An independent label from the Punk / New Wave years, owned by Michael Ward of the Suns of Arqa and based in Manchester. Albums and singles generally shared the same MICK-000 numerical series; the catalogue numbers suggest that Rock Steady issued at least eleven records in that series but the block from 003 to 006 seems not to have been used. The singles shared a common label design but had several different colour schemes. MICK-009, Cathy LaCreme's, 'I Married A Cult Figure From Salford' (1980) did well enough to merit a reissue, on Ovation Records. Titles such as that and Caspar G. McCloud's, 'Messin' Around In School' (MICK-007; 9/79) seem to suggest that Rock Steady had a less serious side to it than some of its competitors had. Distribution was by The Cartel and One Stop, and the company appears to have operated from 1979-c.81. Thanks to Robert Bowes for the scans.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.