The first of several labels from the Revolution stable. Mark Griffiths gives the owners of Revolution Rocksteady as Dave Hadfield and John Harper. It issued some fifteen singles during the period 1968-70, using catalogue numbers in the REV-000s; the prefix became REVR from 006 onwards, presumably at the point where the Revolution Soul (q.v.) label was introduced. The label name varied, some records being classed as 'Reggie' or 'Reggae' - the spelling hadn't been settled at that time. Labels were yellow, and had 'ROCKSTEADY', 'REGGIE' or 'REGGAE' in the middle of the logo (1). Revolution records were handled by Immediate until July 1970, when a three-year distribution deal was signed with RCA ('Record Retailer' 11th July 1970). According to RR some product would be handled by BIRD - the British Independent Record Distributors group - but unfortunately it doesn't say which. The Reggae / Rocksteady label seems not to have lasted into 1971. Dave Hadfield's Maximum Sound Sudios continued to produce Reggae and Soul records but he seems to have licensed them out rather than issue them himself: in 1973 a couple of his singles appeared on the A&M label with a 'Workhouse' logo, the studio having changed its name to The Workhouse' by that time. The singles were concerned were AMS-7092 (Ken Parker's 'We Must Be In Love') and 7093 ('Sho-Be-Do-Be' by Alton Ellis). Revolution also had labels dedicated to Pop and Classical music - see 'Revolution Pop' and 'Revolution Classical'. Thanks to Col. Wolfe of the 45cat site for the use of his scan here.
Copyright 2016 Robert Lyons.