#9: Shake Yourself Down by the Checkerlads

City: Regina, SK
Radio Station: CKCK
Peak Month: October 1966
Peak Position in Regina ~ #5
Peak position in Vancouver ~ Runners Up (October 29/66)
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Shake Yourself Down”

The Checkerlads were a band from Regina, Saskatchewan. According to Discogs.com, they were formed in 1963 by Arnie Sanns on lead vocals and bass guitar, Bob Stevens on rhythm guitar, Larry Reich on lead guitar, and backing vocals, and drummer Harvey Frasz. They later added organist Bob Edwards. (However, the Psychedelicized.com website states that in addition to Reich and Frasz, the other members were Arnold Rippliner, Robert Frei, and Robert Bucholtz. Yet, Psychedelicized.com links to an article on Canuckistanmusic.com, which states the lineup of the Checkerlads consisted of Sanns, Stevens, Reich and Franz). Canuckistan states “it was not until they decided to add Bob Edwards on organ that things started to take off for the group. They toured many of the US centres, ending up in Hollywood, where (manager Joe) Vargo managed to score the Lads some recording time at Gary Paxton’s LA studio.”

The Checkerlads got a record contract in 1966 on the small Canadian label named Gaiety. The Checkerlads debut single was “Shake Yourself Down”.

The single was subsequently picked up on RCA Victor who wrote some liner notes on the 45 RPM jacket. RCA bragged that among the groups from Saskatchewan who “have started to stir up some excitement” is the Checkerlads. The boys have done some local dates and have created a following. We think they’ve got something in BABY SEND FOR ME. Great teen stuff. The underlid is SHAKE YOURSELF DOWN.” From the liner notes, it’s clear that RCA Victor imagined the A-side, “Baby Send For Me”, would be the hit. However, “Shake Yourself Down” was the side that caught on in Regina and in a few other regional markets.

“Shake Yourself Down” was written by Harvey Frasz, Larry Reich, Arnold Rippliner, Robert Frei, and Robert Bucholtz. (Perhaps since these were the writers of the song, Psychedelicized.com presumed three of the songwriters listed above that are nowhere else listed as bandmates – Rippliner, Frei and Bucholtz – were also in the band).

Psychedelicized states “Copies of this record sell for over $100, with the most expensive copies being the ultra-rare picture sleeve that came with Gaiety promo copies.” While on CitizenFreak.com a seller is asking $250 to buy “Shake Yourself Down” including the RCA picture sleeve of a photo of the band.

Canuckistan adds, “South of the border, the suits at RCA Victor obviously took note (of the B-side getting chart action in some Canadian radio markets), reversing the two sides for the U.S. release. In fact RPM noted that the record caused such a flurry in the US that the group signed a six-year contract with Rea for releases in the United States. What happened to that contract is anyone’s guess. Though the Checkerlads would issue two more singles up here (in Canada) it seems they never did manage another release south of the border.”

“Shake Yourself Down” peaked at #5 in Regina on CKCK, #18 in Lloydminster (AB), and the Top 30 in Medicine Hat (AB). The single also charted in Albany (NY). (The single may have peaked higher on CJME in Regina, but there are not charts available online between mid-August 1966 and March 1967. If someone has weekly CJME surveys from October 1966 to confirm the chart run for “Shake Yourself Down” on that station, I’ll revise my information on this post).

The Checkerlads followup, “The Dreamer” didn’t chart. A third single release, “Behind Ev’ry Man”, charted for a few weeks in February 1968 in Winnipeg.

Harvey Frasz joined Mel and the Meteors, a band that released three singles between 1966 and 1969. A recent website search found Larry Reich running his local business in Regina named Larry Reich Guitar Lessons.

January 4, 2025
Ray McGinnis

References:
“The Checkerlads,” psychedelicized.com.
“The Checkerlads,” Discogs.com.
Michael Panontin, “The Checkerlads,” canuckistanmusic.com.
Brian Parkinson, “The Checkerlads,” whatervernot.com, April 21, 2019.
“Shake Yourself Down b/w Baby Send For Me,” citizen freak.com.
“Larry Reich Guitar Lessons,” canpages.ca.

CKCK 620-AM Regina (SK) Top Ten | September 30, 1966