Difference between Rockers and Steppers?

[Javier]

I have troubles finding the difference between Rockers and Steppers. In the Rough Guide to Reggae (which I read over and over again) says something like "steppers is a more militant take on rockers" but no more than that... I've always thought that it's reggae with a march-like drum beat like Culture's "Black Starliner" (from Two sevens clash).
So that is the question
How can I identify a stepper riddim?
Can you list some good tracks or lp? (specially Jamaican, cause I know there's lot of steppers music in England)
Bonus Question: Is Rockers just another name for reggae roots from let's say 75 - 80? Has rockers any particular feature? I wonder because the soundtrack for "Rockers" has a variety of tunes, from the rural sound of Justin Hinds to hardcore sound of Bunny Wailer's "Rockers"
Maybe love songs weren't considered rockers tunes? I don't know, cause Gregory Isaacs sang really good love tunes in roots style...

Please anyone, enlighten me...
Bless
Jah Rastafari

[Litelet]

Hi bred... look on Blood and Fire for more infos... There is no consensus on the term... except that Rockers is a drum riddim with a drum kick on all counts... like stepper.

Then... some say there is no difference between rockers and stepper... and I agree that probably no Jamaican drummer woud have the same definition... some other say yes...

I would say yes, the Rockers for me is typically jamaican, of the late 70's (more or less 77-80) with the specificity of having more snare drums, and especially on the third beat (the one of the ONE DROP...). It make so the ROCKERS a little bit warmer and energic than a Stepper which is 100% based on the bass sound of the kick... and as you said very common in UK 80's stuff...

Respects

[Javier]

Thank you very much...
Any other opinion, please???
Bless

[Javier]

C'mon, no one else????

Blessed!

[ranking trevor]

Steppers seems to me to be very occursnt in the 80's - and has a focus on the kick drum, it seems very militant and ponding to the ear

Rockers - definatly occurant in 70's roots scene, veryt cultural and relying on the sanre drum resting pon the 3rd beat.

Respeck

Check disya Site fi more info

http://www.bloodandfire.co.uk/

[Snow Leopard]

My understanding is that Steppers Rhythms came from the influence of Jonkanoo (Afro-West Indian festival) drumming, especially the double beat typical of Sly Dunbar in the mid-late 1970's. I may be talking rubbish of course!

[ranking trevor]

No - Snow Leopard - your quite true

But as i said steppers has a quitre militant sound to it, easily recogisable

IRIE ITES

[selecta bing]

Here's how a Reggae musician friend of mine explained it to me.....

ONE DROP = Bass drum and snare on the 3rd beat of 4/4

ROCKERS = Bass on 1st and snare on 3rd

STEPPERS = Bass on all 4 beats snare on 3rd

(Steppers is the original DOOF DOOF, yet another first for Jamaica !!)

[Javier]

Well, I'm quite aware now in terms of technical explanations... now let's make a list...
Please Jamaican tracks or LPs in Steppers style... Only Jamaican

Blessed!

[anbessa]

Sorry Selecta Bing, but to me Bass on 1st and snare on third is clearly a dancehall beat. Rockers and steppers both feature the "four to the floor" pattern. The difference comes from the use of the snare, or the rimshot.
But I have never found a clear explanation of the difference. Even the JA drummers I could talk to had different vision of it.