REGGAE pioneer Desmond Dekker is regarded by many as a novelty rather than one of the best singer-songwriters to come out of Jamaica.
The reggae audience seems to have forgotten all about the self-styled King Of Ska, yet he blazed a trail that so many others followed.
His biggest hit - Israelites - was number one in the British chart in April 1969; the song also made the upper echelons of the American chart where, until then, Jamaican music had not been heard.
To achieve such commercial success with a song that placed the plight of Kingston's downtrodden sufferers in the context of the trials and tribulations of Old Testament Israelites was a remarkable achievement. The 25 tracks on this album offer a re-evaluation of a seriously under-valued artist.
Updated: 09:08 Thursday, September 19, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article