The Checkmates..Chucks Boogie..Texas Garage Acetate '65

$

101

This is The Checkmates...Chuck's Boogie...Damon Recording Studios...Acetate 45 rpm 1965

Texas, Garage, Rock!.... un-released, one of a kind?

Lot's of information about this Amarillo, Texas Garage Band on internet...here is a little bit

Call to hear...903-819-4275

An Interview With Jack Williams

Perhaps best known to garage rock collectors for two 1965 singles on Ruff Records, including 'Hey Girl,' Amarillo, Texas' The Checkmates had a long and successful career prior to that.  Coming from The Rhythm Teens and then The Invaders ( whom he rejoined immediately after leaving The Checkmates), bassist Jack Williams was with the group from the summer of 1961 through 1962, and played on the band's 'Long Pony Tail' / 'Pledge Of Love' 45-rpm release.  Although a member of other groups, Williams considers his stint with The Checkmates as both wonderful and instructive.
60s: Where and when was The Checkmates formed?
JW: I can’t swear as to when The Checkmates was formed. As far as I know, Ray Ruff and Chuck Tharp, of The Fireballs, formed the originals. I played with both and never got a real clear answer.  If I had to guess, I think Norman Petty probably got them together. I joined The Checkmates in the summer of 1961. Larry Marcum came to my house and told me they needed a bass man. He invited me to play rhythm for them at a dance in Shamrock, Texas, just to check them out. Ray Ruff was not all that excited about paying another player; he believed in three-piece bands, So the other guys chipped in and paid me for the night. The members at that time were Larry Marcum, lead guitar; Louis (Chano) Preciado, drums; and I think the bass player was Tom Green. He was quitting the band.
Shortly after that I got a call from Larry to do a session at Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico. When Ray Ruff picked me up that afternoon I learned that Chano had quit and Dick Miller (formerly of The Cinders) was the new drummer. When we arrived at the studio, after a few hours of waiting, we found out that The Fireballs were still recording for their next album. Unknown to me at the time, this was the session for 'Sugar Shack!'

We recorded a song by Chuck Tharp that night called 'Long Pony Tail.' The other side of this 45 is 'Pledge of Love,' one of the better rock love songs of the era, I think. After meeting Norman Petty, whom I consider a genius in sound at the time, and recording in the same studio as Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and The Fireballs, I was starstruck and agreed to join the band. 

Labels: VG+

Acetate: VG++ with a few light surface scratches...new gloss...see pic for tiny flake off edge...no effect in play

Sound: Inst. Chuck Berry/Buddy Holly style guitar...."Sleep Walk" is very nice cover of Santo & Johnny's  

Thanks