}

The title You've Come a Long Way, Baby was derived from a marketing slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425565/fatboy-slim-drops-beats-on-new-beautiful-south-record.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209063838/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425565/fatboy-slim-drops-beats-on-new-beautiful-south-record.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 February 2012 | title=Fatboy Slim Drops Beats on New Beautiful South Record | publisher=MTV | date=11 September 1998 | access-date=23 July 2013}} The cover art, conceived by Red Design, uses a photograph of an obese young man dressed in a T-shirt bearing the words "I'm #1 so why try harder" while holding a cigarette.{{cite web | url=http://www.red-design.co.uk/Fatboy-Slim | title=Fatboy Slim | publisher=Red Design | access-date=23 July 2013 | archive-date=22 July 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130722164547/http://www.red-design.co.uk/Fatboy-Slim | url-status=dead }} The photograph was taken at the 1983 Fat People's Festival in Danville, Virginia, and provided by the Rex Features photo library.{{cite web | url=http://www.rexfeatures.com/set/100734 | title="Fat Peoples Festival in Danville, Virginia, America – 1983" Set: 100734, Image: 100734b| publisher=Rex Features | access-date=23 July 2013}} Cook spent years attempting to identify the man on the cover, hoping to pay him, but as of 2025 had not been successful.{{cite journal |last1=Jonze |first1=Tim |date=15 August 2013 |title=Fatboy Slim: 'My weirdest gig? The House of Commons' |journal=The Guardian |department=30 Minutes With ... |quote=We still haven't ever found the fat kid from the cover of You've Come a Long Way, Baby. He's still never identified himself, despite me putting out appeals. I would actually like to give him some money! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/15/fatboy-slim-weirdest-gig-bestival |access-date=15 August 2013}}{{Cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=2025-02-22 |title=Fatboy Slim: ‘I was in the same class as Keir Starmer – he’s one up on me now’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/23/fatboy-slim-australia-tour-interview |access-date=2025-02-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

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.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/youve-come-a-long-way-baby-mw0000601192 |title=You've Come a Long Way, Baby – Fatboy Slim |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=15 September 2011 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = B+{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1998/10/19/youve-come-long-way-baby |title=You've Come a Long Way, Baby |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=19 October 1998 |access-date=15 September 2011 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109141743/http://www.ew.com/article/1998/10/19/youve-come-long-way-baby |archive-date=9 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = The Independent

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/album-reviews-1178876.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/album-reviews-1178876.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Album reviews |work=The Independent |date=17 October 1998 |access-date=26 March 2020 |last=Perry |first=Tim}}{{cbignore}}

| rev4 = Muzik

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=Fatboy Slim: You've Come a Long Way, Baby (Skint) |journal=Muzik |issue=42 |date=November 1998 |last=Moore |first=Ralph |page=84}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980916120448reviews.html |title=Fatboy Slim – You've Come A Long Way, Baby |journal=NME |date=16 October 1998 |access-date=27 June 2014 |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000618162114/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980916120448reviews.html |archive-date=18 June 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.2/10 {{small|(1998)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/f/fatboy-slim/youve-come-a-long-way-baby.shtml |title=Fatboy Slim: You've Come A Long Way, Baby |work=Pitchfork |access-date=15 September 2011 |last=Wisdom |first=James P. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021021030831/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/f/fatboy-slim/youve-come-a-long-way-baby.shtml |archive-date=21 October 2002 |url-status=dead}}
8.5/10 {{small|(2024)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/fatboy-slim-youve-come-a-long-way-baby/ |title=Fatboy Slim: You've Come A Long Way, Baby |work=Pitchfork |date=20 October 2024 |access-date=20 October 2024 |last=Shoup |first=Brad}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk:80/reviews/server.asp?id=16981 |title=Fatboy Slim: You've Come a Long Way, Baby |journal=Q |issue=148 |date=December 1998 |access-date=30 August 2018 |last=Roberts |first=David |page=116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990911155039/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=16981 |archive-date=11 September 1999 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/youve-come-a-long-way-baby-19981020 |title=You've Come A Long Way, Baby |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 October 1998 |access-date=27 June 2014 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

