The first two extended play 12" records featuring Danny Red and Earl 16 released to the public on Eddie Joseph's A.K.A 'Rocksteady' Eddie's, Brixton based Riz record label back in 1990. Two mighty slabs of vinyl uploaded today with the full eight vocals and dubs across the two vinyls. Eight cuts of heavyweight sound system digi-roots, helped along in the studio with backing by The Equaliser, Boombastic Crew and Nick Manasseh. Nick Raphael, known as Nick Manasseh, named himself (or probably more correctly, got named by others) after his sound system of the same name. NOTE: Take away the 'Nick' part! By the latter part of the 1980's, the Manasseh sound system had gained a reputation as one of the better sound systems promoting the new U.K digital roots, spinning alongside older Jamaican roots rock reggae from the 1970's and 1980's. All quality 7"'s, 12"'s and dub plates. No fillers. Nick selected the records and dub plates alongside Billy T at these sound systems. 'Rocksteady' Eddie would select often, and if not selecting then he would generally be there at the dances. I witnessed the Manasseh sound system many times, in all kinds of venues. Whether it be North London Dub Club nights at the George Robey, or The Dome in Tufnell Park. dub nights at the Hoxton Bass Clef with Joey Jay sometimes clashing with Manasseh. Kilburn, and Southall and many more. There were also some summer outdoor sessions, in the hot sun, near Wormward Scrubs prison and also the beautiful Furnivall Gardens on the river near to Hammersmith. My favorite Manasseh Sound System session that one at Furnivall Gardens! During this period, Nick Manasseh and 'Rocksteady' Eddie were also both fronting the late night groundbreaking roots reggae slot for North London's Kiss FM radio station every Saturday from 11pm until 3am if I recall correctly. This radio slot was (for me at least) the go-to listen after coming home (and, ahem, coming down) from reggae or junglist sound systems, gigs or just pubs. I still have fifty Manasseh radio shows recorded onto cassette tape. I would listen to these tapes religiously throughout the following days, fixing myself up with classic roots rock reggae and the new digi-roots records being released in the United Kingdom. I would of recorded many many more of the shows if I could afford to get more cassette tapes at the time! I was on light conversation terms with both Nick Manasseh and Billy T, but I knew 'Rocksteady' Eddie a little better. 'Rocksteady' Eddie, helped form Riz Records alongside Nick, producer Gil Cang and Mak Gilcrest. In 1993, with Eddie's (and Nick's) blessing, I punted the 'Manasseh Meets The Equalizer' album that was to be released on 'Rocksteady' Eddie's Riz record label to Southern Record Distribution, which worked very well. Southern Record Distribution agreed to distribute the 'Manasseh Meets The Equalizer' album (on vinyl) throughout the United Kingdom. The Riz record label was one of the very first record labels that I pushed hard to be distributed by Southern Record Distribution, the company that I was working for, and am still working for today. Danny Red: Born in London, Clarke spent time as a child in Jamaica where he developed a love of reggae. In 1980 he began working on the London-based City Dread sound system as a deejay, and went on to join the Fine Style Crew. Clarke originally worked under the name Danny Dread, and released his first records and toured Europe with General Kelly under that name, but changed to Danny Red to avoid confusion with two other deejays who used that name. He began to concentrate on singing and by the early 1990's had established himself as a popular roots reggae singer. Continuing success and the 'I Don't Care' album, recorded with Nick Manasseh, led to a contract with Columbia Records in 1993, Red becoming the first roots reggae artist signed by the label in over a decade. Columbia issued the 'Riddimwize' album in 1994. Earl 16:

• published: 02 Jan 2017
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