Wam (short for Words And Music) records was started in the early 1960s as a spinoff of the huge Dusi Music Center in Youngstown. Dusi partnered with Bill Warner and a WHOT radio DJ to finance the operation, located in a single story wooden building in Youngstown's near south side. Wam was the ultimate in vanity labels, recording everything from garage rock, Polkas, church choirs, and pop. Wam started in 1962 and ran until late 1967, when the name was changed to United Audio. Gary Rhamy was hired (fresh from Ohio University) as an engineer. In 1971, Rhamy bought out Bill Warner, the last remaining original owner, built a new facility on the outskirts of town, and changed the name to Peppermint Productions. Records recorded during the Wam and United Audio eras were always issued with the house labels, but the Peppermint recordings often used custom label names.
Bill Warner kept the rights to the WAM and United Audio name and released records on those labels into the 1980s. Warner’s operation was the United Media group. The majority of these were polka or other ethnic music, with some gospel. We’ve never found a later WAM/UA 45 that’s ‘popular’ music.
There were attempts at cohesive catalog numbering (2000, 5000) but many records were issued that were not in a series. For the Peppermint recordings, a catalog numbering staring at 1000 was used, and is still in use. Unfortunately, all the old studio logs were destroyed and we'll probably never know all the records released, but estimates of 75 or more during the 1960s seems resonable. Wam used several pressing plants including QCA, RCA, and RI. All the United Audio (and most of the Peppermint) records were pressed at QCA.
|
2002-1321 |
the
Sensational Clefftones |
Here
Am I / So Many Years I Lived In Sin |
||
|
2003 |
Johnny
Butchko Orch |
What
a Baby Polka, Little Eddie's Waltz / Rose Ann Polka, Patty Ann Polka (PS) |
||
|
2003 |
the
Generals |
Take
It Easy / Lazy Latin |
||
|
2004 |
Sister
Cecelia Stuart (soloist) with Ursuline Sisters
(chorus) |
Joey
the Christmas Choir Boy / I Want Christ Back in Christmas (PS) |
9/62 |
|
|
2005 |
the
Offbeats |
Red
Ants / Talking Crickets |
||
| 2007 | Eddie Vallus Polka Band | Sherry Ann Polka / Kiberly Ann Waltz | ||
|
no
# |
Rip
Roberts |
By
These Things / Young and In Love |
||
|
no
# (RI 1440) |
Barney
Bean with Sherwood |
For
Kids For Fun (Pt. 1) / For Kids For Fun (Pt. 2) (PS) |
||
|
441 |
Ronnie
Lee Combo |
Thingamajig
/ High Stakes |
||
|
4001 |
Johnny
and the Uncalled Four |
Shortin' Bread / Day Dream |
||
|
No
# |
the
Vikings |
I
Need Your Lovin' / Such A Love |
1965 |
|
|
1006 |
the
Counts |
Night
of Misery / If I Look Back |
Oct
'65 |
|
|
5001 |
the
Capers |
You'll
Never Walk Alone / I'm Walking the Dog |
Dec
'65 |
|
|
5002 |
the
Capers |
Iced
Tea / No Peace of Mind |
Dec
'65 |
|
|
No
# |
the
Fortels |
She
/ Merry Go Round |
Dec
'65 |
|
|
26601 |
Gary
Kennedy with the Mahoning Valley Boys |
Pretty
