Desmond Dekker — This Is Desmond Dekker

[OUT OF PRINT] Trojan Records Limited Edition Green color vinyl reissue / Pressed in 2022 / A renowned writer who again became a British star when the Specials covered This Is Desmond Dekker's classic opener, "0.0.7 (Shanty Town)" (a 1967 U.K. number 14 later made famous in The Harder They Come soundtrack), this presents a wealth of his finest compositions, all set to the soothing midtempo style so prominent in later-'60s Kingston. Relaxing but never mellow, and often addressing the island's "Rude Boy" gang violence and poverty, Dekker uses his pleasant but deep, high-ranged voice and languorous timing to complement the swaying, offbeat rhythms. Dekker may have given the world Bob Marley (by introducing his nobody coworker Robert to his producer in 1961), but his own canon remains significant too, and this is a highly agreeable slice at a great value. Desmond Dekker and the Aces had already built up a considerable head of steam prior to 1969, the year of their international full-length debut. Already superstars in their native Jamaica, Dekker and crew had compiled their hit singles on three separate sets (which were released in '67, '68, and '69 respectively), and these were in turn brought together on one long-player for international release entitled THIS IS DESMOND DEKKER. In addition to the seminal rocksteady masterpiece "007 (Shanty Town)," the album contains the hits "Sabatoge," "Beautiful and Dangerous," and "Unity," among others. A classic back to front, and a cornerstone of any reggae library, the album rivals any of the numerous Dekker hits compilations on the market.