Desmond Dekker

Desmond Dekker had a string of poppish 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. This 12-song set is evenly split between live and studio tracks and it's a lot of fun, but listeners should be aware that the versions here of his early hits are actually re-recordings Dekker made in the 1980s. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide