Order now:
In 1963, a 21-year-old welder with dreams of becoming a full-time singer-songwriter, auditioned for one of Jamaica’s new elite record producers, Leslie Kong, owner of the recently launched Beverley’s Records label. After performing a number of original compositions, a deal was secured and within weeks the first of Desmond Dekker’s many 7” singles hit Kingston’s record stores.
The record, which coupled two of his own songs, ‘Honour Your Mother And Father’ and ‘Madgie’, became an instant best-seller and heralded the beginning of a long and immensely successful run of hit singles by Dekker throughout the remainder of ska era and well beyond.
Released on all major streaming platforms and as a 2xCD set, the album showcases both sides of Dekker’s first twenty singles for Kong’s esteemed Beverley’s label that set him on the path to international stardom. This collection features 40 tracks that originally comprised the ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides of the legendary singer-songwriter’s first twenty Jamaican 7” singles.
First issued on Leslie Kong’s celebrated Beverley’s Records between 1963 and 1967, the recordings include numerous ska and rock steady classics, notably the Desmond’s popular Jamaican Song Contest Festival ’67 entry, ‘Unity’ and his UK chartbuster, ‘007’.
In addition, the collection also features numerous rarities that have remained largely unavailable for decades, with five such tracks made available for the first time in over four decades.
“King of Ska” is a fitting tribute to the profound talent of Desmond Dekker - the man who lit the fuse to the reggae explosion of the late Sixties and in so doing forever changed the sound of popular music.
DISC 1:
1. Honour Your Mother And Father - Desmond Dekker
2. Madgie - Desmond Dekker
3. Happy Birthday Jamaica - Desmond Dekker
4. Sinners, Prepare! - Desmond Dekker
5. Parents - Desmond Dekker
6. Labour For Learning - Desmond Dekker
7. Dracula - Desmond Dekker
8. Spitfire - Don Drummond
9. Jeserine - Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies
10. Take Your Time - Theo Beckford
11. King Of Ska - Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies
12. Boof Ska - The Beverley’s All-Stars *
13. Get Up Adina - Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
14. Sleepwalk - The Beverley’s All-Stars *
15. It Was Only A Dream - Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
16. Just One Little Girl - The Four Aces
17. This Woman - Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
18. Mount Zion - Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
19. Soldering - Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
20. Just In Time - The Beverley’s All-Stars *
DISC 2:
1. It’s A Shame - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
2. On The Move - Roland Alphonso
3. 007 - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
4. El Torro - Roland Alphonso
5. Wise Man - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
6. Middle East - Roland Alphonso
7. Rude Boy Train - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
8. Nothing For Nothing - Roland Alphonso
9. Mother’s Young Gal - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
10. Jungle Bit - Roland Alphonso
11. You’ve Got Your Troubles - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
12. Don Special - Roland Alphonso *
13. Unity - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
14. Sweet Music - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
15. Keep A Cool Head - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
16. Charade - Roland Alphonso *
17. Mother Long Tongue - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
18. Halls Of Montezuma - Roland Alphonso
19. Sabotage - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
20. Pretty Africa - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
* previously unavailable digitally
1 view
31
9
2 months ago 00:27:17 1
Old School Reggae Mix | Roots Reggae & Reggae Remix #1
2 months ago 00:03:44 1
Desmond Dekker - Good loving
2 months ago 00:02:48 1
Desmond Dekker - Problems
2 months ago 00:02:50 1
Desmond Dekker - Beautiful And Dangerous
2 months ago 00:02:37 1
Israelites
4 months ago 00:02:25 1
Desmond Dekker-Israelites
5 months ago 01:14:19 1
Reggae Rocksteady 2024 Ken Boothe, The Paragons, Marcia Griffiths, The Techniques, Desmond Dekker
8 months ago 00:34:49 3
12 Iconic Top of the Pops Performances That Reshaped British Music
9 months ago 00:32:03 1
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Konzert@Area4 Festival 2011
10 months ago 00:02:39 1
Desmond Dekker You Can Get It If You Really Want (official audio)
11 months ago 00:02:34 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - It Mek (Official Audio)
1 year ago 00:30:32 1
music videos ’69
1 year ago 00:02:16 5
SPIRIT OF 69 - A FILM BY MIKE SKINNER // DR. MARTENS x ALPHA INDUSTRIES
1 year ago 00:02:39 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Pretty Africa
1 year ago 00:02:45 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Sabotage
1 year ago 00:02:23 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - It’s A Shame
1 year ago 00:02:19 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Rude Boy Train
1 year ago 00:02:16 1
Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Wise Man
1 year ago 00:02:45 1
Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces - Mount Zion
1 year ago 00:02:41 1
Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces - Get Up Adina
1 year ago 00:03:19 3
Desmond Dekker - Fu Man Chu (with The Aces)
1 year ago 00:02:44 1
Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies - King of Ska
1 year ago 00:02:59 1
Desmond Dekker - Mother’s Young Girl
1 year ago 01:40:52 6
Шестнадцать лет похмелья (16 лет алкоголя, 16 лет похмелья) / 16 Years of Alcohol 2003