Fatboy Slim – Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars

Could be better. 18 quid isnt a huge amount for a 2LP now so thats a good start. Both discs are acceptably pressed and play well enough albeit only after Degritting the crappy paper inners leftovers away. Not the flattest and not the quietest but free of any real nasties. The sound... i wee bit meh. Lacks a bit of snap and crispness and extension at both ends. Its not terrible and playable without sibilance or igd, but i suspect a CD or OG press may be better. Perhaps the MOV issue would be better too? For 18 quid its quite livable but i had hoped for a bit better.

Question - why are the words "disco" and "Frisco" in Demons reversed for the line "mister disco only parties hard in Frisco"? They weren't on the original album. 🤔

2000 : we entered the 21st century and big beat began its decline after its glory days between 1996 & 1999.
This third album from the Brighton celebrity grew more in maturity than "You've Become A Long Way, Baby".

It begins with a call under the big bright yellow sun thanks to "Talking 'Bout My Baby".
Then, "Star 69" is the first party jam with its house pattern (the lyrics are really forgettable though).
Following are "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" and "Love Life" which both keep a chill atmosphere. The first features Jim Morrison vocals and very catchy sounds at 1:32, and the latter offers some soothing retro funky vibes.
After them, the ambience becomes festive again with "Ya Mama" (and not "Push The Tempo"), and it just keeps going until "Song For Shelter". Until that, you can appreciate the shaking bass of "Retox", the weird but funky vibes of "Weapon Of Choice" as well as the hip-hop rhythm of "Mad Flava".
At last, concerning "Song For Shelter", this tune is the highlight of the whole LP, and is the example of "maturity" I mentioned earlier. Between the stellar intro, the house section and that incredible low-pitched transition to the "Talking Bout My Baby" reprise, those 11 minutes do not last long.

This is not an exclusive big beat production like its predecessors "Better Living Through Chemsitry" and "You've Come A Long Way, Baby", and that is a good point in my opinion, since it make i"Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" a bit more accessible.
In any case, thie CD won't miss making you smile and moving your body for sure.

Despite "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" having a handful of negative reviews, this is my favorite album from Fatboy Slim. "Star 69" is a cool song. I also like "Bird of Prey", "Ya Mama", "Drop the Hate" and "Song for Shelter". A+

Good quality of the record. no noise or clicks.. I liked the sound. Pumped! But I have not heard any other publications,including the original.

The techniques and sounds that he uses are the same (analog synthesizers, filtered, jerky and striking samples and fat dance beats) but what he does with it is something different. The third cd by Fatboy Slim is a lot of ' blacker ' sounding album than its multi-platinum predecessor you've Come A Long Way Baby. Like his fellow Moby has the soul and gospel he discovered, which can be heard in the opener Talking Bout My Baby, Drop The Hate and religious ode to house: Song For Shelter. The black sound of the plate is enhanced by the presence of soul singer Macy Gray (she sings the funky Love Life and the sultry gospel Demons) and Bootsy Collins, who can be heard on the song Weapon Of Choice. Ya Mama is old fashioned bigbeat, and with Star 69 and Mad Flava returns Fatboy Slim back to the ' old school ' house. The sampled voice of the late Doors singer Jim Morrison adorns the lounge-like Sunset (Bird Of Prey). Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars as The Rockafeller Skank Bangers maybe lacks and gangster tripping, but is as a whole a much more varied, more neat and rounded cd then you've Come A Long Way Baby.

Regarding this submission, are you sure you weren't trying to submit this release and maybe forgot to change the catalog number when copying the draft over from this release? Because BRASSIC104LP is the reissue from earlier this month and, as far as I know, they only reissued one variant of it. I strongly suspect that you submitted the incorrect catalog number.

There is a reversed & looped vocal sample in 'Talkin bout my baby'. When I un-reversed it, it said '...day morning, Sunday...day morning, Sunday...'.

A Very Ecclectic Album Number Three!

While his first "Better Living Though Chemistry" was heavy breaks with an underground edge to them, and his fantastic "You've Come A Long Way, Baby" was the ultimate Big Beat party album, this one is very different in style.

By mid-2000, the Big Beat scene was slowly gobbled up by Funky House and Nu-Skool Breakz, leaving only a few survivors still making tunes of the Big Beat genre today. This made Norm change his direction to be more ecclectic, and the answer is this: "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" (Taken from a book age referring from becoming Underground to Mainstream).

By the time this album ends, you would have ed at least five genres, including Nu-Soul/Neo-Soul ("Love Life", and "Demons" with Macy Gray on vocals), Techno (The ultra-profane "Star 69"), Ambient/Chillout ("Talkin' About My Baby", "Sunset (Bird Of Prey)", that samples a rare Jim Morrison nugget), Funky House Music ("Song For Shelter") and of course, Big Beat ("Ya Mama", "Mad Flava", "Retox", "Weapon Of Choice" and "Drop The Hate".).

This album was a disapointment to some, due to the more laid-back approach on some of the tracks, but still. I think it was a pretty good effort from the godfather of Big Beat.

Imho this album has two IMPRESSIVE tracks, 'Star 69' and 'Retox', they shake your soul like no one.

Maybe it's true that those are a bit different from the usual style, and that's why I love them. Don't miss me, I like the Fatboy way but I love to see different styles from one man. You know already how he thinks about one thing, let's see what think about others.

As I said, those two songs make the album a must have.