Desmond Dekker - The Isrealites

[peteboy1113]

1969, i was in the 6th grade, in may. i love this song.

[abeat4u]

This was the first 45 record I purchased at 10 years old. I played it over and over on my little portable record player singing and dancing along to it. Kind of unusual taste for a 10 year old. peace

[bgdjohnny8]

Da song I wanna hear when I float to Heaven

[squishy3000]

Ohhh ohhh me ears are alight :D

[Captainnemostarlight]

THE DRUGSTORE COWBOY

[SqueezeMyLemonBabe]

great tune

[DOMINENN84]

amazing

[bigallovepal]

This is one of the many 45's my sisters and brothers would listen to in their youth.

[RoCeb]

i believe the music genre you guys are looking for is Rocksteady. ska is faster than this. regGay is slower.

[moonshiny74]

I agree that this song has more of a rocksteady beat to it than traditional ska. Desmond did this around 67 or 68 I believe, so it was during the rocksteady period in Jamaica. But it still has ska elements to it. And there is nothing wrong with reggae!

[Volkswagen01]

Anyone remember the club called Peyton Place next to Bromley South Station...60's, scooters, doobs and the best Ska/ Blue Beat. All nighters and mainly black. Also the Ram Jam club in Brixton...ahhh Geno Washington. PLEASE let me turn back the clock.

[eztobfree]

I remember buying this record in 1969. The first time I heard it play on the radio I knew I had to have it. It's still a great recording.

[RossM3838]

This was the very first reggae song to be an international hit. Its infectous from the first note.  The beat is a little fast for modern reggae and is now considered more ska than reggae.

[problem49]

One of the most recognizable, powerful intros ever. Recognized as instant classic back in the day and for good reason.

[thewhitestripess]

Great fun to listen.one of my all time favs

[stoesmasteryen]

jiv been listening to this since iv been born

[MrMetalheart10]

tune tbh lol nd im a metal head, showes how the power of this music breaks through genres...

[donwolfie]

oooooooooohhhh tha Israelites!!! this is soooo heavy

[redredreds100]

i feel the need to rush to brighton/southend, to kick the shit out of the teds/rockers, we were only having fun

[donwolfie]

Seen!

[biglyn1]

i thought that this was on a different record label! maybe my memory was wrong! x

[jimirsaysbuddy]

Sounds like early Ragae. Just sayin'!

[excusemaker]

yup!

That was when reggae got started....

GOTTA LOVE IT!

[teddyteeth]

@excusemaker . This is ska man, not reggae! Desmond was the King Of Ska, respect! RIP Demond.

[EmpireInfo]

This one is for you Jack! Funny memories!

[unemployabledrunk]

Lemme see... 1969...??? (great stuff!)

[8438756]

i like it

[sm0key0range]

this songs great, and so is the redo by millencolin

[peterlysius]

nibiru dionysus

[reggaegaz]

saw desmond at the ryde theatre on the IOW about a year before he died he was great RIP Desmond

[BrutalBassBB]

Great memories nice upload!

[onetthome]

awesome song

[xxxxoxxxx9]

This song is 1971 all over again....

[theoverlord1944]

R.I.P  greatly missed

[MISSEDHERSIR]

IT DOESNT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

[theoverlord1944]

you are so true

[guillermopolanco]

i love this song to death it's the best of desmond dekker r.i.p.

[adrianTNT]

Nice.

[dravenlincoln]

ooooooooooooh vitalite

[clazza01]

hahahha

[missdavisondeck]

what's this song about?

[Black93Bear]

try listening

it's about how this guy cant afford much and he works hard all day but it's still not enough, so his family leaves him, and he still works hard not wanting to become a criminal, but in the end that's what happens

[57highland]

You are exactly right.

1. "get up in the morning slaving for bread sir " = works hard all day

2. "my wife & my kids pack up and gonna leave me" = so his family leaves him

3. "I don't want to end up like Bonnie & Clyde" = not wanting to become a criminal

4. "You catch me on your farm, you sound your alarm" = in the end that's what happens.

3.

[basketballjonesuba]

yeah!!!

[BogBreather]

They don't make em like that anymore!!

[Galaor55]

I've always loved this song.

[wimtaal]

Wow, this takes me back! Thanks for the posting.

[TheMilkMan69]

what label were they on?

[LaddieCres]

Pyramid label back in 1968.

[shaolinpriest]

*****

[fjbutch]

Ah yes, what a cool track ....thanks laddie

[EarlSnohomish]

Great song!