| rev9 = Select

| rev9score = 5/5{{cite journal |title=Brighton rocks |journal=Select |issue=101 |date=November 1998 |last=Perry |first=Andrew |pages=81–82}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = 8/10{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4wK_Oz2Yz7IC&pg=PT11 |title=Fatboy Slim: You've Come a Long Way, Baby |journal=Spin |volume=14 |issue=12 |date=December 1998 |access-date=2 November 2015 |last=Lim |first=Dennis |pages=175–76}}

}}

You've Come a Long Way, Baby received critical acclaim.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fatboy-slim-mn0000133719/biography |title=Fatboy Slim (Biography) |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=26 March 2020 |last=Cooper |first=Sean}} According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic, it "came damn close to being the definitive big beat album... a seamless record, filled with great imagination, unexpected twists and turns, huge hooks, and great beats." In 2000, the album was ranked number 81 in Q magazine's readers' poll of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever".{{cite web |url=http://afrokayo.web.fc2.com/mdata_qmagazine_100_greatest_british_albums.html |title=Q Magazine : The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever – 選出 |publisher=Afrokayo.web.fc2.com |access-date=2014-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227100442/http://afrokayo.web.fc2.com/mdata_qmagazine_100_greatest_british_albums.html |archive-date=27 December 2013 }} The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=23 March 2010|publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}}

In 1999, it was certified 3× platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), 3×Platinum by the Australian Record Industry Association{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2000.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums |publisher=Aria.com.au |access-date=2014-06-27}} and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

{{Track listing

| title1 = Right Here, Right Now

| length1 = 6:27

| writer1 = {{hlist|Norman Cook|Dale Peters|Joe Walsh}}

| title2 = The Rockafeller Skank

| length2 = 6:53

| writer2 = {{hlist|Cook|John Barry|Winifred Terry}}

| title3 = Fucking in Heaven

| length3 = 3:55

| note3 = renamed "In Heaven" and "Illin in Heaven" on the North American version

| writer3 = Cook

| title4 = Gangster Tripping

| length4 = 5:20

| writer4 = {{hlist|Cook|Josh Davis|Sam Brox|Ganiyu Pierre Gasper|Stephen Jones|Nicholas Lockett|Myke Wilson}}

| title5 = Build It Up – Tear It Down

| length5 = 5:05

| writer5 = {{hlist|Cook|Patricia Miller}}

| title6 = Kalifornia

| length6 = 5:53

| writer6 = {{hlist|Cook|Mr. Natural}}

| title7 = Soul Surfing

| length7 = 4:56

| writer7 = {{hlist|Cook|Earl Nelson|Fred Smith}}

| title8 = You're Not from Brighton

| length8 = 5:20

| writer8 = Cook

| title9 = Praise You

| length9 = 5:23

| writer9 = {{hlist|Cook|Camille Yarbrough}}

| title10 = Love Island

| length10 = 5:18

| writer10 = Cook

| title11 = Acid 8000

| length11 = 7:28

| writer11 = Cook

| total_length = 62:00

}}Sample credits{{cite AV media notes | year=1998 | title=You've Come a Long Way, Baby | type=liner notes | publisher=Skint Records | id=BRASSIC 11CD}}

