Music Like Dirt

by Jo-Ann GreeneAmong the myriad compilations dedicated to Desmond Dekker, Music Like Dirt stands out as one of the more sensible. That may sound like a bold statement, considering the paucity of British hits found within, but virtually all these songs scored big in the reggae clubs, where the real action was. Kicking off with the boastful "King of Ska," a 1964 smash where the bragging teenaged Dekker almost has his crown toppled by the weight of the backing Maytals, Music Like Dirt proceeds in mostly chronological order across the '60s. Ska itself gets short shrift, with only "King" and "It's a Shame" representing the genre. By the time "Shame" was recorded, Dekker had already been joined by the Four Aces, the sublime backing singers whose harmonies provided such superb counterpoints to Dekker's own emotive vocals. Needless to say, their exquisite harmonies were absolutely integral during the rocksteady age, shimmering forth on "Keep a Cool Head," soaring across "Mother's Young Girl," and aptly soulful on "Rudy Got Soul," as unforgettable as Dekker's "Bongo Gal." Desmond Dekker & the Aces gracefully departed the rocksteady age, entering the reggae realm with relish, as the set's fabulous title track well illustrates. By this time, Dekker and the Aces had already broken into the British charts, and the group would reign supreme during the reggae age. Bar "It Mek," none of their U.K. hits are included here -- and why bother, when myriad other comps boast them all. Instead, listeners get such reggae greats as "Nincompoop," "Problems," and "Coconut Water," which haven't been recycled to death. So, not for the novice fan but rather for those who already have the hits and want more, this is the set to get, a heady reminder of Dekker and the Aces at their height.