Checker Records

Before that, the incredible Koko Taylor.

I just got this off of Lucas Lefort, and as I'm playing it, I'm realizing this powerful woman's voice, gravelly and raw, was on Checker Records, which is a Chess subsidiary, and Chess Records had Koko Taylor, Sugar Pie DeSanto, and Etta James.

I mean, three of the most powerful, raw, gravelly female vocalists there were at the time.

I mean, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Etta James did a few duets, which are absolutely amazing.

All right.

Coming up next here on That Driving Beat, on the Checker label, part of the Chess Record Company out of the south side of Chicago, here's Sugar Pie DeSanto with Soulful Dress.

With

those bits of both the sides And that tight, thin waist And that low neckline Lord, I'm going to the party Gonna have some fun Gonna shake and shout Until the morning comes If you wanna keep your man You better get sharp as you can I'll be at my best When I put on my sofa It hits me way up on my knees with that V cut back.

Indeed.

I wonder where she gets her insurance, huh? Dale Hawkins on Checker Records from 57 with Baby Baby, Killer Bopper.

I love the cowbell.

You can never have enough cowbell, right? Delta Bombers, they're riding high right now with their track, which is appearing on television.

But this is one that's been in my collection since basically the beginning of when I started collecting.

Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces on the Checker label out of Chicago from 1965.

Searching for my love.

I'm searching for my baby I'm searching, searching for my love I'm searching for the one I adore I need you.

Gary Brown, Would You Laugh At Me, before that, on the Magic Touch Records label from 1967.

And Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces started that one out, that set.

Started out with Searching For My Love on the Checker label from 1965.

That Marriott record, that cover of Tell It Like It Is, that's the kind of thing I might be putting together in my play box for taking over to London.

And even though Little Milton recorded a batch of great tunes for Sam Phillips at Sun Records, none of them would chart and none of them would sell well.

He'd have the last laugh though, becoming one of the biggest rhythm and blues, blues and soul artists of the 1960s while recording for Checker Records.

Little Milton's first release, Sun Records number 194, released in December of 1953, is so great, I'm just gonna flip it over and play the B-side to end this week's Juke in the Back, which is part one of a two-part show on the rhythm and blues history of Sun Records.

I'll be back next week with part two and we'll take it from early 1954 all the way up through 1955.