The Checkmates LTD.


Main image

Soul group

Hailed from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Discovered by Nancy Wilson
Comprised of mixed black and white members.
Their biggest hits are 1969’s Black Pearl, produced by Phil Spector and their cover on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary.
Broke up in 1970 - reformed in 1974.
In 1974 they starred in the blaxploitation movie The Black Connection (or Run Nigger Run) with first leading role given to their, then, lead singer Bobby Stevens.
Their F.S.O. album is actually the soundtrack of this movie.
Last recorded in 1977.
Released four albums in ten year’s time.

ALBUMS


The Checkmates LTD.
All Alone By The Telephone
2023, 7", Single, RE, Soul Brother Records (3)
The Checkmates Ltd.
All Alone By The Telephone
2023, 7", Single, Promo, RE, Soul Brother Records (3)
The Checkmates, Ltd*
That's How It Feels (When Two People Fall In Love)
1978
The Checkmates*
Sould Out
1977, LP, Gucci Records (2)
The Checkmates Ltd*
We Got The Moves
1977
The Checkmates Ltd.
I'm Laying My Heart On The Line / Make Love To Your Mind
1977, ,
Soul/Funk
The Checkmates LTD.
Take All The Time You Need
1977
The Checkmates Ltd.
All Alone By The Telephone / Body Language
1976
The Checkmates Ltd.
Sexy Ways
1974, ,
Soul/Funk
The Checkmates Ltd.
F/S/O
1974
The Checkmates Ltd*
Got To See "U" Soon / Might Get Betta
1974
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates Ltd. / Sonny Charles
Black Pearl / Half As Much
1973, 7", Single, RE, A&M Records
Bobby Stevens (3) And The Checkmates Ltd.
Life
1971,
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates*
Black Pearl / Proud Mary
1970, 7", Single, A&M Records, A&M Records
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates*
Love Is All I Have To Give
1970, 7", EP, Mono, A&M Records
The Checkmates Ltd. Ftrg. Sonny Charles
I Keep Forgettin' / Do You Love Your Baby
1970
Johnny Dorelli / The Checkmates LTD.
Addio / Love Is All I Have To Give
1969, 7", Jukebox, CGD, A&M Records, ,
Chanson/Pop Rock
The Checkmates Ltd.
Love Is All We Have To Give
1969
The Checkmates, Ltd.* Featuring Sonny Charles
Spanish Harlem
1969
The Checkmates Ltd.
Proud Mary / Love Is All I Have To Give
1969
Sonny Charles And The Checkmates, Ltd.*
Black Pearl
1969
The Checkmates Ltd.
Love Is All I Have To Give / Never Should Have Lied
1969
The Checkmates Ltd. Featuring Sonny Charles
Proud Mary / Do You Love Your Baby
1969
The Checkmates LTD.
Mastered The Art Of Love
1967, 7", Single, Ember Records
The Checkmates Ltd.
Live! At Caesar's Palace
1967, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
The Checkmates LTD.
A & I
1967
The Checkmates* Featuring Sonny Charles
Please Don't Take My World Away
1967
The Checkmates, Ltd.*
I Can Hear The Rain
1966, 7", Capitol Records, ,
Soul
The Checkmates, LTD.*
Do The Walk (The Temptation Walk) / Glad For You
1966
The Check-Mates, Inc.*
Live At Harvey's -- Too Much!
1965, 2xLP, Album, Ikon Records (2)
Check-Mates Inc.*
Searchin For Love / Perfect Fifth
1965, 7", Single, Mono, I. R. P. Records
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates, Ltd.*
Black Pearl / Love Is All I Have To Give
The Checkmates*
The Checkmates

