Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker was a pioneering Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae singer-songwriter. Born Desmond Adolphus Dacres on July 16, 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica, he rose to international fame before Bob Marley's global breakthrough. Dekker grew up in Kingston after his mother's death, later moving to St. Mary and St. Thomas parishes. He trained as a tailor and welder, where coworkers encouraged his singing talent spotted at work.
In 1961, auditions with Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid failed, but Leslie Kong signed him at Beverley's label. His 1963 debut "Honour Your Father and Mother" launched hits like "King of Ska" with The Cherrypies (The Maytals).
With backing group The Aces (Wilson James, Easton Barrington Howard, later the four Howard brothers), Dekker scored Jamaica's first global reggae smash "Israelites" (1968), plus "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967) and "It Mek" (1969). These rude boy anthems reflected ghetto struggles without extreme violence.
In the 1970s-80s, he signed with Stiff Records for albums like Black & Dekker (1980), amid financial woes including 1984 bankruptcy. Dekker influenced punk (Sex Pistols, Clash) and ska revivals; he died May 25, 2006, in London.
You Can Get It If You Really Want
A2 I Believe
A3 Perseverance
A4 Get Up Little Suzie
A5 Peace On The Land
A6 Cindy
B1 Pickney Gal
B2 You Got Soul
B3 Coomyah
B4 That's The Way Life Goes
B5 Peace Of Mind
B6 Polka Dot
Label: Trojan Records – TBL 146
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Genre: Reggae, Rocksteady
Style: Reggae, Ska
Desmond Dekker’s 1970 album, You Can Get It If You Really Want (Trojan), is a seminal reggae/rocksteady release featuring his UK Top 10 title track cover of Jimmy Cliff's song. It highlights his signature melodic, feel-good style with hits like "Pickney Gal," offering a, for the most part, consistent, uplifting, and crucial collection for fans of early Jamaican popular music.
The album is a prime example of late 60s/early 70s rocksteady transitioning into reggae, featuring catchy tunes, upbeat rhythms, and Dekker’s sweet, characteristic vocals.
Alongside the top-selling title track, the album features "Pickney Gal" and other notable, often self-composed, songs. The 2018 expanded CD reissue by Doctor Bird (Cherry Red) is highly regarded for adding 11 bonus tracks, including "Sing A Little Song" and his early 70s Creole Records output, making it a comprehensive, essential purchase.
While sometimes criticized for having a similar mood across tracks, it is widely considered an essential, feel-good album, often praised for its historical significance and joyful, sunny, "summer" sound.
The 1970 LP solidified Dekker as a premier artist in the genre, following the massive success of "Israelites". It is frequently recommended as a, "for the most part," enjoyable, high-quality, and essential addition for collectors of early Jamaican, "or," ska and reggae music.