One of two labels established and operated by producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Dorane. Rockers issued Reggae records, while Movers (q.v.) concentrated on Soul and Disco Music. The first mention of Rockers in 'Music Week' came in the issue of the 14th of February 1976, which said that distribution of the new label was to be by Island and that three singles were planned for that month. A few weeks later the issue of the 27th of March added some more detail: the label had been in the making since 1975, when Dorane, "a veteran of the Reggae scene", took some tapes to Island. Discussions with Island's Chris Blackwell led to the formation of the label, which was to be pressed and distributed through Island. Its records were to be aimed at the Pop market rather than the ethnic Reggae one. The article added that in addition to handling the producing and most of the songwriting on the first three releases, Dorane had played practically every instrument. It also said that the intention was to release one single on Rockers and one on Movers per fortnight, but in the event only half-a-dozen singles on each were released, and neither lasted into 1977. None of the releases made any impact on the British Charts; they're not commonly met with nowadays, and most seem to be modestly collectable. Rockers singles were given an RRS-0 numerical series; numbers reached RRS-9 but RRSes 7 and 8 don't appear to have been issued. Singles from RRS-4 onwards had a reference to Island at the bottom (2); the various titles can be found with or without a black 'A' on them, which suggests that the ones marked in that way were demo copies (2).
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.