Sonny Charles & Checkmates Ltd - Love Is All I Have To Give.

This track made it into the Australian Go-Set charts back on the 26th of july 1969, it only stayed there for one week, at the same time "Black Pearl" was a much bigger hit in Australia. Checkmates, Ltd. were an American R&B group from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The group, discovered by Nancy Wilson, included both black and white members; their one major hit was 1969's "Black Pearl", produced by Phil Spector. The song peaked at #13 on the U.S. pop chart.
The group broke up in 1970, but reunited in 1974 for a few more years. Lead singer Sonny Charles later had a moderately successful career as a solo artist. Charles and Smith later reunited and toured the U.S. into the 2000s.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sonny
• charles
• checkmate
• ltd
• love
• is
• all
• have
• to
• give

[eurocharter]

Thanks Dougie for uploading this gem. I have the original A&M single but it crackles like hell.

Absolute classic. I can't understand why it wasn't a UK hit.

Everytime I hear it I get goosies and so emotional.

Phil Spector at hit best.

[dougiejohn]

@eurocharter Thanks for your comments, totally agree with you.

[TheLouisvilleDream]

A group from Louisville Kentucky named Brothers Pride recorded this song and got considerable air time (at least locally) I can't find their rendition anywhere. HELP

[jerucaray]

Here at last I can hear it in true stereo one of my favourite Phil Spector's masterpieces with a soulful vocal performance beyond compare. May God bless your voice and keep it alive forever wherever you are, Bobby Stevens.

[1958glm]

It may have been there for only a week, but I've remembered it for 42 years. I also remember and love Go-Set...

[komatman]

amazing track

[dannyinoz]

one of the all time greats

i hav searched since the 70s for this song n album..it touched me back in late 60s..black pearl was their big hit but love is all i have to give surpasses it

i bought the album for $5 in the late 70s...treasure it

i hav another sonny n checkmates video besides black pearl ....buttt still i search for "love is all i have to give " Bobby Stevens

does anyone hav it ?

[ScifiSaints]

This is so much better than "Black Pearl". What the hell is wrong with this world?

[alphaoneize]

The lead singer on this song is Bobby Stevens who co-wrote the song with Phil Spector. He left the group before the album was finished because of a disput with the label over production & publishing rights. This left Sonny Charles to finish the remaining songs on the album. However, the group performed on Black Pearl but since there was no Bobby Stevens, the label changed the name of the group to Sonny Charles & The Checkmates Ltd.

[aussiekeith]

One of the best songs ever recorded certainly need tissues.



[behappy700]

This song is SO beutiful, thats all I can say. Send more of his songs in youtube.