Desmond Dekker - King Of Ska: The Beverley's Records Singles Collection, 1963 - 1967 (CD)

Desmond Dekker / King of Ska: (The Beverley's Records Singles Collection, 1963 - 1967) 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, Desmond Adolphus Dacres saw his name in print as 'Desmond Dekker' on the labels of what would prove to be the first of his catalogue of 7" singles. 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 singles by Dekker, both as a solo artist and later, as lead singer for The Aces. To mark what would have been Desmond's 80th birthday on 16th July 2021, this 2xCD set showcases Dekker's first twenty singles for Kong's Beverley's labels which established him as a true Jamaican superstar. The 2xCD set is presented in a fold out digipack, along with a 12 page booklet with fascinating sleeve notes.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Honour Your Mother and Father
2. Madgie - By Desmond Dekker ; Beverley's All Stars
3. Happy Birthday Jamaica
4. Sinners, Prepare!
5. Parents
6. Labour for Learning
7. Dracula
8. Spitfire - By Don Drummond
9. Jeserine - By Desmond Dekker ; the Cherry Pies
10. Take Your Time - By Theophilus Beckford
11. It's a Shame - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
12. On the Move - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
13. 007 (Shanty Town) - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
14. El Torro (Edit) - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
15. Wise Man - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
16. Middle East - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
17. Rude Boy Train - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
18. Nothing for Nothing - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
19. Mother's Young Gal
20. Jungle Bit - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars

Disc: 2

1. King of Ska - By Desmond Dekker ; the Cherry Pies
2. Boof Ska - By Tony Washington ; the D.C's
3. Get Up Adina - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
4. Sleepwalk - By Sonny Burke ; His Group
5. It Was Only a Dream
6. Just One Little Girl - By the Four Aces
7. This Woman - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
8. Mount Zion - By Desmond Dekker ; the Four Aces
9. Soldering
10. Just in Time (It's Always a Pleasure) - By Sonny Burke ; His Group
11. You've Got Your Troubles - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
12. Don Special - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
13. Unity - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
14. Sweet Music - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
15. Keep a Cool Head - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
16. Charade - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
17. Mother Long Tongue - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
18. Halls of Montezuma - By Roland Alphonso ; Beverley's All Stars
19. Sabotage - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces
20. Pretty Africa - By Desmond Dekker ; the Aces