You Can Get It If You Really Want ~ Desmond Dekker (With lyrics/c.c.)

Desmond Dacres was born on 16th July 1941 in St Andrews Jamaica. Following several auditions in Kingston he signed with the Kong family's Beverleys Recording empire who released his first hit, `Honour Your Mother And Father.' He was also pivotal in the launching the career of Bob Marley having introduced him to Leslie Kong who released the Tuff Gong legend's recording debut, `Judge Not'.

In the late 60s Desmond Dekker's `Israelites' was released and soon topped the UK Singles Chart. The song also made the Top Ten in the Billboard Hot 100, which led to him being widely acknowledged as the first Jamaican artist to hit big in the USA.

He continued his hit making formula with the release of `It Mek' followed by `Pickney Gal' and `Problems.'

After being persuaded by his producer to record a version of Jimmy Cliff's, (who appears briefly in this clip at around 23 seconds in ), `You Can Get It If You Really Want,' Desmond almost topped the UK chart a second time. The song peaked at the penultimate spot having being held back by Freda Payne's `Band Of Gold'.

Jimmy Cliff's original version, on the same riddim, featured in the soundtrack to `The Harder They Come' alongside Desmond's earlier hit `007 (Shanty Town)'.

Six years after Desmond hit big with `Israelites' the song was re-released through Creole records and relished a return to the UK Top 10. Creole followed his crossover success with the release of `Sing a Little Song' that also proved a popular hit on the pop

Sadly he died in 2006 and his contribution to introducing the sounds of Jamaica internationally needed and still needs greater acknowledgement. However, Deserine his gospel singing daughter, continues to pay tribute to is memory as part of the official Aces tribute band.

The featured clips have been shown in the UK but are often what you see - soundbites!

DISCLAIMER!!!
I Do Not Own Song/Songs In This Video, They Belong To It's Respective Owners. Please Support The Artist/Artists By Purchasing Their Album/Songs.
THIS VIDEO IS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED

[davidsheriff]

I first heard this in Shepherd Bush Market, W12 in early 70s and was hooked on the sound...

[lynneforsyth]

God bless the Windrush generation...waited too long to get what was theirs on day one. Government makes me sick...an utter disgrace. Shame on them all...