CHECKER
Checker was a subsidiary of the Chess label out of Chicago, Illinois. Chess was formed in 1950 by the brothers Leonard and Phil Chess. In 1952 they started releasing sides on their new Checker subsidiary. Chess is best known for its blues and R&B releases with artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. In the early years gospel recordings were issued in the same series as the secular recordings. It was only in 1964 when the Chess brothers decided to have a Gospel Series on Checker. You can find the earlier gospel releases on Checker and Chess at Recordconnexion.
The Checker Gospel Series was used from 1964 to 1970. From 1970 onward all gospel releases were part of the 'normal' Checker catalogue beginning with 1240. From that point there were no more secular 45s released on Checker. It's gospel album discography is a more straightforward affair with more than 90 albums.
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| Flying Clouds of Detroit | When they ring the golden bells | Checker 5001 | 1964 | |
| My mother | ||||
| Violinaires | Tell mother there will be no separation now | Checker 5002 | 1964 | |
| Things that worry me | ||||
| Stevie Hawkins | Open our eyes | Checker 5003 | 1964 | |
| He loves me | ||||
| Sis. Lucille Pope & the Pearly Gates | Jesus tore my heart to pieces | Checker 5004 | 1965 | |
| Highway | ||||
| Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis | I'm glad about it (part 1) | Checker 5005 | 1965 | |
| I'm glad about it (part 2) | ||||
| Clefs of Calvary | He promised me to meet me there | Checker 5006 | 1965 | |
| Thank you | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Christmas joy | Checker 5007 | 1965 | |
| I know I'll be free | ||||
| Rev. C. L. Franklin | Mother loves her children | Checker 5008 | 1966 | |
| I will trust in the Lord | ||||
| Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis | The Lord will provide (part 1) | Checker 5009 | 1966 | |
| The Lord will provide (part 2) | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Were you there | Checker 5010 | 1966 | |
| Jesus wash my troubles away | ||||
| Davis Sisters | He'll understand | Checker 5011 | 1966 | |
| I want you to move | ||||
| Father Hayes | Tell me how do you feel (part 1) | Checker 5012 | 1966 | |
| Tell me how do you feel (part 2) | ||||
| Violiniaires | Old time religion | Checker 5013 | 1966 | |
| My mother used to hold me | ||||
| Stevie Hawkins | Gospel train | Checker 5014 | 1966 | |
| I'm willing | ||||
| Sensational Saints | Jesus | Checker 5015 | 1966 | |
| The love of Jesus | ||||
| Martha Bass | I'm so grateful | Checker 5016 | 1966 | |
| I'm getting nearer to my home | ||||
| Holy Wonders | I had to stop | Checker 5017 | 1966 | |
| The storm of life | ||||
| Rev. C. L. Moore | God specializes (part 1) | Checker 5018 | 1966 | |
| God specializes (part 2) | ||||
| Golden Echoes of Cleveland | I was on my knees | Checker 5019 | 1966 | |
| Looking back on my life | ||||
| Meditation Singers | Don't you want to go (part 1) | Checker 5020 | 1966 | |
| Don't you want to go (part 2) | ||||
| Violinaires | I'll never stop loving God | Checker 5021 | 1966 | |
| Children are you ready | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Resting easy | Checker 5022 | 1966 | |
| He's my friend | ||||
| Sammy Bryant | He knows how much we can bear (pt 1) | Checker 5023 | ||
| He knows how much we can bear (pt 2) | ||||
| Rev. C. L. Franklin | Precious Lord (part 1) | Checker 5024 | ||
| Precious Lord (part 2) | ||||
| Violinaires | I'm going to serve the Lord | Checker 5025 | 1967 | |
| Three pictures of the Lord | ||||
| Ernest Franklu & Voices of Mt. Eagle | Walking with the King | Checker 5026 | 1967 | |
| Blessed quietness | ||||
| Rev. C. L. Franklin | The old ship of Zion (part 1) | Checker 5027 | 1967 | |
| The old ship of Zion (part 2) | ||||
| Sister Soul & Lucy Rodgers Singers | I surrender all | Checker 5028 | 1967 | |
| Time is drawing nigh | \ | |||
| Rev. C. L. Franklin | The Lord will make a way (part 1) | Checker 5029 | 1967 | |
| The Lord will make a way (part 2) | ||||
| Cleo Jackson Randle | Life in Heaven is free | Checker 5030 | 1967 | |
| No one cares for me like Jesus | ||||
| Aretha Franklin | Precious Lord (part 1) | Checker 5031 | 1967 | |
| Precious Lord (part 2) | ||||
| Bettye Jean Plummer | Rejoice | Checker 5032 | 1967 | |
| I must tell Jesus | ||||
| Gay Singers | He's calling me | Checker 5033 | 1967 | |
| Let me alone | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | He's been a shelter | Checker 5034 | 1967 | |
| There's a man | ||||
| Violinaires | Mother's last prayer | Checker 5035 | 1967 | |
| Wicked man | ||||
| Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis | Power of the holy ghost | Checker 5036 | 1967 | |
| What can I do | ||||
| Masonic Travelers | Peaceful little valley | Checker 5037 | 1967 | |
| Just to behold his face | ||||
| Kindly Shepherds | He'll be waiting for me | Checker 5038 | 1967 | |
| Lend me your hand | ||||
| Faithful Wonders | You've got to move | Checker 5039 | 1967 | |
| Ol' John (Behold thy mother) | ||||
| Gospel Clouds | Let's go home | Checker 5040 | 1967 | |
