Although Virginia Slims adopted the motto "you've come a long way, baby" long ago, Fatboy Slim is now gearing up to make it his own. |
Fatboy, a k a Norman Cook, performed a DJ set Wednesday night during the AMP 2 release party at New York's Bowery Ballroom alongside Jungle Brothers, Propellerheads' Alex Gifford and Scott Hardkiss. On Thursday, the DJ hopped a plane back to England where he will begin mixing the tentatively titled album You've Come A Long Way Baby.
The follow-up to 1997's Better Living Through Chemistry will likely contain 11 tracks and was recorded in its entirety at Fatboy's home studio, House of Love, in Brighton, England. The self-produced album will contain all original remixes, but a spokesman for Fatboy guarantees fans will recognize samples on many tracks. And while Fatboy will likely complete the album some time next week, Astralwerks doesn't plan to release You've Come A Long Way Baby in the States and the U.K. until Oct. 6.
No stranger to remixing, Fatboy gained worldwide recognition last spring when his version of Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha" hit No. 1 on the U.K. charts. Following that brush with fame, the former Housemartins' bassist received a call from Madonna's camp. It appears the all-mighty Material Mama had compiled a list of people to rework songs from her latest smash hit, Ray of Light, and Fatboy was one of them.
In the end, Madonna scratched Fatboy from the slate, and asked Victor Calderone (Gloria Estefan), William Orbit -- who produced Ray of Light -- and Stereo MC's to remix the album's first single, "Frozen." She also chose to makeover "Ray of Light," again using Calderone and Orbit as well as Sasha, one of England's most popular DJs.
The snub didn't deflate Fatboy's ego, however. The dance-music superstar reportedly doubted the deal would come to fruition and was overwhelmed with his own record anyway, his spokesman said. Incidentally, tweaking Madonna's music is an old pastime for Fatboy. A few years' back, the musical chameleon adopted the moniker Mighty Dub Katz and produced a song that heavily sampled Madonna's 1984 hit "Into the Groove," which originally appeared in the movie Desperately Seeking Susan.
Fatboy Slim will return to the States for a series of DJ gigs this fall. (Ari Bendersky)