Carol / Mountain Of Love |
Feb
'66 |
|
|
5948 |
the
Pied Pipers |
Hey
Joe / Hold On I'm Comin' |
late
'66 |
|
| 5954 | Jubilee Specials | Pass Me Not / He's Mine | (L-169) | |
|
(LP)
5960 |
the
Happy Salvationists |
S/T |
April
'67 |
|
| 5961 | Zera Crosby and the Newbelievers Gospel Singers | When He Calls Me / Sit Down Servant | (L-174) | |
|
5980 |
the
Nomadz |
She
Ain't Lovin' You No More
/ Wait Till the Midnight Hour |
Jul
'67 |
|
|
5970 |
the
Kare Takers |
Have
You Seen My Baby? / My Jane |
Oct
'67 |
|
|
United
Audio starts below |
||||
|
5073 |
the
Montours |
The
World Can Pass You By / Going All the Way |
Dec
'67 |
|
|
No
# |
the
Next Of Kin |
A
Lovely Song / Mr. Soul |
Jan
'68 |
|
|
5981 |
Madam
Mary Elizabeth Austin |
If
It Wasn’t For Jesus / Didn’t He Say |
Jan
‘68 |
|
|
5982 |
the
Es Shades |
Anyday, Anywhere / Without My Love |
Jan
'68 |
|
|
5986 |
the
Daze Endz |
What
Can I Do? / Knock On Wood |
Jan
'68 |
|
|
5989 |
the
Shaddows |
Together
Again / Stormy Weather |
Feb
'68 |
|
|
5993 |
the
Crump Brothers |
On
the Right Road Now / I'm Willing |
May
'68 |
|
|
6001 |
the
Blues Inc. |
I
Can't Live With You / 7 and 7 Is |
Aug
'68 |
|
|
6003 |
the
Dimensions |
Hey
Little Woman / Summertime |
Aug
'68 |
|
|
6003 |
Seward's
Ice Box |
Your
Head Is Reeling / I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die |
Aug
'68 |
|
|
6006 |
East
Farmington Faith Singers |
Mama's
Teaching Angels ; Sometimes A Mountain / Inside the Gate ; There's Been a
Change |
Aug
'68 |
|
|
6008 |
the
Shy Tones |
Dody / Summer's Gone |
Nov
'68 |
|
|
6010 |
Regis |
Gismo
/ Autumn Fog |
Nov
'68 |
|
|
6002 |
the
Glass Harp |
Where
Did My World Come From / She Told Me |
March
'69 |
|
|
6014 |
the
Insights |
That's
All / Love is a Game |
March
'69 |
|
|
6014 |
the
Sound Barrier |
Greasy
Heart / I Can't Explain (PS) |
Apr
'69 |
|
|
6015 |
the
Class of '69 Presents...the Groovy Sound of Fitch |
(side
1) / (side 2) (PS) |
the
Back Pages play - uncredited on label |
May
'69 |
|
6003 |
Mickey
Kalis and the Bakersfield Blues Band |
2:10
To Yuma / Got No Time |
Aug
'69 |
|
|
7010 |
Gary
Kennedy and the Mahoning Valley Boys |
It's
Hurtin' Me / The Day I Told Mary Goodbye (PS) |
March
'70 |
|
|
1974 |
Starlette Gospel Singers |
Pray
On My Child / I’ve Got A Feeling |
June
‘70 |
|
| 7052 | Ram-Rods | A Sadder Man Than Me / Here I Go Again | Aug '70 | |
|
7054
(Soul Beat 1) |
the
Hustlers 1970 |
You
Can't Hide the Truth (Pt. 1) / You Can't Hide the Truth (Pt. 2) |
Sept
'70 |
|
|
7064
(LP) |
Fred
Harris and the N. G.'s |
Reach
Out and Touch |
Feb
'71 |
|
|
7067 |
Melvin
Catley with Fred Harris and the N. G.'s |
Why
Was America Born? / Still Waters Run Deep |
May
'71 |
|
|
7075 |
Ginny
Baker, the Country Rovers |
Columbus
Stockade Blues / I Wanna Be Cowboys Sweetheart |
March
’72 (United Media prod.) |
|
|
(Flush)
7068 |
Blue
Amber |
Good
Morning Tuesday / We Got Love |
May
'71 |
|
|
7111 |
Guy
Thomas |
I
Should Be A Rainbow / Sunshine |
||
|
