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The Checkers (Japanese band)

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The Checkers
OriginKurume, Japan
GenresRock and roll, rockabilly, pop rock, doo-wop
Years active1981 – 1992
LabelsPony Canyon
Past membersFumiya Fujii (vocals, chorus)
Masaharu Tsuruku (vocals, chorus)
Yoshihiko Takamoku (vocals, chorus)
Tohru Takeuchi (guitars, chorus)
Yuji Ohdoi (bass, contrabass, chorus)
Yoshiya Tokunaga (drums, percussion, chorus)
Naoyuki Fujii (sax, flute, back-vocals, chorus)
The Checkers
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2021 -
Subscribers82.3k[1]
Total views31,951,574 million times[1]
Last updated: January 15, 2024

The Checkers (Japanese: チェッカーズ) was a very popular Japanese band in the 1980s. They were a pop icon of their time as kids copied hair styles and fashion of the band members. [2]

The band was formed in Kurume-city, Fukuoka Pref. by Toru Takeuchi, the leader and the guitarist, who asked Fumiya Fujii to start a band with him in 1980. They won the Yamaha Light Music Contest in Junior category soon after forming the band. Due to some of the members being high school students at the time they were approached with a record deal they waited until those members finished high school. They made a debut on 21 September 1983 and split up on 31 December 1992.[3][4] All of their single releases entered top 10 in Japanese charts, many of them making it to No 1. Fumiya Fujii, who was the lead singer and the main lyricist, went on to pursue a successful solo career.[5]

Although it was a band which produced their own songs, they were frequently regarded as just male aidoru by Japanese rock fans because of their early marketing promotion.[6]

Members

[edit]

Past members

[edit]
  • Fumiya Fujii - vocals, chorus (1962-)
  • Naoyuki Fujii - sax, flute, back-vocals, chorus (1964-)
  • Masaharu Tsuruku - vocals, chorus (1964-)
  • Yoshihiko Takamoku - vocals, chorus (1962-)
  • Tohru Takeuchi - guitars, chorus (1962-)
  • Yuji Ohdoi - bass, contrabass, chorus (1962-)
  • Yoshiya Tokunaga - drums, percussion, chorus (1962-2004; his death[7])

Discography

[edit]

As Checkers

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Format Label
JPN
Oricon
[8]
1983 "Gizagiza Heart no Komoriuta" (ギザギザハートの子守唄)
 8 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming Canyon Record
1984 "Namida no Request" (涙のリクエスト)
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Kanashikute Jealousy" (哀しくてジェラシー)
 1 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming,
"Hoshikuzu no Stage" (星屑のステージ)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Julia ni Heartbreak" (ジュリアに傷心)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1985 "Ano Ko to Scandal" (あの娘とスキャンダル)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Oretachi no Rockabilly Night" (俺たちのロカビリーナイト)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Heart of Rainbow: Ai no Niji o Watatte/Blue Pacific" (Heart of Rainbow～愛の虹を渡って～/ブルー・パシフィック)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Kamisama Help!" (神様ヘルプ!)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1986 "Oh!!Popstar"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Song for U.S.A."
 1 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Nana"
 - CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1987 "I Love You, Sayonara"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Wanderer"
 1 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Blue Rain"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1988 "One Night Gigolo"
 3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
""Jim&Jane no Densetsu" (Jim&Janeの伝説)"
 4 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
""Sunao ni I'm Sorry" (素直にI'm Sorry)"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1989 "Room"
 3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Cherie"
 5 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Friends and Dream"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1990 "Sadame" (運命)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Yoake no Breath" (夜明けのブレス)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Sayonara o Mō Ichido" (さよならをもう一度)
 7 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1991 "Love '91"
 3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Mrs. Mermaid"
 4 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Furetegoran: Please Touch Your Heart" (ふれてごらん~Please Touch Your Heart~)
 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1992 "Konya no Namida wa Saikō" (今夜の涙は最高)
 5 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Blue Moon Stone"
 7 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Present For You"
 4 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming

Albums

[edit]

