Category Archives: Golden State Recorders

Categories: Alaska, Anchorage, Golden Gate, Golden State Recorders

The Pulsating Heartbeats and the Hartbeet Band

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Hartbeet Band Golden Gate 45 Wait Till Then

The Apostol brothers, Eddie, John, and Paul, formed the Pulsating Heartbeats in their home town of Anchorage Alaska.

The Pulsating Heartbeats were:

Eddie Apostol – guitar, vocals
John Apostol (Raphael Apostol) – guitar, vocals
Paul Apostol (Raul Apostol) – drums
Frank “Skip” Konte – keyboards, vocals

Originally known as simply the Heartbeats, the group rehearsed in Betty Poeschel’s garage, and recorded in Betty’s Record Den.

As the Pulsating Heartbeats they made one very rare record, “Anne” / “Talkin’ Bout You” on Pace Setters Internationale 007 1/2.

John Apostol wrote “Anne” and co-wrote “Talkin’ Bout You” with Eddie. A local DJ, Ron Moore produced. I believe Pacesetters was a booking agency run by Poeschel and Ron Moore. The address on the record was 425 East 5th Avenue in Anchorage.

The group toured throughout Alaska, and also performed at rallies for Mike Gravel’s failed run as Congressman in ’66.

Heartbeats join union to play Mike Gravel’s campaign rally in Fairbanks, July 1966

Skip Konte left the group. He would move all the way to Tampa, Florida, joining the Blues Image in 1967 and co-writing their hit “Ride Captain Ride”.

Emerson Crivillo took Skip’s place on the keyboards. Eddie Apostol was drafted, leaving the band as a trio.

Hartbeet Band Golden Gate 45 Run Around KindThe group played in Hawaii and probably California as well.

In 1967 they went to Leo Kulka’s Golden State Recorders in San Francisco to cut a single as the Hartbeet Band. John and Paul Apostol wrote “Wait ‘Till Then” while “Run Around Kind” is credited to Apostol – Crivell [sic].

The Hartbeet Band single saw release on Golden Gate Records GG-1263 in small quantities, and is very rare now. The labels list Golden Gate’s publishing wing Guard Music Co. but I cannot find copyright registration for either, or for “Anne” / “Talkin’ Bout You”.

Lisa Wheeler found a demo of “Wait ‘Till Then” and wrote about the group for her site Elk Bugles.

The demo lists Pacesetters Custom Recording Studio.

I believe the Heartbeats / Hartbeet Band ended their touring around this time and returned to Anchorage. Eddie Apostol returned from service and the band would continue to play locally.

Most of the above videos above were made by one of the Apostol’s sons, and feature cool photos and info.

Categories: California, Golden State, Golden State Recorders, San Francisco

Golden State Records singles discography

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Custer and the Survivers Golden State 45 I Saw Her WalkingGolden State Recorders used the Golden State Records label for acts that did not have a deal with another company. The music can range from soul to hard rock to gospel, but Custer & the Survivers, Zorba & the Greeks and the Poor Souls all have good garage sounds.

The changing numbering system makes it difficult to put in exact chronological order without knowing the dead wax of each release. Early singles have white labels with simple black print or yellow and greenish blue labels with bridge logo. This changed to red, green, purple, etc in later years without the bridge logo.

I’m sure there are many more releases than I have listed here, any help with this discography would be appreciated.

GSR 653 – The Astros – Space Walk” (B. Please, Rap Music ASCAP and DeGar Music ASCAP)

654 – Lanny Duncan – “I Didn’t Lie” / “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”

GSR – 656 – Weyland Jennings – “Nashville Bum” / “Gulf Coast Belle”

GSR-657 – Custer and the Survivers – “I Saw Her Walking” / “Flapjacks” (both by J.B. Pavseni, Mark Nine Music BMI, produced by Arvey Andrews) (Nov. 1965, also released on Vardan and Ascot)

Arvey Andrews also produced the Mystic “I Get So Disgusted” / “Weekend People”, D. Witherspoon & the Future, and the Lovers “Without a Doubt” on Frantic Records, and the Emotions “Love of a Girl” / “Do This For Me” on Vardan.

453 – The Lo-Kals – “Look Out Baby Here I Come” / “I’m So Tired” (Bobby King, Guard Music BMI) (J.H. Lewis Production)

GSR-597-A – Zorba and the Greeks – “One and Only Girl” / “You’ve Had Your Chance” (Nov. 1966)

GSR-597-B – Zorba and the Greeks – “Shockwave” (Myrin, Guard Music BMI) / “Memories of You” (Johnson) (Nov. 1966)

GSR-45-606 – The Donnybrookes – “Time Will Tell” / “You’re Gonna Cry” (Nov. 1966)

GRS-1721 – The Poor Souls – “Baby Let’s Wait” / “It Ain’t Enough” (Frank Marseguerra, Degar Music ASCAP) (Oct. 1967)

GSR-1351 – David London – “Tomorrow’s OK By Me” / “Lara’s Theme” (produced by Leo Kulka)

GSR-501 – Gold – “Summertime” / “No Parking” (production: A-side Country Joe McDonald, b-side George Benz)

GSR – 4-69 – Mel Davis – “Just Another Smile” / “The Life I Live” (1969)

GS106 – Spyders – “I Can Take Care of Myself” / “Make Up Your Mind” (W. Cox) (1968)

