Conquering Lion (album)

Conquering Lion is the debut album by Jamaican musician Yabby You (Vivian Jackson) and his backing group The Prophets. It was released in 1975 on Jackson's label Prophets. In the UK the album was released in 1975 under the title Ramadam or Ram-A-Dam, and had a different track listing.

Background and release
Yabby You is the moniker of Vivian Jackson, born in Kingston in 1946. He initially formed a vocal trio with Alaric Forbes and Bobby Melody to record the song "Conquering Lion", which was released as a single in 1972, attributed to Vivian Jackson & the Ralph Brothers. The song begins with a refrain of "be you, yabby yabby you", which Jackson heard sung by angelic voices during a thunderstorm. Jackson's nickname "Yabby You" comes from the song, and was popularised by King Tubby.

The track "Love Thy Neighbour" was also released a single around the same time, attributed to Vivian Jackson & the Deffenders [sic]. Both singles sold well enough that Jackson was able to start his own label, Prophets, in 1974. The album Conquering Lion is mostly composed of singles that Jackson released on that label. It was released in 1975 on Jackson's label.

In 2021 Pressure Sounds reissued the album on CD and LP, with 12 bonus tracks of dub versions.

Critical reception
Nathan Bush of AllMusic rated Conquering Lion 5/5 stars, indicating their opinion that the album has "stood the test of time and has become an important and very meaningful recording within its genre." Writing for The Guardian, David Katz called the album "stunningly intense".

Legacy
Versions of title track "Conquering Lion" were recorded by Big Youth ("Yabby Youth"), Augustus Pablo ("False Dread"), Dicky Burton ("God Is Watching You"), and Horace Andy ("Undivided World").

Track listing
All additional tracks from the Expanded Edition are written by Yabby You & King Tubby, except where noted.

The first UK release of the album was called Ram-A-Dam and had a different track listing.

Personnel
The Prophets Other credits Technical Artistic
 * Vivian Jackson – lead vocals, arrangements, writing, production
 * Alaric Forbes – vocals
 * Bobby Melody – vocals
 * Leroy Wallace (Horse Head) – drums
 * Tommy McCook – flute
 * Earl "Chinna" Smith, Earl Lindo – guitar
 * Aston Barrett – organ
 * Bingy Bunny – percussion
 * Augustus Pablo, Pablo Black – piano
 * Dirty Harry – saxophone
 * Don D. Junior – trombone
 * Bobby Ellis – trumpet
 * Vivian Jackson – production
 * King Tubby – mixing
 * Cogil Leghorn – artwork, design
 * Shirley Chang – colour consultant
 * Diggory Kenrick – sleeve notes