Saturday, January 16, 2016

The Checkmates ( Audio Recording)

Hello and happy new year. I wish you all the very best. I would like to start off 2016 with a instrumental record by a group called The Checkmates. The band recorded a couple of cool songs. "Work Song" has a Mod/Garage beat and the flip "Blue Star" has a really nice surf sound. Looking at the dead wax numbers it seems that the 45 was released in 1964. I think the group might have been from Canada , but more info is needed to know for sure. I don't think either song has appeared on a compilation album but I'm sure someday that will happen.
                                                                       The Checkmates - Work Song

                                                                       The Checkmates - Blue Star
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7 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 17, 2016 at 11:53 AM

    Happy New Year Johnnie ... and thanks for the first great post of the year ...

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  2. johnnie oJanuary 18, 2016 at 9:23 AM

    Hi Mousiko, Thank you for your comments. Both songs on the 45 are covers. The song we know now as "Blue Star" was originally the theme music of the television series The Medic. Cannonball Adderley's "Work Song" was on his album "Them Dirty Blues"

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  3. UnknownJanuary 18, 2016 at 1:06 PM

    wow ! thank you for the information ... and once again thank you for sharing nice finds and rarities ...

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  4. Frank M. YoungJanuary 22, 2016 at 5:38 PM

    This version of "Blue Star" is clearly modeled on that of The Shadows, who recorded it on their first LP in 1961. These boys got their hands on the US Atlantic Shadows albums!

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  5. johnnie oJanuary 23, 2016 at 6:45 AM

    Hi Frank
    No doubt the group copied the Shadows version of the song. Have you ever heard the Ventures version?

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  6. Pete CostJune 30, 2016 at 1:20 AM

    Actually, these Checkmates were from Washington. Later changed their name to King George & The Checkmates. Thanks for all the music!

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  7. johnnie oJuly 3, 2016 at 3:47 PM

    Thanks Pete for the info. I don't think I have heard any of the groups material as King George and The Checkmates but its good know. I will keep my eyes open for the groups later records.

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