Checkmate is the debut album of British singer Roger Christian. It was produced by Gary Katz and released on 9 October 1989 by Island Records. The album features background vocals by the Persuasions on three tracks, âÂÂStay With Me TonightâÂÂ, âÂÂChainsâ and âÂÂMwanziaâÂÂ.
Two singles were released from the album, âÂÂTake It From Meâ and âÂÂWorlds ApartâÂÂ, peaking on the UK Charts respectively at No. 63 peaking at No. 97. àThe album and singles received international airplay, including West Germany and Spain.
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.
Kevin Murphy, for Record Mirror, compared Checkmate and Roger Christian as bearing âÂÂmany of the hallmarks of his brothers in the Christians, opining âÂÂThereâÂÂs RogerâÂÂs rich, soulful voice with its shrill reminders of Johnny Nash and warm memories of Marvin Gaye coursing through its veinsâÂÂ. He calls âÂÂLoving You Is So Easyâ a âÂÂrelaxed smooth Sam Cooke pasticheâÂÂ, remarking on the âÂÂuptempo brashnessâ of âÂÂTake It From MeâÂÂ, and describes âÂÂMwanziaâ as âÂÂspiritually refreshing and as warm as evening cocoa.âÂÂ
Music & Media wrote, âÂÂA confident solo debut largely made of gritty R&B materialâ¦straightforward, economical production by Gary Katz goes together well with the brassy arrangements and ChristianâÂÂs straight-from-the-heart vocalsâÂÂ.
Music & Media praised âÂÂTake It From MeâÂÂ, calling it âÂÂA great debut in a Motown style, very like The Drifters.âÂÂ
Credits adapted from album liner notes.
Credits adapted from album liner notes.
Mastered at The Townhouse