APPEARANCES +


Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang*
Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang (Soul Train ’75)
1975, ,
Soul/Funk/Disco
Various
Get Hip! - 7th Anniversary
2023, CDr, Comp, Get Hip - Anniversary Series
Phil Spector
Late Rarities In Stereo
2021, 2xCD, Comp, PHSP,
Various
Real Side Records Presents Soul On The Real Side #7
2017, CD, Comp, Outta Sight, Real Side Records, ,
Soul
Various
Step Inside My Soul (Rare '70s And Modern Soul)
2014, ,
Soul
Various
Psycho Soul
2013, 3xCD, Comp, Psycho Soul
Shing02
Live From Annen Annex
2013, CD, Mixed, Promo, Wenod Records, ,
Jazz-Funk/Funk/Soul/Bop/Cool Jazz/Soul-Jazz
Various
Feelin' Groovy 2 • Swinging 60s Singles
2012, 3xCD, Comp, Sony Music, ,
Classic Rock/Beat/Bubblegum/Psychedelic Rock/Pop Rock
Various
A&M 50 - The Anniversary Collection
2012, ,
Arena Rock/Ballad/Bossanova/Country Rock/Folk Rock/Funk/Mariachi/Pop Rock/Post Rock/Reggae-Pop/Rhythm & Blues/Soft Rock/Soul/Southern Rock
Various
The Soul Of Capitol Records Rare And Well-Done: Volume 1
2011, 20xFile, AAC, Comp, 256, Capitol Records,
Various
The Essential Phil Spector
2011
Various
Hard To Find 45s On CD Volume 12: 60s & 70s Pop Classics
2010, CD, Comp, Eric Records, ,
Soft Rock/Pop Rock/Country Rock/Novelty/Vocal/Ballad
Various
Masterpieces Of Modern Soul (Volume 2)
2009, CD, Comp, Kent Dance, ,
Soul
Various
Een Muzikale Reis Door de Jaren '60 - 60's Love
2009, 3xCD, Comp, Reader's Digest, Universal Music, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll/Country
Various
R2M-Lastrada Sampler - Hits From A-Z 60s 70s 80s 90s
2008, 4xCD, Comp, Promo, Lastrada Entertainment Co., R2M Music, ,
Disco/Soul/Vocal/Funk
Various
Hazy Memories: Volume 4
2008, CD, Comp, Canetoad Records
Various
A&M History 100
2007, 5xCD, Comp, RM + Box, A&M Records
Various
Ultimate R & B
2007, CD, Comp, Madacy Entertainment, Universal Music Special Markets
Various
The Ikon Records Story (America's #1 Unsung Garage Label 1964-1966)
2005, ,
Surf/Garage Rock
Joey* & Norman Jay MBE*
Good Times 5 (Silver Jubilee Edition)
2005, ,
House/Drum n Bass/Hip Hop/Disco
Various
The Original Oldie Night - 40 Original Rarities
2003, 2xCD, Comp, Choice Of Music, ,
Soul/Ballad
Various
Oldie Night The Essentials Vol.2
2003, CD, Comp, Edel,
Various
Oldie Night - 40 Original Hits
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Edel Records,
Various
Soul Embers Vol.1 - Doin' The Philly Dog
2000, CD, Comp, Ember Records
Various
Sounds Of The Sixties 1969: The End Of A Musical Era
2000, 3xCD, Comp, Reader's Digest, ,
Rock & Roll/Beat/Pop Rock/Reggae-Pop
Various
Classic Rock - The Immortals
2000, 3xCD, Comp, RM, Fat, Reader's Digest, ,
Classic Rock/Soul/AOR/Southern Rock/Beat
Various
Superbad (Volume 2): Inner City Funk & Soul
1999, CD, Comp, Universal Music Australia
Various
The Entertainment Company Catalogs - Classic Songs 1966 Thru 1983...And Forever!
1997, 2xCD, Comp, Promo, EMI Music Publishing
Various
Soul Soul Soul Vol. 5
1997, CD, Comp, Ltd, RM, Toto Records (2)
Various
Soul Classics Quiet Storm The 60’s The 70’s The 80’s
1997, 3xCD, Comp, Rebound Records (2),
Various
The Smoocher Is Back - 12 Class X Soul Tracks
1997, ,
Soul
Various
Northern Souls Diamonds & Pearls
1996, CD, Comp, Goldmine Soul Supply
Various
Soul Classics: Quiet Storm (The 60's)
1996, CD, Comp, Rebound Records (2), ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Hipshakers Vol. 2
1996, Cass, Comp, Mixtape, Not On Label, ,
Beat/Mod/Psychedelic Rock/Boogie Woogie/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Phil Spector
Back To Mono (1958-1969)
1991, ,
Doo Wop/Pop Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Ballad
Various
Hard To Get Hits Volume One
1991,
Phil Spector
Back To Mono (1958-1969)
1991, ,
Doo Wop/Pop Rock/Ballad/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Black Decades 60's (A Celebration Of Four Decades Of Black Music)
1991
Various
Struttin' And Flirtin': R&B At A&M 1969-1981
1990, CD, Comp, A&M Records
Various
A&M Prime Cuts Vol. 1
1990, CD, Comp, A&M Records
Phil Spector
Phil Spector Box
1989, CD, Comp, Phil Spector International, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Soul Power Volume 2
1989
Various
Fast, Funky & Fantastic (70's Soul From Fantasy)
1988, ,
Latin Jazz/Soul/Funk/Disco
Various
Soul Shots Vol. 2 - The 'In' Crowd
1987
Various
Soul Shots (A Collection Of Sixties Soul Classics)
1987, ,
Soul
Various
Kissing Her & Crying For You
1986, LP, Comp, Kent Records, ,
Soul
Various
The Horn Of Plenty - Twenty Years Of Music From A&M
1982, 4xCass, Comp, Promo, A&M Stereo Tape,
Various
Untitled
1981, LP, By Request Records
Various
The Best Of Ike & Tina Turner - The Ronettes - The Crystals - Righteous Brothers And Others
1978, 2xLP, Comp, Polydor
Various
Rock And Roll Forever
1977, ,
Vocal
Phil Spector
Phil Spector's Greatest Hits
1977, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues/Pop Rock/Soul
Phil Spector
Echoes Of The 60's
1977, ,
Soft Rock/Pop Rock
Various
Phil Spector's 20 Greatest Hits
1976
Various
Forget Me Nots
1975, 2xLP, Comp, Promo, A&M Records, ,
Pop Rock/Folk Rock/Classic Rock
Various
A&M First 10 Years, Vol. 6 - Hard Rock
1973, ,
Blues Rock/Folk Rock/Hard Rock/Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
A Drop Of The Hard Stuff
1970, LP, Comp, Ember Records, ,
Soul
Various
Tragadiez Aniversario
1970, LP, Comp, A&M Records
Various
Herb Alpert Präsentiert Die Große A&M Starparade
1970, ,
Latin Jazz/Easy Listening/Soul-Jazz/Vocal
Various
Super Groups Vol.1
1969, ,
Blues Rock
Various
Hits Made By The Supergroups
1969, ,
Classic Rock/Blues Rock
Various
Super Soul-Dees! Vol. 2
1968
Various
Stern Präsentiert Die Hitparade Von Radio Luxemburg Mit Frank
LP, Comp, Polydor, Stern Musik, ,
Schlager
Various
Heavy Soul! Club Sounds Volume 3
CDr, Comp, Promo, Heavy Soul, ,
Soul
Various
Soultown Volume 2
CD, Comp, Soul Kitchen (6)
Various
Sounds Of The Unexpected - A Warning To The Curious
CDr, Comp, Not On Label,
Various
Stepping Into The 70's
CD, Comp, Soul Mission Records
Employee #6817
Unemployed ][: Electric Boogaloo And Other Galactic Funk
2008, 2xCDr, Mixed, P/Unofficial, Promo, The Basement Labs, ,
Spoken Word/Italo-Disco/Soul/Disco/Techno/Experimental/Country/Electro/Synth-pop/Psychedelic/Funk
Ike & Tina Turner, The Checkmates LTD.
Ike & Tina Turner - Sonny Charles & The Checmates, Ltd.
1994, CD, RE, Unofficial, Alvorado Music
Various
Super Groups Vol.1
1970, ,
Blues Rock
Phil Spector / Various
Phil Spector's Flips And Rarities
CD, Comp, P/Unofficial, Marginal Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Vocal