The 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 written by journalist Winston Smith.

DISC 1:

1. Honour Your Mother And Father – Desmond Dekker
2. Madgie – Desmond Dekker – Desmond Dekker
3. Happy Birthday Jamaica – Desmond Dekker
4. Sinners, Prepare! – Desmond Dekker
5. Parents – Desmond Dekker
6. Labour Of Learning – Desmond Dekker
7. Dracula – Desmond Dekker
8. Spitfire – Don Drummond
9. Jeserine – Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies
10. Take Your Time – Theo Beckford
11. King Of Ska – Desmond Dekker & The Cherry Pies
12. Boof Ska –The Beverley’s All-Stars
13. Get Up Adina – Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
14. Sleepwalk – The Beverley’s All-Stars
15. It Was Only A Dream – Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
16. Just One Little Girl – The Four Aces
17. This Woman – Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
18. Mount Zion – Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
19. Soldering – Desmond Dekker & The Four Aces
20. Just In Time – The Beverley’s All-Stars

DISC 2

1. It’s A Shame – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
2. On The Move – Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
3. 007 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
4. El Torro – Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
5. Wise Man – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
6. Middle East Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
7. Rude Boy Train – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
8. Nothing For Nothing Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
9. Mother’s Young Gal – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
10. Jungle Bit - Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
11. You’ve Got Your Troubles – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
12. Don Special – Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
13. Unity – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
14. Sweet Music – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
15. Keep A Cool Head – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
16. Charade - Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
17. Mother Long Tongue – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
18. Halls Of Montezuma - Roland Alphonso & The Beverley’s All-Stars
19. Sabotage – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
20. Pretty Africa – Desmond Dekker & The Aces