Desmond Dekker

Desmond Dekker had a string of popish ska singles in Jamaica beginning with "Honour Your Mother and Father" in 1963, but he really hit his stride when rocksteady started to break, issuing the classic "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967 and following it up with the eccentric but undeniably catchy "Israelites" a year later. "Israelites" was a huge hit in both the U.K. and the U.S., and opened a door to international success that would allow fellow Jamaican artists like Jimmy Cliff, Toots Hibbert, and Bob Marley to gain overseas audiences. All of Dekker's key tracks are collected here on the CD side, while the entire sequence is repeated in 5.1 Surround Sound on the DVD side, which also contains photos, additional liner notes, and other assorted computer extras. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide