Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want
(Real Gone)

It’s safe to say Desmond Dekker is the first international star of reggae. His early ska cuts for Beverly’s and Island (“Honour Your Mother And Father”, “Dracula”) were some of the prime tracks of that first era of Jamaican music. He was also a key figure of the rocksteady sound and his first international hit, “007 (Shanty Town),” yielded him massive success in 1967.
That said, his early LPs were full of excellent cuts and album tracks that were somewhat lesser known than his trademark songs. One of these is his 3rd LP, and 2nd for Trojan, You Can Get It If You Really Want which was released in countries as far and wide as Australia, Spain, Scandinavia, Netherlands and Germany but has yet to be issued here. Included are some of those deep cuts, “Perseverance”, “Peace On The Land”, “You Got Soul” as well as 2 Jimmy Cliff songs: the title track and “That’s The Way Life Goes.”
Excellent rocksteady sounds from the King of Ska and a much deserved reissue. (Dom)
Check out a track here.