Original albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[8]
"Zettai Checkers" (絶対チェッカーズ)
  • Released: 21 July 1984
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 1
"Motto Checkers" (もっと!チェッカーズ)
  • Released: 5 December 1984
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Mainichi Checkers" (毎日チェッカーズ)
  • Released: 21 August 1985
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Flower"
  • Released: 20 March 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Go"
  • Released: 2 May 1987
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
"Screw"
  • Released: 21 July 1988
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 4
"Seven Heaven"
  • Released: 19 July 1989
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 1
"Oops!"
  • Released: 8 August 1990
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
"I Have a Dream"
  • Released: 21 June 1991
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 2
"Blue Moon Stone"
  • Released: 19 June 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[8]
"Non-Stop CHECKERS"
  • Released: 5 September 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape
 -
"BEST The CHECKERS"
  • Released: 21 July 1987
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 1
"Checkers The BEST"
  • Released: 15 December 1991
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 11
"The Checkers"
  • Released: 6 December 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 1
"The OTHER SIDE"
  • Released: 16 December 1992
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 11
"Early Singles"
  • Released: 19 August 1994
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 3
"Ballade Selection"
  • Released: 1 February 1999
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"Ballade Selection II"
  • Released: 17 March 1999
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"ALL Songs REQUEST"
  • Released: 5 March 2003
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection"
  • Released: 17 March 2004
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"COMPLETE The CHECKERS all singles collection reverse"
  • Released: 14 July 2004
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"All Ballads Request"
  • Released: 16 March 2005
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"THE CHECKERS SUPER BEST COLLECTION 32"
  • Released: 16 September 2009
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 -
"THE CHECKERS 30TH ANNIVERSARY BEST～7X30 SINGLES～2"
  • Released: 19 July 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2CDs
 -
"Platinum Best Checkers All Time Collection" (プラチナムベスト チェッカーズ オールタイム・コレクション)
  • Released: 17 June 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2CDs
 -
"Checkers All Singles Special Collection" (チェッカーズ・オールシングルズ・スペシャルコレクション)
  • Released: 21 February 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: UHQCD4s
 -
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[8]
"The Checkers Final Last Budokan Live 1992.12.28 " (THE CHECKERS FINAL ラスト武道館ライブ 1992.12.28) -
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Soundtracks

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[8]
"Checkers in Tan Tan Tanuki Original Soundtrack" (CHECKERS in TAN TAN たぬき)
  • Released: 27 April 1985
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape
 1
"SONG FOR U.S.A. Original Song Album" (SONG FOR U.S.A. オリジナル・ソング・アルバム)
  • Released: 21 July 1986
  • Label: Cyanon Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape
 -
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Box sets

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[8]
"Checkers 7 Inch Box" (チェッカーズ 7インチBOX)
  • Released: 3 December 2022
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 7LP
 -
"Checkers 40th Anniversary Original Album Special CD-Box" (チェッカーズ 40th Anniversary オリジナルアルバム・スペシャルCD-BOX)
  • Released: 21 September 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 11CDs
 -
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

As Cute Beat Club Band

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Format Label
JPN
Oricon
[9]
1987 "Nanatsu no Umi no Chikyūgi" (7つの海の地球儀)
 4 CD, LP, Cassette Canyon Record

Albums

[edit]

Original albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
"Shine Naru George Springhill Band Sama " (親愛なるジョージ・スプリングヒル・バンド様) 1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
"Not Checkers: Endagasa Ekikangen Live " (NOT CHECKERS-円高差益還元ライブ)
  • Released as Cute Beat Club Band
 2
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Videography

[edit]

Video albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1988 SCREW TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1987 GO TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1986 FLASH！！ TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 II PIRATES TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1985 I Typhoon' TOUR
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
CHECKERS ALL SONGS REQUEST: DVD EDITION
  • Released: 18 December 2013
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 I Blue Moon Stone TOUR I
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 II I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY II"
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1991 I I have a Dream TOUR "WHITE PARTY I"
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1990 OOPS！ TOUR
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1989 SEVEN HEAVEN TOUR
  • Released: 8 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 VI Rec．
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 V FINAL TOUR "ACOUSTIC COLLECTION"
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 IV FINAL TOUR "ACCESS ALL AREA"
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 III FINAL TOUR
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, BD
 -
THE CHECKERS CHRONICLE 1992 II Blue Moon Stone TOUR II
  • Released: 15 January 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
THE CHECKERS BEST HITS LIVE 1985-1992
  • Released: 19 September 2018
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 -
1992 Blue Moon Stone TOUR I&II -
Checkers 40th Anniversary FINAL TOUR (Remaster Edition)
  • Released: 20 December 2023
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: 2BD
 TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "About チェッカーズ公式YouTubeチャンネル". YouTube.
  2. ^ Mark Schilling The Encyclopedia of Japanese pop culture 1997 0834803801 p.230 "In the latter half of the 1980s rock bands like Rebecca, The Checkers, Hound Dog, Tube, Anzen Chitai, Bakufu Slump, and Kome Kome Club began to take center stage on the pop scene. Unlike earlier bands, who played Western-style rock for hard-core fans, these groups had a more Japanized sound that ordinary kids could relate to. Also, taking a hint from New Music queen YUMING, who mounted spectacular stage shows."
  3. ^ "チェッカーズ デビュー40周年、"混沌の80年代カルチャー"から生まれた伝説のロックバンドの軌跡". thetv. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. ^ "チェッカーズ、衝撃の解散から30年...伝説のラストライブを全国劇場で上映へ". Oricon. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  5. ^ "藤井フミヤのデビュー作『エンジェル』にソロシンガーとしてのビギニングを見出す". okmusic. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  6. ^ 藤井フミヤ 100回目の武道館公演を達成も扱い小さく (in Japanese). Ameba News. 2008-01-04. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  7. ^ "元チェッカーズのドラマー、〈クロベエ〉こと徳永善也、永眠". tower.jp. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "チェッカーズのCD・DVDリリース一覧". Oricon. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d "CUTE BEAT CLUB BANDのCD・DVDリリース一覧". Oricon. Retrieved 28 July 2018.

See also

[edit]
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