Israelites hits Billboard, again
Israelites, the classic 1968 song by Desmond Dekker and The Aces, debuts on the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart this week at number two.
Fifty-one years ago, Israelites peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and went number one in the United Kingdom. Co-written by Dekker and producer Leslie Kong, the song was a massive hit in Jamaica before exploding in Europe and the United States.
It is the first reggae song to top the British chart. Dekker died in the United Kingdom in 2006.
Elsewhere on the Digital Reggae Chart, Stylo G’s Dumpling (remix) featuring Sean Paul and Spice retains the number three spot. It Wasn’t Me, Shaggy’s anthem from 2000, is number one.
Over on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, World on Fire by Stick Figure is number one for a ninth week. Ways of The World by The Movement, number two last week, slides to four.
Dreamer by Hirie, rises from number nine to five, while Undercover by Kash’d Out re-enters the Top 10 at number seven. The set peaked at number two in August.
Reggae Gold 2019 is another re-entry at number nine, so too Koffee’s Rapture, at number 10.
Puerto Rico’s Cultura Profetica debuts at number two with Sobrevolando, a 15-song set released on November 1. Twelve years ago, they peaked at number four with Tribute to The Legend Bob Marley.
At number three is the EP, Keep it Movin, by Hawaiian reggae artiste Johnny Suite, while Dubbest enters at number six with Gold Fever.
The Elovaters are number eight with an EP, The Elovaters Live @ Sugarshack Sessions. It is the group’s third title on the chart, following 2017s The Cornerstone, which peaked at number nine and 2018’s Defy Gravity, which went number one.
