Penguin Records
LOCATION: Box 123, Seattle Heights, Seattle, WA.
OWNER(s): Jim Hammer
TIMESPAN: 1959-1960
MISC NOTES: James E. Hammer (1942-1971) was born to a jeweler Max Hammer and his wife Edith, and was raised at 7121 210th Avenue SW in Edmonds. In 1957 he won early 1959 he won Second Place in an essay writing contest, then First Place in 1958, and in early 1959, a high school speech tournament with his talk about "radio." Still a teenager, Hammer then began working as assistant librarian for Seattle's KOL radio. Inspired by the success of Dolton Records in the spring of 1959, he formed Penguin that summer in order to promote local talents, and was successful in getting some radio airplay for the Continentals and Dynamics singles. Hammer quickly struck deals with better-established labels (New York's Era Records and Los Angeles' Guaranteed Records) who licensed the Continentals and Dynamics singles for wider distribution, but neither deal resulted in the hoped-for national radio hit.
Billboard magazine, September 14, 1959 p. 41
In time Hammer was hired by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) the non-profit organization that licenses and collects performance royalties for its members. Hammer moved to New York City, and in 1971 was on assignment in Washington D.C. where his task was to audit the financial records of the local ASCAP office. But on November 3rd his body was found in another man's hotel room. Robbed and murdered, Hammer's wallet and car were both missing, and it took until 1982 before the mystery was solved. Hammer had been attacked by a serial killer / drifter who would admit to having strangled or shot thirty men between 1969 and 1971.
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For decades, collectors of Pacific Northwest records have pondered the absence in the Penguin labelography of several specimen discs bearing these Serial Numbers: #1001, #1003, #1004, $1005, #1007, and #1009. Well, the mystery of #1004 has finally been solved! In 2024, and while prowling around a used record shop in Ellensburg, the Northwest Music Archives' very own Dustin Hays unearthed the #1004 long-play album noted below. The disc, however, was sans jacket, so now the question remains: was this disc originally released with a printed jacket, or, perhaps, a plain white one? Hopefully some visitor to the NWMA will help answer this question soon!
The Daily Herald (Everett), November 10, 1971, p.44
MISC NOTES: Original Northwest release. Issued nationally later (Era Records #45 - 3003).
LOCATION: West Seattle
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Pat Fahey (guitar); Eddie Kleffner (piano); Don Kennedy (alto sax); Eldon Butler (sax); Marius "Butch" Nordal (bass); Don Stevenson (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Stevenson - Klefner - Fahey - Butler - Kennedy
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Hammer Mus. Publ. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Stevenson - Klefner - Fahey - Butler - Kennedy
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Hammer Mus. Publ. (BMI)
MISC NOTES:
Side A
1.) Introduction
2.) Halls Of Ivy
3.) Alleluia
4.) Magic Moments
5.) When The Saints Go Marching In
6.) Oklahoma
7.) Ride The Chariot
8.) The Beatitudes
9.) Ain' - A That Good News Chorus
Side B
1.) The Lord's Prayer
2.) Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair
3.) Elijah Rock
4.) Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
5.) Arion Award 1959
6.) South Pacific [Mello -Aires]
7.) Italian Street Song
8.) Battle Hymn Of The Republic
LOCATION: Edmonds, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Bel Canto Choir; the Mello-Aires; Edward Aliverti [director]; Jenny Sorenson [accompanist]; Judy Byers [soloist B7]
RECORDING STUDIO: on-location recording
RECORDING ENGINEER: possibly: Jim Hammer (owner of Penguin Records)
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 12"
SPEED: 33 1/3 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: 1004A
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE MATRIX: 1004B
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
miSC NOTES: "The disc, issued by Penguin, was again rejected by the local stations - KING-AM's Al Cummings hated the record so much he called it "Hammer's folly." But Hammer again got air support from KOL, and successfully another distribution (U.S. and Canada) deal, this time with New York's Guaranteed Record Co. (#201)" [STOMP and SHOUT. R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll. Peter Blecha (2023) University of Washington Press Seattle, WA 2023 Pg.109.]
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Terry Afdem (piano), Jeff Afdem (sax), Jerry Strong (vocals), Tom Larson (vocals), Bob Johnson (vocals), Wally Griffin (guitar), Tracy Townsend (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO: Afdem family's living-room.
RECORDING ENGINEER: Jim Hammer
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX: 1006A
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Tom Larson
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Hammer Mus. Publ.
B-SIDE MATRIX: 1006B
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Jeff Afdem - Terry Afdem
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Hammer Mus. Publ.
MISC NOTES: First recordings to feature guitarist Larry Coryell. He next joined the Checkers, and then, the Dynamics.
LOCATION: Seattle, WA.
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Larry Coryell (guitar); Wayne Lysher (piano); Grant Ross (bass); Larry McDermott (drums).
RECORDING STUDIO: Joe Boles Custom Recorders
RECORDING ENGINEER: Joe Boles
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs:
1.) A only promo label. . No B recording. White background. Black logo, numerals and lettering.
2.) A - B retail label. White background. Black logo, numerals and lettering.
"Thunder Wagon" Album Reissues:
2002. Side Two Track #3 on Chicken Session compilation LP (Norton Records NW 911)
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: B. Schank
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
2.)
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
2.)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Nelson - Egnoian
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Lynn Vrooman (vocals); The Royals (instrumentals)
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: L. Vrooman
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Lee
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: