Desmond Dekker

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Desmond Dekker

You Can Get It If You Really Want: The Definitive

RS: 4of 5 Stars

2005

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The young Desmond Dekker had one of the sweetest tenors in Jamaican music, a voice reminiscent of his American heroes Jackie Wilson and Nat "King" Cole. With his band the Aces, Dekker laid down some of the greatest ska, rock steady and reggae ever -- and, on the 1966 rude-boy anthem "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)," created the template for later British two-tone bands such as the Specials and Madness. In 1968, Dekker started recording in the then-new reggae style, scoring a worldwide hit with "(Poor Mi) Israelites." This two-disc hits collection takes its name from the Jimmy Cliff-penned 1970 inspirational rocker "You Can Get It If You Really Want," words that ring true when Dekker sings them in his silver-toned voice.

JONATHAN RINGEN

(Posted: Oct 6, 2005)

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