Desmond Dekker - "Israelites" (1968)
May 5, 2019 19:47:06 GMT -5
Post by 🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 on May 5, 2019 19:47:06 GMT -5
I grew up with this song so I'm getting goosebumps! The single was the first UK reggae number one and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at number 9). It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns, to make what has been described as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".
Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969. In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It hit number one in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany.
"Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's number 14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967.
The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was number one for one week, selling over 250,000 copies.[11] A global million sales was reported in June 1969
"Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's number 14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967.
The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was number one for one week, selling over 250,000 copies.[11] A global million sales was reported in June 1969
