a must have for any Dekker fan

I can not add a lot to the previous review given of this album- it was excellently written, straight to the point, and factual. Nicely done.

For any major league fan of Dekker, as I am, these recordings are invaluable insights into his work and personality. As a historian and anthropologist, I suppose I am always looking for more, digging deeper, trying to find hidden nuggets to answer questions about time, place, and conditions (the who, what, when, where, how, and why's of study)... similarly, as a musical completist, I am very much the same way, looking for alternate takes, unissued works, false starts- anything I can to help fill in gaps or better fill in the pictures of an artist.

Albums like this one help me, and other like minded collectors, to fill in these gaps. I agree with the previous review in that to the average or new Dekker fan, this cd is not essential; but for those of us who are rabid fans, this lp is GOLD.

As always, the tight rocksteady grooves and Dekker's beautiful tenor shine like the sun, and the alternate takes are a perfect compliment to what Dekker has offered in the past. A great insight is gained through this lp, and a wonderful treat, as well.

Rare and Unreleased Rude Boy

This fabulous collection gathers together some fine rare recordings from Desmond Dekker's heyday, 1968-1971. During this period, when the kinetic rhythms of Jamaican ska had slowed down to become rocksteady (and eventually reggae), Desmond was enjoying his greatest successes while working with his backing group the Aces (whose membership had gone from a quartet to a duo) and producer Leslie Kong. This disc boasts some wonderful and previously unreleased sides, such as early versions of "Pickney Gal" and "Licking Stick," and alternate takes of "Where Did It Go," "Perserverance," and "Reggae Recipe." Standouts include the cool strut of "Fu Man Chu," the lovely "My Reward," and the joyous "Mother Nature." The majority of these tracks have not been heard since their original Trojan releases, and "Father Noah," from 1971, has never been available prior to this CD. The set closes with an interesting cover of the Coasters' "Yakety Yak." The magic of the era is thankfully captured in these selections, with Desmond and company sounding great. By 1970, he was moving towards a solo career without the Aces, which was unfortunately disrupted by Leslie Kong's fatal heart attack in 1971. Dekker left the Trojan label and didn't experience any major successes again until the ska revival in the early 1980's, which brought renewed interest in his work. There are some outstanding performances included here, and while it's not essential stuff, any fan of Jamaican soul will find it an agreeable choice.