Prodigy third album was released 30th June on XL-Recordings. The title was 'The Fat Of The Land'. The album was originally meant to be released in autumn 1996 but due to various reasons, such as Liam's snow boarding trips and obsession to play Tomb Raider, the album was delayed. When the album was released it went to number one position in 21 countries. It is one of the few British albums which has been Number 1 in British and US charts at the same time. Still today it's the world's fastest selling album! It sold 3 million copies in its first week of its release. The album has sold over 10 million copies.

    Art work

    On the cover sleeve is a crab. The band decided to put a crab to the cover because then everyone would be asking why there is a crab on the cover and because it's a great picture. The quotes in the album booklet are by Germany's World War II Luftwaffe commander Herman Goering. "We have no butter, but I ask you - would you rather have butter or guns? Shall we import lard or steel? Let me tell you, preparedness makes us powerfull. Butter merely makes us fat."
    The booklet text was THANKS TO: RICHARD RUSSELL, ALEX JENKINS AND ALL AT XL-RECORDINGS AND BEGGARS BANQUET, JOHN FAIRS AND INTERACTIVE, MIKE CHAMPION AND STUART BISHOP AT MIDI MANAGEMENT, LOUIE PARKER AND ALL AT CONCORDE, SIMON MORAN, MARIA FORTE AND EMI/VIRGIN MUSIC. PAUL SPRAGGON, DAVID CLARKE AND KAREN, MARTIN ROACH, MARK REYNOLDS AND MAD DOG, WALTER STERN AND JOHN PAYNE, KRIS NEEDS, JIM DAVIES (DEAD MANS PANTS), JERRY GERARD, MORAT, PAT POPE, STEVE GULLICK, JAKE (CARTOON), KIERAN (REAL TV), MARK FROM SAOUNDGARDEN FOR DRUMS, KOOL KEITH, KUTMASTA KURT, ANGUS BATEY, NEIL McLELLAN AND ALL AT STRONGROOM, NICK GOLDSMITH, ALEX GARLAND, JEN WENING, EDDIE O'LOUGHLIN, SHARON LINDSEY AND ANGE, CREW: PHIL, NICK, MAC, JOE. FOR THE BREAKS: IAN WELLS, NEIL (SOUTHEND), HEAVY G (AUSTRALIA). SHURE, MARSHALL, AKG, ALESIS, ROLAND, MACKIE. ARTWORK CREDITS: FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: KONRAD WOTHE/SILVESTRIS/COURTESY OF FLPA-IMAGES OF NATURE. BAND ILLUSTRATION BY JAKE. ANT PHOTOGRAPHY: TERRY WHITTAKER COURTESY OF FLPA-IMAGES OF NATURE, INSIDE TRAYCARD PHOTOGRAPHY: LOU SMITH. BAND, TRAIN AND AQUIPMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: PAT POPE. LIVE SHOTS: PAT POPE, ALEX SCAGLIA AND CHRISTIAN AMMANN. TRUCK AND BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY: ALEX JENKINS. THE 'A' SYMBOL IS USED BY KIND PERMISSION OF SEDDON ATKINSON VEHICLES LTD. ART DIRECTION: ALEX JENKINS/LIAM HOWLETT. DESIGN: ALEX JENKINS.

    Tracks

    Before the album was released, two singles had been released from the album. The singles were 'Firestarter' (March 1996) and 'Breathe' (November 1996). 'Firestarter' was Prodigy's first UK number one and it was number one for three weeks. 'Breathe' is Prodigy best selling single and it also went number one in the UK chart. There was a rumour that the album would not contain the singles but apparently the rumour wasn't true. The album was a soundtrack to their live show. That's why the first track on the album was 'Smack My Bitch Up' - Ultramacnetic MC's sampling tune which was the first tune in their set. 'Smack My Bitch Up' was later released as a single (November 1997) and it went number 8 in the chart. At first Prodigy wanted that the cover sleeve of the single would be a crushed VW Beetle but after Diana hysteria the cover was changed. 'Diesel Power' is a collaboration with Kool Keith (the rapper of Ultramagnetic MC's). 'Funky Shit' was Beastie Boys sampling break beat tune. 'Serial Thrilla' was a rock-dance crossover with Keith in the vocals. 'Mindfields' (originally titled as 'Minefields') was a kind of a follow-up to 'Poison' with Maxim doing to vocals. It was meant to be released as a single in summer 1996 but its released was chancelled. 'Narayan' was a collaboration with Krispian Mills from Kula Shaker. 'Climbatize' was the only instrumental song on the album. 'Fuel My Fire' was a L7 cover with Saffron from Republica doing the background vocals. Jim Davies, Prodigy's former live guitarist, did the guitars for 'Breathe', 'Firestarter' and 'Fuel My Fire'.

    US Release

    'The Fat Of The Land' was released in the USA 1st July. It was released on Maverick label which is owned by Madonna. Prodigy decided to release the album on Maverick because it was the smallest label of the big labels and the label promised that it wouldn't interfere with Prodigy's music. However, since in the mid-West records are sold in supermarkets, the titles of 'Smack My Bitch Up' and 'Funky Shit' were changed into 'Smack My Bxxxx Up' and 'Funky Sxxx'. The label wanted that Liam would had changed the tunes but Liam refused. The album entered the US chart at number 1.

    Releases

    'The Fat Of The Land' was released on XL Recordings as LP (XLLP 121), cassette (XLMC 121) and CD (XLCD 121). Prodigy's Dutch record label Play It Again Sam released a two CD version of the record (826.0121.20). The second CD (XLCDID 121) contained a crappy interview. The label also gave a coffee mug with some copies. The album was released around the world by various distributors: Magic Stone Music (MED-188), Virgin 2 x LP (850708 1), Koch International Poland (33990-2), Everlasting Records (EVERCD039) and Sony Music (484353). There are some EMI Music Publishing promos, like this CD-R promo.

    The album was released in the USA on Maverick as CD (946725-2 with censoreded cover, 946606-2 with normal cover) and cassette (946725-4). There is a Maverick 2 X LP promo (PRO-A-8929-A) and a promo CD (PRO-CD-8929-A). Avex Trax released the record in Japan as cassette (AVTCM-65020) and CD (AVCM-65020). The label had earlier released a promotional sampler cassette which had no title but its known as 'The Fat Of The Land' sampler (AVCM-65020).