I’m sure you’ll find many copies of this record laying around at secondhand shops and garage sales — NOT! I think there are two of them known to exist, but I don’t know if mine is the second or third.

The Vikings were three brothers and a friend from a very small town in Ohio called Champion, just north of Warren. That’s between Cleveland and Youngstown, but closer to Youngstown. They recorded the two sides of this record at the WAM Records studio in Youngstown. WAM stands for “Words And Music” and it was a spin-off of the Dusi Music Center in Youngstown. This label became a legendary home for garage rock group collectors, much like the coveted Orlyn label out of Chicago, but they also recorded their fair share of polkas, gospel, and pop records. The operation was formed in 1962 by Bill Warner with the help of a disc jockey from WHOT Radio in Youngstown. It was built in a one-story wood frame building on the near south side of Youngstown. In 1967, the name was changed to United Audio and Gary Rhamy came on board after graduation from college as an engineer. He bought out the company in 1971, built a new facility, and changed the name once again to Peppermint Recordings.

This record was issued in 1965. Here’s an example of the midwest’s finest garage rock, I Need Your Lovin’ by The Vikings!

Let me know if you have any requests, and keep listening to MusicMaster Oldies. Don’t touch that dial!