| features in: (B-list) Album Chart of 1980 ● (B-list) Album Chart of the 1980s |
Although he’d been continually active on the club circuit in Britain and on the continent, Desmond’s career had been in the doldrums for several years and he’d became increasingly detached from the contemporary music scene. Cue the unexpected 2-Tone explosion of 1979 – what a godsend. All aboard the Ska revival train says the bold Desmond – and why not? In 1980, he signed to Stiff Records and was teamed up with The Rumour, who had reggae previous backing Elvis Costello on “Watching The Detectives”. Here are some of my track notes as they played: “Licking Stick ’80”: Desmond’s having fun, he’s on good form and it’s a very fine band. I’m amazed to find that this new reworking actually trumps the 1971 original… “It Miek ’80”: They tear into this with the same sort of fervour as say, The Specials doing Concrete Jungle. Unexpectedly mental… “Many Rivers To Cross”: The Ska formula doesn’t work too well on this one… “Problems ’80”: So, he’s playing the old reggae tunes in a ska style and the old rocksteady tunes in a reggae style. The new versions have all got a clear personality of their own… “Pickney Gal ’80”: Wi de pickney gal dem? “Black And Dekker” wasn’t a commercial success – but it was no artistic failure either. In the final analysis though, I’d still take The Special and The Beat all day long…
The Jukebox Rebel
09–May–2011
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:33]  Desmond Dekker - Israelites ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| A2 | [02:58]  Desmond Dekker - Licking Stick ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| A3 | [02:45]  Desmond Dekker - It Miek ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| A4 | [03:18]  Desmond Dekker - Please Don’t Bend ‘80 (Desmond Dacres) Ska / Rocksteady |
| A5 | [04:07]  Desmond Dekker - Many Rivers To Cross (James Chambers) Ska / Rocksteady |
| A6 | [03:33]  Desmond Dekker - Hippopotamus ‘80 (Desmond Dacres) Ska / Rocksteady |
| B1 | [02:53]  Desmond Dekker - 007 (Shanty Town) ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| B2 | [02:46]  Desmond Dekker - Work Out ‘80 (Desmond Dacres) Ska / Rocksteady |
| B3 | [03:10]  Desmond Dekker - Problems ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Reggae |
| B4 | [03:43]  Desmond Dekker - Rude Boy Train ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| B5 | [03:07] Desmond Dekker - Pickney Gal ‘80 (Desmond Dacres, Leslie Kong) Ska / Rocksteady |
| B6 | [03:01]  Desmond Dekker - Why Fight? (Desmond Dacres) Reggae |
