Checkmate (Roger Christian album)

Checkmate is the debut album of British singer Roger Christian. It was produced by Gary Katz and released October 9, 1989 by Island Records. The album features background vocals by The Persuasions on three tracks, “Stay With Me Tonight”, “Chains” and “Mwanzia”.

Two singles were released from the album, “Take It From Me” and “Worlds Apart”, peaking on the UK Charts respectively at No. 63 peaking at No. 97. The album and singles received international airplay, including West Germany and Spain.

Background
An original member of The Christians with his brothers Garry and Russell, Roger left the band to start a solo career. He wrote seven of the ten songs for his solo album with collaborators including Dan Hartman, Peter Vale, and Barry Parker.

Critical reception
Kevin Murphy for Record Mirror, compared “Checkmate” and Roger Christian as bearing “many of the hallmarks of his brothers in The Christians, opining “There’s Roger’s rich, soulful voice with its shrill reminders of Johnny Nash and warm memories of Marvin Gaye coursing through its veins”. He calls “Loving You Is So Easy” a “relaxed smooth Sam Cooke pastiche”, remarking on the “uptempo brashness” of “Take It From Me”, and describes “Mwanzia” as “spiritually refreshing and as warm as evening cocoa.”

Music & Media wrote “A confident solo debut largely made of gritty R&B material…straightforward, economical production by Gary Katz goes together well with the brassy arrangements and Christian’s straight-from-the-heart vocals”.

Singles
Music & Media praised “Take It From Me” calling it “A great debut in a Motown style, very like The Drifters.”

Track listings
Credits adapted from album liner notes.


 * 4 Track Vinyl Single Sided Promo


 * 1) "Worlds Apart”
 * 2) "Stop Yourself From Falling”
 * 3) "Take It From Me”
 * 4) "Mwanzia”

Personnel
Credits adapted from album liner notes.


 * Roger Christian – vocals, backing vocals
 * Dan Hartman – backing vocals
 * Frank Floyd – backing vocals
 * Jimmy Hayes – backing vocals
 * Joe Russell – backing vocals
 * Sam Butler – backing vocals
 * Gary Katz - producer
 * Michael H. Brauer – mixer

Mastered at The Townhouse