Metrobeat & Peak Records

Two record labels connected to David Anthony Productions

 

Contents:

 

History

Metrobeat and Peak Records

 

In early 1967, Mike Jann and Tony Andreason decided to team up with local booking agent David Anthony Wachter to start up a new record company called Metrobeat Records.  David wanted a record label for the various bands he was booking in order to boost the name value of the bands and increase their pay for live jobs. 

David had been booking a band from Grand Forks, North Dakota called The Cornerstones.  The band was very popular in North and South Dakota and also played in Minnesota.  The band came to Minneapolis and recorded two songs at Universal Audio (formerly Kay Bank) which they gave to David Wachter to listen to.  The two songs: “You Rule Me” and “Our Love is All Through” were pressed up as the first 45 on the new Metrobeat record label.  A friend of David Wachter had suggested the name of the label and local songwriter and musician Larry LaPole came up with a logo for the new label.  In March, 1967 the new record was off and running with their first 45.  The record received airplay in Grand Forks, North Dakota and other markets to the West of Grand Forks.

Following The Cornerstones, The Trashmen, Underbeats, South 40, Jokers Wild, and The Titans released 45’s on Metrobeat.  With so many 45’ coming out on the same label, it was decided to start up Peak Records, as a subsidiary to Metrobeat.  The first release on the Peak label was “(I’ve Got) Nowhere to Run” by a band from Stillwater, Minnesota called The More – Tishans, produced by Timothy D. Kehr.  The original song recorded for the B-side was not used and an instrumental version of the A-side came out on the flipside. 

In the later part of 1967, David Wachter began to put a new band together called South 40 with Dave Wagoner on lead voclas, to be a hard rocking R & B band, in the fashion of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.  On March 20, 1968, the band was recorded live and an album was released called “Live at Someplace Else” (a popular club located in Robbinsdale).  A 45 from the album was released with “I Want Sunshine” backed with “Goin’ Someplace Else.”  The album and the 45 both sold well in the Twin Cities and the 45 received airplay on local rock stations WDGY and KDWB.  South 40 would eventually transform into Crow and have a number of national hits in 1969 and 1970 on the Amaret label out of Los Angeles. 

In December, 1967, Kay Huntington released a 45 on the MillCity label, another subsidiary of Metrobeat.

The final 45 for the label would be a 45 on the Peak label by Mark Alan, a country singer.  The songs were recorded in Nashville and the record was released in May, 1976.

Starting with The Cornerstones in 1967 and ending up with Mark Alan in 1976, Metrobeat (including Peak and MillCity) released thirteen 45’s and one album.  The biggest success for Metrobeat was the live South 40 album.  

 

Photos  (Click a photo to see it full-screen, then click the arrows to see the next one.)

Larry LaPole at Sunrise Sound November 3, 2013

Larry LaPole at Sunrise Sound November 3, 2013

Larry - Tony - Mike

Larry - Tony - Mike

Larry - Tony - Mike

Larry – Tony – Mike

 

Recordings  On  The  Metrobeat  Record  Label

 

1st 45 Record by Cornerstones

1st 45 Record by Cornerstones

You  Rule  Me

Our  Love  Is  All  Through

 

2nd 45 by The Trashmen

2nd 45 by The Trashmen

Green  Green  Backs  of  Home

Address  Enclosed

 

3rd 45 by The Underbeats

3rd 45 by The Underbeats

It’s  Gonna  Rain  Today

Sweetest  Girl  in  the  World

 

4th 45 by South 40

4th 45 by South 40

Good  Lovin’

The  Penny  Song

 

5th 45 by Jokers Wild

5th 45 by Jokers Wild

All  I  See  is  You

I  Just  Can’t  Explain  It

 

MBR-6-Titans

6th 45 by The Titans

 

 

 

# 7 The Cornerstones 2nd 45

# 7 The Cornerstones 2nd 45

When  Will  My  Day  Come

It’s  Gonna  Be  That  Way

 

# 8 South 40 2nd 45

# 8 South 40 2nd 45

I  Want  Sunshine

Goin’  Someplace  Else

 

# 9 South 40 LP Release

# 9 South 40 LP Release

 

Recordings  On  The  Peak  Record  Label

 

 

1st 45 on Peak Label The More-Tishans

1st 45 on Peak Label The More-Tishans

(I’ve  Got)  Nowhere  To  Run

Nowhere  To  Run  (Instrumental)

 

 

2nd 45 by Jokers Wild

2nd 45 by Jokers Wild

Because  I’m  Free

Sunshine

 

3rd 45 by The Churchkeys

3rd 45 by The Churchkeys

Soul  Sister

It’s  Not  Unusual

 

4th by Jokers Wild

4th by Jokers Wild

Peace  Man

Tomorrow

 

5th 45 by Lee Silverton

5th 45 by Lee Silverton

Laughing  Laurie

Boy  Am  I  Dumb

 

PKR-6-Mark Allen

 

 

Where are they now?

 

David Anthony Wachter:  Retired.  Living in Wisconsin.

Mike Jann:  Retired.  Living in Minnesota.

Tony Andreason:  Playing with The Trashmen and The Platte Valley Boys.  Living in Minnesota.

 

Interview

Tony Andreason - Mike Jann

Tony Andreason – Mike Jann

Interview AUDIO  –  Time  =  35:59