Checker Records

History

Due to the recent expansion of Chess Records, as well as to achieve greater airplay for singles, the Chess brothers opened up a subsidiary label named Checker. The first 45/78 rpm single released by the label was "Slow Caboose" b/w "Darling, Let's Give Love a Chance" by Sax Mallard and his Orchestra, which was released as Checker 750 in April 1952.

The label's most popular artist, in the label's early years, was Little Walter, who had ten songs released by Checker that made the Top Ten of Billboard magazine's Top Rhythm & Blues Records charts. Among those ten was "Juke" which topped the charts{{cite book | author-link = Joel Whitburn

Checker released several singles by well-established blues artists such as Elmore James, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (credited as Perry Lee Crudup), and Memphis Minnie, none of which sold well. One well-established blues artist that did manage to make a hit on Checker was Sonny Boy Williamson II, who charted with "Don't Start Me Talkin'" (number 3) in 1955, "Keep It to Yourself" (number 14) in 1956, and "Help Me" (number 24) in 1963.

On March 2, 1955, the Chess brothers recorded their first rock and roll artist, Bo Diddley. From this session came Bo's self-titled debut single on Checker, which topped the R&B charts and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Another one of Bo Diddley's Checker singles, "Who Do You Love?", was inducted in 2010. In 1957, Checker cracked into the rockabilly market with Dale Hawkins, who had a crossover hit with "Susie Q", although he could not repeat the single's success.

In 1958, Checker released its first 12" 33⅓ rpm LP record, The Best of Little Walter, which was released as Checker LP-1428.

Discography

The original Checker LP series started with six albums released as part of the Chess 1425 album series before switching to the 2970 series in 1959 and continued until 1970.

References

References

1. David Edwards. "GRT Consolidated Chess/Cadet Album Discography (1971-1975)". Both Sides Now Publications.
2. George R. White. "The Chess Label Part I (1950–1952)". [[Clemson University]].
3. Giles Oakley. (1997). "The Devil's Music". [[Da Capo Press]].
4. "Grammy Hall of Fame". [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]].
5. George R. White. "The Chess Label Part II (1953–1955)". [[Clemson University]].
6. link. (2012-07-17 . [[Blues Foundation]]. Go under ''1991 Hall of Fame Inductees'' and click on ''The Best of Little Walter--Little Walter (Checker, 1958)'' to view the album review.)
7. [https://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/chess/chess1425.html Both Sides Now: Chess Album Discography, Part 1: LP-1425 to LPS-1553 and CHV-400 Vintage Series] accessed August 27, 2019.
8. [https://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/checker/checker.html Both Sides Now: Checker Album Discography (1957–1971)] accessed August 27, 2019.