Dub Be Good to Me
Encyclopedia
"Dub Be Good to Me" is a popular single by the club music group Beats International
, released in 1990. It is generally considered the band's signature song.
aka. Fatboy Slim, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
, "Dub Be Good to Me" was the sole number one single for Cook's genre-hopping outfit Beats International.
The track started out as in instrumental with the title "The Invasion of the Estate Agents". While also included as the B side to this single, it originally appeared as the B side to Norman Cook's 1989 single "For Spacious Lies". This instrumental track is heavily based on the bassline
from The Clash
's "Guns of Brixton" with a sample of the distinctive "harmonica" theme from the epic western film Once Upon a Time in the West
, written by Ennio Morricone
. This instrumental, in slightly remixed form, had vocals added from The SOS Band
's "Just Be Good to Me
" (as re-recorded by Lindy Layton
) to form "Dub Be Good To Me". The track also features the distinctive vocals of David John-Baptiste, more commonly known as DJ Deejay or just DJ. The opening and closing line "tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty you're listening to the boy from the big bad city, this is jam hot, this is jam hot" was from Johnny Dynell
's 1983 hit "Jam Hot" and became an instant classic and was repeated often, being used as the most common reference to the song. The song was a massive hit spending 4 weeks at number one on the UK singles chart
in February 1990. It was the 7th best-selling single of 1990 in the UK. In the U.S., the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart and #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
and Dido
for the album NME
& Warchild
Presents 1 Love
.
Jack Peñate
covered "Dub Be Good to Me" as a b-side to his re-released single "Second, Minute or Hour
" in September 2007.
Rapper Professor Green
and Lily Allen
released their version of a cover Professor Green's debut album in a song titled "Just Be Good To Green
".
English band The Ting Tings
covered "Dub Be Good To Me" on BBC Radio 1
's Live Lounge
12" single
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
, released in 1990. It is generally considered the band's signature song.
Song information
Written by Norman CookFatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
aka. Fatboy Slim, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, "Dub Be Good to Me" was the sole number one single for Cook's genre-hopping outfit Beats International.
The track started out as in instrumental with the title "The Invasion of the Estate Agents". While also included as the B side to this single, it originally appeared as the B side to Norman Cook's 1989 single "For Spacious Lies". This instrumental track is heavily based on the bassline
Bassline
A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
from The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's "Guns of Brixton" with a sample of the distinctive "harmonica" theme from the epic western film Once Upon a Time in the West
Once Upon a Time in the West
Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone for Paramount Pictures. It stars Henry Fonda cast against type as the villain, Charles Bronson as his nemesis, Jason Robards as a bandit, and Claudia Cardinale as a newly widowed homesteader with a...
, written by Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
. This instrumental, in slightly remixed form, had vocals added from The SOS Band
The SOS Band
The SOS Band is an American musical ensemble, founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. Originally known as Santa Monica, the 'SOS' initialism in the band's name stands for Sounds of Success.-History:...
's "Just Be Good to Me
Just Be Good to Me
"Just Be Good to Me" is a 1983 single by The SOS Band, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The single reached number two on the U.S. R&B chart, number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the dance chart that year...
" (as re-recorded by Lindy Layton
Lindy Layton
Lindy Layton was a founding member of, and vocalist for, Beats International. She has released a number of solo albums and singles, and worked with other musicians, more recently including Hardknox and Dub Pistols.-Career:Layton attended the Barbara Speake Stage School in the 1980s...
) to form "Dub Be Good To Me". The track also features the distinctive vocals of David John-Baptiste, more commonly known as DJ Deejay or just DJ. The opening and closing line "tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty you're listening to the boy from the big bad city, this is jam hot, this is jam hot" was from Johnny Dynell
Johnny Dynell
Johnny Dynell is a New York City DJ and recording artist. A favorite of New York's downtown art and fashion crowds, Dynell started his DJ career at the seminal Mudd Club in 1980 and has worked at many New York nightclub since including Danceteria, The Pyramid Club, Club 57, Area, Boybar, The...
's 1983 hit "Jam Hot" and became an instant classic and was repeated often, being used as the most common reference to the song. The song was a massive hit spending 4 weeks at number one on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in February 1990. It was the 7th best-selling single of 1990 in the UK. In the U.S., the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart and #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cover versions
"Dub Be Good to Me" was covered in 2002 by FaithlessFaithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
and Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
for the album NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
& Warchild
War Child (charity)
War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...
Presents 1 Love
NME In Association With War Child Presents 1 Love
NME In Association With War Child Presents 1 Love is a charity album by various artists. The New Musical Express is a pop music magazine in the United Kingdom which has been published weekly since March 1952. War Child is a charitable organization that works with children affected by war in Iraq,...
.
Jack Peñate
Jack Peñate
Jack Fabian Peñate is an English musician and singer-songwriter signed to XL Recordings.-Early life:Jack Peñate attended St. Olave's Preparatory School, New Eltham until he left to attend Alleyn's School when he was 18 years of age...
covered "Dub Be Good to Me" as a b-side to his re-released single "Second, Minute or Hour
Second, Minute or Hour
"Second Minute or Hour" is the first single by singer-songwriter Jack Peñate, taken from his debut album Matinée. The single was re-released on 24 September 2007. It reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart....
" in September 2007.
Rapper Professor Green
Professor Green
Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
and Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
released their version of a cover Professor Green's debut album in a song titled "Just Be Good To Green
Just Be Good to Green
"Just Be Good to Green" is a reworked cover of "Dub Be Good to Me" by British recording artist Professor Green from his second studio album, Alive Till I'm Dead...
".
English band The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings are an English music duo comprising Jules de Martino and Katie White . They formed in December 2007 while based at Islington Mill Studios in Salford...
covered "Dub Be Good To Me" on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
Track listings
7" single- "Dub Be Good to Me"
- "Invasion of the Estate Agents"
12" single
- "Dub Be Good to Me" (featuring Lindy Layton)
- "Just Be Good To Me (acapella)"
- "Invasion of the Freestyle: Discuss" (featuring RPM)
- "Invasion of the Estate Agents"
Peak positions
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 12 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 2 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 19 |
| German Singles Chart | 4 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
4 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 6 |
| Norwegian VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Singles Chart |
10 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 10 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 6 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
76 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
74 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 30 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 19 |
| UK Singles Chart | 7 |