| Do you know Him | ||||
| Treadwell Community Choir | Love is a three letter word G-O-D | Checker 5041 | 1967 | |
| Lord have mercy | ||||
| Lucy Rodgers | I found a friend | Checker 5042 | 1967 | |
| Let the train roll away | ||||
| Violinaires | Call on him | Checker 5043 | 1967 | |
| I don't know | ||||
| Rev. C. L. Franklin | I'm going trough (part 1) | Checker 5044 | ||
| I'm going trough (part 2) | ||||
| Aretha Franklin | You grow closer | Checker 5045 | ||
| Never grow old | ||||
| Meditation Singers | Let love fill your heart | Checker 5046 | 1968 | |
| Stand up and be counted | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | The love of God | Checker 5047 | 1968 | |
| If I had a hammer | ||||
| Salem Travelers | With God's love | Checker 5048 | 1968 | |
| Give me liberty or death | ||||
| Harold Smiht & Majestic Choir | People get ready | Checker 5049 | 1968 | |
| What the world needs now | ||||
| Gospel Classics | You need faith | Checker 5050 | 1968 | |
| More love, that's what we need | ||||
| Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis | Somebody bigger than you and I | Checker 5051 | 1968 | |
| We need more love | ||||
| Ernest Franklin | Since Jesus came into my heart | Checker 5052 | 1968 | |
| A place in the sun | ||||
| Violinaires | Practice what you preach | Checker 5053 | 1968 | |
| Just go ahead | ||||
| Violinaires | The whole world is watching | Checker 5054 | 1968 | |
| The evening sun | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | God's giving | Checker 5055 | 1968 | |
| Peace be still | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Christmas bells are ringing | Checker 5056 | 1968 | |
| Christmas means love | ||||
| Meditation Singers | The spirit of Christmas | Checker 5057 | 1968 | |
| Blue Christmas | ||||
| Salem Travelers | Tell it like it is | Checker 5058 | 1968 | |
| Thank you Lord | ||||
| Ernest Franklin | Running for Jesus | Checker 5059 | 1968 | |
| Lift the Savior | ||||
| Rev. "Singing" Sammy Lewis | Jesus the waymaker | Checker 5060 | 1968 | |
| Only what you do for Christ | ||||
| Soul Stirrers & the Majestic Choir | We can walk a little bit prouder | Checker 5061 | 1968 | |
| Why am I treated so bad | ||||
| Martha Bass | I'm so grateful | Checker 5062 | 1968 | |
| House of gold | ||||
| Violinaires | Salt of the earth | Checker 5063 | 1969 | |
| Stand by me | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Striving | Checker 5064 | 1969 | |
| If I were a bird | ||||
| Violinaires | I'm satisfied with Jesus | Checker 5065 | 1969 | |
| It will be over (after a while) | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | It's a wonder God loves us | Checker 5066 | 1969 | |
| A few more days | ||||
| Salem Travelers | Summertime | Checker 5067 | 1969 | |
| I found the Lord | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Don't you worry | Checker 5068 | 1969 | |
| When the gates swing open | ||||
| Violinaires | A simple prayer | Checker 1240 | 1970 | |
| I'm feeling good | ||||
| Soul Stirrers | Slow train | Checker 1241 | ||
| Striving | ||||
| Williams Singers | Part time love | Checker 1242 | ||
| It was you Jesus | ||||
| Salem Travelers | Right now | Checker 1243 | ||
| I've gone too far | ||||
| Drinkard Ensemble | Highway to heaven | Checker 1244 | ||
| Wade in the water | ||||
| Gospel Six | I'll let nothing separate me | Checker 1245 | ||
| God done get tired | ||||
| Harmonizing Four | A place called heaven | Checker 1246 | ||
| Just a rose to tell you | ||||
| Hillman Singers | Yes Jesus loves me | Checker 1247 | 1972 | |
| He'll never turn from you | ||||
| Harmonizing Four | When they ring them golden bells | Checker 1248 | 1972 | |
| Unknown | ||||
| Violinaires | Coming up through the years | Checker 1249 | ||
| I'm at His command | ||||
| Harmonizing Four | One God | Checker 1250 | 1972 | |
| It's real | ||||
| Gospel Hi-Lites | Joy in a christian way | Checker 1251 | 1972 | |
| We've come this far by faith | ||||
| Gospel Six | Blow by blow | Checker 1252 | ||
| Strengthen my Lord | ||||
| Jordan Singers | Oh Lord stand by me | Checker 1253 | 1972 | |
| Let God have His way | ||||
| Gospel Six | A reason to pray | Checker 1254 | 1972 | |
| Changing of the seasons | ||||
| Williams Sisters | Bridge over troubled water | Checker 1255 | ||
| It's so good to be alive | ||||
| Ben Branch | We shall over come | Checker 1256 | ||
| Battle hymn of the republic | ||||
| Salem Travelers | Don't disappoint the Lord | Checker 1257 | ||
| Everything's gonna be alright | ||||
| Drinkard Ensemble | Lord keep me day by day | Checker 1258 | 1973 | |
| Twelve gates to the city | ||||
| Power & Light | What is this world coming to | Checker 1259 | 1973 | |
| Stand up America, don't be afraid | ||||
| East St. Louis Gospelettes | There's a leak | Checker 1260 | 1973 | |
| Watch me | ||||
| Truth & Grace Community Choir | In the end | Checker 1261 | ||
| Pilot me | ||||
| Gospel Six | There's a place | Checker 1262 | ||
| I'll carry you | ||||
| Rev. Alex Bradford | The last goodbye | Checker 1263 | 1976 | |
| Someone is lost in the storm |
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