GSR-1969 – The Voices of Victory Choir – “I Feel Good” / “There’s No Hiding Place”

GSRC-2452 – Seventh Dawn – “Don’t Worry Me” (Phillips, Phillips, Noyer; Guard Music BMI) / “Wings of Flight” (1970) gold label, G.S.R. Custom Records, band from Oroville

GSR-7695 – Swinging Granny – “Irall Waltz” / “Da-Dippty” (both by Irral Berger, 1969)

GSRC 437 – Joy Higgins – Come Back Big Jack” / “Shoulda Told You” (1978)

recent pressings of unreleased soul recordings:

GS-2001 (GSR346) – The San Francisco TKOs – “Make Up Your Mind” / “Send My Baby Back”
GS-2002 (GSR352) – George & Teddy – “Oh Yeah” / “Lover”
GS-2003 GSR362) – Spyders – “I Don’t Care” / “I Can Take Care of Myself”

33 and 1/3 rpm 7″ custom pressings:

M-1967 – Leo & Flora de Gar Kulka – A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
GSR-1562 – Garland Dudley & the Voices of Frederick of the Third Baptist Church – “He Touched Me”, “Touch the Hem of His Garment” / “Sweet Sweet Spirit”, “You Must Live Right” (7″, 33 1/3rd rpm)

LPs on Golden State include Paul LaMont – Psychedelia (Opus 1 & 2), War Songs of the Third Reich, and Joel Andrews – Harp Soundings.
Poor Souls Golden State 45 It Ain't Enough

Categories: California, Golden State Recorders, Hayward, Studio, Wax Records

The Just VI and Whyte Haven Pillow

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The Just VI Wax 45 Bo-SaidThe Just VI formed at Tennyson High School in Hayward, California in late 1964.

The early lineup included:

Tony Rhodes – lead vocals
Mike Cantrell – guitar, vocals
Ken Houston – guitar, replaced by Kenny Simms in 1965
Don Cantrell Jr. – organ, vocals
Dennis Brock – bass
Sal Saccardo – drums

The band played out frequently, helped by their Cantrell’s father, Don Sr., who was a promoter and booking agent. Sometimes listed as the Just Six, they played at venues including the Coconut Grove in Santa Cruz, the Newark Pavilion, Frenchy’s, the Rollarena in San Leandro, Carpenters Hall, Maple Hall in San Pablo, at the Carousel Ballroom and Longshoreman’s Hall in San Francisco and the Avalon Ballroom on Catalina Island (with the Yardbirds), IDES Hall in Hayward, and at Battle of the Bands including at the Santa Clara Fair Grounds. They also appeared on Dick Clark’s Happening ’68 and toured with the Animals.

In November ’65 the Just VI cut two original songs, “Bo-Said” (written by Tony Rhodes and Mike Cantrell) b/w “You” (written by Kenny Simms and Tony Rhodes) at Golden State Recorders. Both sides published by Merrie Making Music, BMI.

The songs were issued on Wax W-211 and the single sold well, including a supposed sold 14,000 copies in Winchester, Missouri!

Just VI Harbinger Complex Yardbirds Carousel Ballroom Rollarena
Just VI with the Harbinger Complex and Peter Wheat & the Breadmen opening for the Yardbirds at the Carousel Ballroom and the Rollarena
Over the next few years the band recorded additional songs that were not released at the time, including auditions for Capitol and Columbia. Big Beat included “I’m Gonna Be Gone” on the excellent compilation CD You Got Yours! East Bay Garage 1965-67. A photo in the liners shows the band in patriot dress like Paul Revere & the Raiders.

In 1968 Tony Rhodes left the group and Roger Corboy joined, along with his brother Dave Corboy from a Fremont group called the Differentiated Concepts. Dennis Brock left and Steve Lind took over on bass.

The Just VI Wax 45 YouThe band had a 45 as the White Haven Pillow “Wreck It” (K. Simms Jr., D. Corboy) / “Muisc Man” (D.E. Cantrell Jr.) on the MTA label in 1969.

After Sal Saccardo left the group hired Terry Rissman of Peter Wheat & the Breadmen to play drums. When Terry left, Mike Cantrell played drums until the group split in late ’69.

Most of the group had some involvement in music after the Just VI. Roger Corboy joined Helix, Sal Saccardo went into the Powers of Darkness and played with Little John, the Cantrell brothers had Crossfire in the ’70s, and Kenny Sims had a group called Truckin’ later on.

The best source of info for this article was Bruce G. Tahsler’s The San Francisco East Bay Scene: Garage Bands from the 60’s Then and Now, including the scan of the Yardbirds show poster.

Poster for Whyte Haven Pillow formerly Just VI with the Little Princess light show at Moreau High School in Hayward, Oct 18, 1968. Courtesy of Jeff Hawley.

Wax Records

Wax Records of Oakland started out with at least two soul singles in 1964, Tiny Powell’s “My Time After Awhile” / “Take Me With You”; and Sugar Pie DeSanto’s “Strange Feeling” / “Little Taste of Soul”.

In 1965, Wax released two 45s by the Cheaters of San Leandro, “Take It Easy” / “Girl – I Want” (Wax 210) and “My Favorite Girl” / “Suzanne” (Wax 213).

Certain later pressings had a yellow and orange design, large logo and featured the tagline “If It’s a Hit, It’s on Wax”.