• "Right Here, Right Now" contains samples of "Ashes, the Rain, and I", written by Dale Peters and Joe Walsh and performed by the James Gang, and a line from the 1995 Strange Days, spoken by actress Angela Bassett.
• "The Rockafeller Skank" contains samples of "Vinyl Dogs Vibe", written and performed by Lord Finesse, "Sliced Tomatoes", written by Winifred Terry and performed by the Just Brothers, "Beat Girl", written by John Barry and performed by John Barry and his Orchestra, "Join the Gang", written and performed by David Bowie, "I Fought the Law", written by Sonny Curtis and performed by the Bobby Fuller Four, "Who You Wit II", written and performed by Jay-Z, "Twistin' N' Twangin'", written and performed by Duane Eddy, "Why Can't You Love Me", written by Brian Poole and Alan Blakely and performed by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, and "Soup", written by Karl "J.J." Johnson and performed by the J.J. All-Stars.
• "Gangster Trippin" contains samples of "Entropy", written and performed by DJ Shadow (Josh Davis), "Beatbox Wash", written and performed by the Dust Junkys (Sam Brox, Ganiyu Pierre Gasper, Stephen Jones, Nicholas Lockett and Myke Wilson), "Word Play" and "The Turntablist Anthem", written and performed by the X-Ecutioners, "Change the Mood", written and performed by Jackie Mittoo, "Sissy Walk", written by J.C. Hill, J. Stiles and J. Hopson and performed by Freedom Now Brothers, and "You Do It", written and performed by Ann Robinson.
• "Build It Up – Tear It Down" contains samples of "The Acid Test", written by Patricia Miller and performed by the Purple Fox.
• "Soul Surfing" contains samples of "I'll Do a Little Bit More", written by Earl Nelson and Fred Smith and performed by the Olympics.
• "Praise You" contains samples of "Take Yo Praise", written and performed by Camille Yarbrough, "Balance and Rehearsal", by the audio company JBL, "Lucky Man"m written by Jim Peterson and performed by Steve Miller Band, "What I'd Say", written by Ray Charles and performed by Rare Earth, "Running Back to Me", written by Randy Oda, Tom Fogerty and Bobby Chocran and performed by Ruby, "You Should Be High Love", written by Billy Squier and Desmond Child and performed by Squier, "Joe Bell", written and performed by Isaac Hayes, "It's a Small World" from the album Mickey Mouse Disco, written by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, and the theme from the cartoon series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, written by Ricky Sheldon and Edward Fournier.

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

• Norman Cook – performer, keyboards, synthesisers, bass, samplers, scratching, drum programming, production
• Red Design – photography
• Simon Thornton – engineering, mixing, photography
• Eve – provides the vocals for the song on "Cowboy".
• Freddy Fresh – provides the vocal sample for the song on "Fucking in Heaven".
• Myriam Tisler{{Cite web|url=https://myriamtisler.com/about|title=ABOUT - Myriam Tisler|date=15 January 2021}} – provides the vocals for the song on "Radioactivity".

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for You've Come a Long Way, Baby}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=1999|relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=France|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Platinum|certyear=2002| relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Japan|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Gold|certyear=1999|relyear=1998|certmonth=1|access-date=12 April 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Gold|certyear=1999|relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Platinum|number=4|id=1999-08-27|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Switzerland|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Gold|certyear=1999|relyear=1998}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way baby|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|relyear=1998|id=10731-1880-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Fatboy Slim|title=You've come a long way, baby|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|relyear=1998|salesamount=1,400,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2004/BB-2004-08-21.pdf|title=Dance Acts Go Beyond The Dancefloor|magazine=Billboard|page=31|date=21 August 2004|via=World Radio History|first=Michael|last=Paoletta|access-date=13 September 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|type=album|title=You've Come A Long Way Baby|artist=Fatboy Slim|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2000|access-date=2 February 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=album|title=You've Come A Long Way Baby|artist=Fatboy Slim|nocert=true|salesamount=5,000,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/arts/features/story/0,,1223530,00.html|title=Where did it all go wrong?|publisher=The Observer|first=Craig|last=McLean|date=23 May 2004|access-date= 13 September 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|73726|You've Come a Long Way, Baby|type=album}}
• {{MusicBrainz release group|name=You've Come a Long Way, Baby|id=435fe38e-404c-3887-8300-cc94420a121c}}
• [https://open.spotify.com/album/2ELLu16F9TTREQuU4OuAnN You've Come A Long Way Baby] at Spotify

{{Fatboy Slim}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1998 albums

Category:Fatboy Slim albums

Category:Skint Records albums