PP1002 |
Grecian
Lads |
(LP) |
||
|
PP1003 |
Old
Friends and New Acquaintences |
Whiskey
Man / Wanting To Be Free (PS) |
R-28761/2
(11-8-71) |
|
|
(Quiggly) PP1004 |
Erving
Forbush |
The
Train / Sally Funky Monday |
R-29003/4 |
|
|
PP1005 |
Gospel
Flames of Warren, OH |
I
Love the Lord / Never Grow Old |
R-29001/2 |
|
|
PP1007 |
Left
End |
Sunshine
Girl / Someday (I Will See) |
R-29539/40 |
|
|
(Apollo)
PP1008 |
Gary
Kennedy and the Mahoning Valley Boys |
Sing
Me Back Home / White Lightnin' |
1971 |
|
|
(FBC)
PP1009 |
the
Braddock Hills FBC Chorale |
I
Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say / Wade In The Water |
1971
(R-29713/4) |
|
|
PP1015 |
Poobah |
Let
Me Out (LP) |
||
|
(Unity)
PP1016 |
Gospel
Flames of Warren, OH |
Dear
Jesus / Climbing Up To Heaven |
R-30741/2 |
|
| (Stevens Enterprised) PP1018 | Frederick Stevend and the Stevens Singers | Speak To Me Lord (LP) | R-30999/1000 | |
|
PP1019 |
Veseli Tamburitzans featuring Rose
Husnick |
More
Of Veseli (LP) |
R-31003/4 |
|
|
PP1021 |
Chris
Michael Group |
The
Soldier / Carousel |
R-31007/8 |
|
|
PP1022 |
Brimstone |
Paper
Winged Dreams (LP) |
1973 |
|
|
(Dapper)
PP1025 |
No
artist (Credited as Rangle) |
Get
Out Of Bed / Visions of Mind |
||
| PP1026 | George Westermeyer III & the Tyme Machine | It's So Nice To Be With You (LP) | R-31191/2 | |
|
PP1028 |
Fred
Koeberle |
Goodbye
My Love / I'm Just a Dreamer |
||
|
(Myth)
PP1031 |
Myth |
Stormy
Night / Till You Return For Me |
July
‘73 |
|
|
(EROS)
PP1032 |
Phantasies |
PH.D.
Or Speculations / Bring Back The Seasons |
July
'73, Issued with PS |
|
|
PP1034 |
Dieter |
Berlin,
Berlin / My Love Has Gone (Noch Immer
Alein) |
Aug
‘73 |
|
|
PP1035 |
Alias
Funk and Soul (vocals - Shades of Soul) |
Bells
/ Well Good |
Aug
'73 |
|
|
PP1036 |
New
Affair |
Rama-Lama
Ding Dong / Someone, Somewhere |
Oct
'73 |
|
| (Faux Pas) PP1039 | Faux Pas | S/T (LP) | Dec '73 | |
| PP1044 | Mike Reed | I Believe In Music (LP) | ||
| PP1045 | Modernaires | One Way Onlu (LP) | ||
| PP1047 | Bob Turcola Orchestra | Strike Up The Polka Band (LP) | ||
| PP1048 | Maddie's Polish Princes' Of Warren, Ohio | Match Maker's Polka / Zosia Polka | ||
|
(Big
Men) PP1053 |
Menagerie |
Ladies
On Liberty Street / Ukiah (PS) |
|
|
|
PP1057 |
the
Todd |
Mystifying
Me / Be My Lover Tonight (PS) |
||
| PP1058 | J.P. Goist | Funky School / Take A Walk | ||
| (The Family of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) PP1066 | Father Joseph Iati | Sabbath Prayer ; Immacolata / Beautiful Angel | ||
|
(Ollie)
PP1068 |
the
Trick |
Free
As A Bird / Ninety Nine Pounds |
||
| PP1070 | the Joe Fedorchak Orchestra | Polkas and Waltzes Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (LP) | ||
| PP1071 | Laurence Dixie, Mary Ann Paris, and Francisco Paris, Jr | Brothers Please Listen To The Lord / Jesus You're The One For Me | June 1975 - Label says "The good words from the Church of God in Christ, Youngstown Ohio" | |
|
(T.O.L.)
