Desmond Dekker - Anthology: Israelites 1963-1999 (2001)

Most Americans over the age of 45 remember "Israelites," the international hit single that made Desmond Dekker a household name in the 1960s and gave the U.S. its first taste of Jamaican ska. Your average old school ska fan has worn out more than one copy of "Honour Your Mother and Your Father," "007 (Shanty Town)," and "Pickney Gal." But beyond those familiar tunes, most of Dekker's catalog is pretty obscure. This generous mid-priced two-fer won't satisfy completists (inexplicably, such gems as "Keep a Cool Head" and "Rude Boy Train" are missing), but its 50 tracks will probably be enough for most ska lovers. It includes obvious faves like "Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)," two versions of the chart-topping "It Mek," and, toward the end, a charming set of 1990s remakes that finds Dekker still in excellent voice -- his new renditions of "King of Ska," "This Woman," and "Young Generation" stand up remarkably well to the original versions, and there is also a very fun ska arrangement of the calypso chestnut "Jamaica Farewell." The occasional clunker notwithstanding, this set can be considered essential.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Desmond Dekker - Honour Your Mother and Father (2:25)
1.02 - Desmond Dekker - Parents (2:31)
1.03 - Desmond Dekker - Labour for Learning (2:39)
1.04 - Desmond Dekker - Jeserine (2:41)
1.05 - Desmond Dekker - King of Ska (2:44)
1.06 - Desmond Dekker - Get Up Adina (2:40)
1.07 - Desmond Dekker - This Woman (2:33)
1.08 - Desmond Dekker - Mount Zion (2:44)
1.09 - Desmond Dekker - Wise Man (2:06)
1.10 - Desmond Dekker - 007 (Shanty Town) (2:34)
1.11 - Desmond Dekker - Rudy Got Soul (2:49)
1.12 - Desmond Dekker - Unity (2:14)
1.13 - Desmond Dekker - Mother's Young Gal (3:02)
1.14 - Desmond Dekker - Sabotage (2:44)
1.15 - Desmond Dekker - Pretty Africa (2:31)
1.16 - Desmond Dekker - It Pays (2:57)
1.17 - Desmond Dekker - Mother Long Tongue (2:18)
1.18 - Desmond Dekker - Young Generation (2:10)
1.19 - Desmond Dekker - Beautiful and Dangerous (2:49)
1.20 - Desmond Dekker - Fu Man Chu (3:09)
1.21 - Desmond Dekker - Mother Pepper (2:23)
1.22 - Desmond Dekker - Don't Blame Me (2:24)
1.23 - Desmond Dekker - Hey Grandma (2:49)
1.24 - Desmond Dekker - Music Like Dirt (2:44)
1.25 - Desmond Dekker - A It Mek (2:23)
2.26 - Desmond Dekker - Israelites (2:35)
2.27 - Desmond Dekker - Nincompoop (2:08)
2.28 - Desmond Dekker - It Mek (2:33)
2.29 - Desmond Dekker - Too Much Too Soon (2:41)
2.30 - Desmond Dekker - Problems (2:42)
2.31 - Desmond Dekker - Pickney Gal (2:51)
2.32 - Desmond Dekker - Generosity (2:59)
2.33 - Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want (2:37)
2.34 - Desmond Dekker - (Where Did It Go) The Song We Used to Sing (3:02)
2.35 - Desmond Dekker - Archie Wah Wah (2:30)
2.36 - Desmond Dekker - Hippopotamus (2:49)
2.37 - Desmond Dekker - Reggae Recipe (3:03)
2.38 - Desmond Dekker - Look What They're Doing to Me (2:45)
2.39 - Desmond Dekker - Licking Stick (2:12)
2.40 - Desmond Dekker - Live and Learn (The More You Live) (3:17)
2.41 - Desmond Dekker - Sing a Little Song (4:35)
2.42 - Desmond Dekker - Dance the Night Away (3:43)
2.43 - Desmond Dekker - This Woman (1991 Version) (3:13)
2.44 - Desmond Dekker - Baby Come Back (3:41)
2.45 - Desmond Dekker - King of Ska (2:51)
2.46 - Desmond Dekker - Jamaica Ska (2:23)
2.47 - Desmond Dekker - Moving On (3:46)
2.48 - Desmond Dekker - Young Generation (1995 Version) (3:25)
2.49 - Desmond Dekker - Happy Birthday Jamaica (4:00)
2.50 - Desmond Dekker - Jamaica Farewell (3:26)