PP1074 |
Taste
Of Love |
Love
Meditation / Cindy |
1975 |
|
|
(Parthenon)
PP1078 |
Icarus |
King
Pin / From The Start |
1975 |
|
|
PP1079 |
Kerry
B. Malcolm |
Didn’t
He / Little Girl |
Sept
‘75 |
|
| PP1080 | the New Hope Bapist Combined Choirs | I Thank You Lord / In My Heart | Sept '75 | |
| (Sunrise)PP1085 | no artist listed - songwriters Darryl Hogan and Michael Sedmak | Askin' Me Why / Tryin' To Be Loved | Nov. '75 | |
| PP1094 | Matt Schafer and His Orchestra | My Pop's Polka / Mr. Joe Trolli's Polka | ||
|
(PAP
Productions) PP1103 |
Nothin' From Nothin' |
Love
Music / Never Had It So Good |
1976 |
|
| (Fat Funk) PP1105 | the Grayson Brothers | Lovin' My Baby / Before Our World Fell Through | ||
| PP1110 | Joe Fedorchak Orchestra | Squeezer's Polka / Orphan Waltz | Oct 1976 | |
| PP1111 | Frankie Spetich and His Orchestra | Let's Go Polka / Peter's Waltz | Nov 1976 | |
| PP1115 | Frankie Spetich and His Orchestra | For The Record - Just For You (LP) | ||
| PP1117 | L. J. Fortier | Magic In My Hands / I Send You All Of My Love Always | March 1977 | |
| (Dyna) PP1121 | the Dynasonics | Polish Graffiti (LP) | ||
| PP1127 | Raytones | Mountaineer's Farewell / Should Have Stayed Single | May 1977 | |
| PP1132 | Artist | For The First Time / Every Lady Does It | July 1977 | |
|
PP1134 |
Arrie Mae Morton Trio |
Muddy
Water / Land Of Dreams |
Aug
1977 |
|
|
PP1135 |
Arrie Mae Morton Trio |
I
Can't Believe / Misty |
Aug
1977 |
|
| PP1140 | Evangelettes | He's So Real (LP) | Dec 1977 | |
| PP1141 | Frankie Spetich and His Orchestra | Festival Time at Lakeside (LP) | Dec 22, 1977 | |
| (Neck Reckords) PP1143 | Pagans | Six And Change / Six And Change | Dec 1977, same master on both sides | |
|
PP1144 |
Ron
Corey and the Destinations |
Christmas
Tribute To Elvis – Blue Christmas / Lonesome Weekend |
Dec
30, 1977 |
|
| PP1149 | the John Tasz Orchestra | Polka Ricky / Pissburgh Polka | March 18, 1978 | |
|
PP1150 |
Dreamz |
You're
A Special Girl / The Flame In My Eyes |
March
1978 |
|
| (C.A.S.) PP1153 | Christian All Stars | The All Stars' Prayer / He's Coming Back | May 1978 - 359 S. Van Buren Ave, Barberton | |
| PP1154 | Gene Sommers | Baby I Love You / You're My Favorite Thing | May 1978 | |
| PP1160 | Ron Corey with the Destinations | We Miss Her Tonight / That's Alright Mama | Sept 1978 | |
| PP1161 | Starburst | In Harmony / You'll Never Want To Leave Me | Sept 1978 | |
| (Sangelo) 1164 | T.J. Church | I Waited Too Long / Gone Are The Days | Oct 1978 | |
| PP1166 | Youngstown State University | One Step Closer (LP) | Feb 1979 - 1978 YSU Football highlights | |
| PP1170 | Bee Honey and Waltzing Meat // .... and Manager | Supermud / Raku'in Jew | Feb 20, 1979 Rich Lipscher- guitar, Mark Styduhar- Violin | |
| PP1171 | Del-Fis | The Good Times (LP) | March 20, 1979 | |
| PP1174 | Spiritual-Lites | Trials And Tribulations / Higher In Jesus | May 22, 1979 | |
| PP1176 | Free & Easy Band | Free & Easy / Kiss You All Over | June 1979 | |
| PP1180 | Poobah | Steamroller (LP) | ||
| PP1181 | Larry and Teri | Roll Over Beethovan (sic) / Ode To Billy Joe | May 1979 | |
| PP1184 | Kim McCrae | Like Some Child's Game / I'm Feeling It Too | ||
| (JP Productions) PP1189 | Jimmy Pol | Pirates Power Song / Pirates Power Song | Aug 2, 1979 Stereo/mono versions | |
| PP1195 | Joe Fedorchak Orchestra | Fedorchak "By Request" LP | ||
| PP1197 | Pure Gold | Nashville On My Mind / Heartache Number One | Oct 29, 1979 | |
| (Grayson Productions) PP1198 | Steve Grayson | Lovin' My Baby / Before Our World Fell Through | Re-release? of Grayson Brothers (PP1105) | |
| PP1207 | Zuke | Lines / Take Off The Mask | Band from Burgettstown, PA | |
| PP1208 | Spirit | Put Your Hands Together (LP) | ||
| (Memory) PP 1217 | Joe Beno and Orchestra | Polkas! Joe Beno! And A Little More (LP) | April 1980 | |
| PP1219 | Messenger | I Shied / Hypnotize | June 1980, picture sleeve |
From #5073 (Montours) label is United Audio. The duplicate label numbers are not misprints - records listed in order of QCA date code