Wooden Nickel Records was an American independent

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and

Jerry Weintraub Jerome Charles Weintraub (September 26, 1937 – July 6, 2015) was an American film producer, talent manager and actor whose television films won him three Emmys. He began his career as a talent agent, having managed known singer John Denver in ...

as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

area, including the Siegel–Schwall Band,

James Lee Stanley James Lee Stanley (born April 30, 1946) is an American folk singer-songwriter. Stanley was also a regular extra on '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' for six seasons. Biography Stanley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of Italian, German, C ...

, Megan McDonough and

Styx In Greek mythology, Styx (; ; lit. "Shuddering"), also called the River Styx, is a goddess and one of the rivers of the Greek Underworld. Her parents were the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, and she was the wife of the Titan Pallas and the moth ...

. The label had a distribution deal with

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

. Wooden Nickel ceased operations after its top act, Styx, signed with

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

in 1975. The label sued the band for breach of contract, then was formally disbanded in 1977.

Discography

Albums: WNS-1000 Series

*''Wooden Nickel'' – Wooden Nickel, 1971, WNS-1000 *''String Cheese'' – String Cheese, 1971, WNS-1001
Produced by James Lee Golden and Barry Fasman. Artists: Greg Block, Louis Constantino, William Dalton, John Maggi, Sally Smaller, and Lawrence W. Wendelken. *''The Siegel-Schwall Band'' – Siegel-Schwall Band, 1971, WNS-1002
This album cover won a

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

in 1972 for album cover of the year. Produced by Bill Traut and Peter Szillies. Partly recorded live at The Quiet Knight, Chicago. *''David Patton'' – David Patton, 1971, WNS-1003
Produced by Jim Golden and Barry Fasman. Country album with Larry Brown, Larry Carlton, Buddy Emmons, Tom Hensley and Bill Perry. *''In the Megan Manner'' – Megan McDonough, 1972, WNS-1004
Country album with Larry Carlton, Larry Brown, Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Bill Perry. Produced by Bob Monaco, James Lee Golden, and Barry Fasman. *''Buckeye'' – David Patton, 1972, WNS-1005
Country album with Larry Brown, Larry Carlton, Buddy Emmons, Gib Guilbeau, Michael Lang, Lincoln Mayorga, Bill Perry and Maxine Waters Willard. *''Megan Music'' – Megan McDonough, 1972, WNS-1007
Artists:Larry Brown, Larry Carlton, David Bennett Cohen, Barry Fasman, Jim Gordon, Tom Hensley, Laroon Holt, Danny Kortchmar,

Russ Kunkel Russell Kunkel (born September 27, 1948) is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Dan Fo ...

,
Bill Perry and

Leland Sklar Leland Bruce Sklar (born May 28, 1947) is an American bassist and session musician. He rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coalesced into a group in its own right, The Section, which supported so many of Asylu ...

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American Country music, country and Folk music, folk singer, songwriter, and actor. He was one of the most popular acoustic m ...

wrote the liner notes. *''

'' –

, 1972, WNS-1008
The debut album of this very successful band. Produced by Bill Traut and John Ryan. Reissued in 1975 as BWL1-1008; in 1978 as RCA AFL1-3110,
in 1979 as ''Styx I'' on RCA AFL1-3593 and in 1981 as ''Styx I'' on RCA AYL1-3888. *''Wolfman Jack'' –

Wolfman Jack Robert Weston Smith (January 21, 1938July 1, 1995), known as Wolfman Jack, was an American disc jockey active for over three decades. He was famous for his gravelly voice, and credited it with his success, saying, "It's kept meat and potatoes on ...

, 1972, WNS-1009
An album of covers with the liner notes written by

Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records in the 1960s, serving as an in-house songwr ...

, Leon Russell and

Todd Rundgren Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Nazz and Utopia. He is known for his sophistica ...

. Reissued in 1975 as BWL1-1009.
Produced by Golden and Don Sciarrotta of the Quantum Recording Studio. *''Sleepy Hollow'' – Siegel-Schwall Band, 1972, WNS-1010
Produced by the band. *''James Lee Stanley'' –

, 1973, WNS-1011
Produced by Barry Fasman and Jim Stanley. Musicians: John Batdorf, Larry Carlton,

Doug Dillard Douglas Flint Dillard (March 6, 1937 – May 16, 2012) was an American musician noted for his banjo proficiency and his pioneering participation in late-'60s country rock. Biography Early life Dillard, who grew up on a farm near Salem, Missouri ...

, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Gib Guilbeau, John Barlow Jarvis,
Russ Kunkel,

Michael Omartian Michael S. Omartian (born November 26, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, keyboardist, and music producer. He produced number-one records in three consecutive decades. He has earned 11 Grammy Awards nominations and won three. H ...

, Mark Rodney and

Mark Tulin Mark Shalom Tulin (November 21, 1948 – February 26, 2011) was an American bass guitarist who played with the psychedelic rock band The Electric Prunes. Biography Early life and career Tulin was born on November 21, 1948, in Philadelphia, to ...

. *'' Styx II'' – Styx, 1973, WNS-1012
Produced by John Ryan and Bill Traut. Reissued in 1975 as Wooden Nickel BWL1-1012, in 1979 as ''Lady'' on RCA AFL1-3594, in 1982 as ''Lady'' on RCA AYL1-4233.

Albums:
RCA RCA Corporation was a major American electronics company, which was founded in 1919 as the Radio Corporation of America. It was initially a patent pool, patent trust owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Westinghou ...
Consolidated Series

*''Through the Ages'' – Wolfman Jack, 1973, BWL1-0119. Produced for Quantum by Dick Monda and Don Sciarrotta. *''Exile'' –

Exile Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...

, 1973, BWL1-0120 *''953 West'' – Siegel-Schwall Band, 1973, BWL1-0121 *''Keepsake'' – Megan McDonough, 1973, BWL1-0145
Artists: Samuel Boghossian, Larry Carlton, Ronald Folsom, James Getzoff, Pamela Goldsmith, Jim Gordon, Jim Horn, Paul Hubinon, William Kurasch,
Lew McCreary, Ollie Mitchell, MichaelJohn Batdorf, Omartian, Joe Osborne, Ralph Schaeffer, Sidney Sharp and

Ernie Watts Ernest James Watts (born October 23, 1945) is an American jazz and R&B saxophonist who plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone. He has worked with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and toured with the Rolling Stones. On Frank Zappa's album '' ...

. *''James Lee Stanley, Too'' – James Lee Stanley, 1973, BWL1-0146
Artists: Deed Abbate, John Batdorf, Larry Carlton, Don Dunn, Jim Gordon, Jim Horn, Russ Kunkel, Lew McCreary, Michael Omartian, Mark Tulin and Ernie Watts. *'' The Serpent Is Rising'' – Styx, 1974, BWL1-0146 (2-74, #192) Reissued in 1979 as ''Serpent'' on RCA AFL1-3595, and in 1981 as ''Serpent'' on RCA AQL1-4111. *''Last Summer: The Siegel-Schwall Band Live'' – Siegel-Schwall Band, 1974, BWL1-0288 *''Three's the Charm'' – James Lee Stanley, 1974, BWL1-0430
Artists:

Bud Brisbois Austin Dean "Bud" Brisbois (April 11, 1937 – June 1, 1978) was a jazz and studio trumpeter. He played jazz, pop, rock, Country music, country, Motown, and classical music. Career Brisbois was born in Edina, Minnesota and began studying the tr ...

, Colin Cameron, Larry Carlton, Emmett Chapman, Larry Hanson, Jim Horn, John Barlow Jarvis, Russ Kunkel, Lew McCreary, Ollie Mitchell,
Michael Omartian, Bill Perkins and Sid Sharp. *''Magic'' – Richie Lecéa, 1974, BWL1-0431
Artists: Tom Hensley, Charles Larkey, Andy Newmark and Dean Parks. *''Sketches'' – Megan McDonough, 1974, BWL1-0499
Artists: Larry Brown, Larry Carlton, Wilton Felder, Tom Hensley and Dean Parks. *''R.I.P.'' – Siegel-Schwall Band, 1974, BWL1-0554 *''Mo'' – Mo McGuire, 1974, BWL1-0635
Musicians: Mike Bezin, Gavin Christopher, Pat Ferreri, Terry Fryer, Bruce Gaitsch,

Jon Hopkins Jonathan Julian Hopkins (born 15 August 1979) is an English musician and producer who writes and performs electronic music. He began his career playing keyboards for Imogen Heap, and has produced but also contributed to albums by Brian Eno, Co ...

, Richard Kanter, Harvey Levy, Wes Mix, Shelly Plotkin,
Caleb Quaye, Tom Radtke, Don Roth, Bob Schiff, Jim Schwall, Erik Scott,

Corky Siegel Mark Paul "Corky" Siegel (born October 24, 1943) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and composer. He plays harmonica and piano. He plays and writes blues and blues-rock music, and has also worked extensively on combining blues and cla ...

, Billy Steele, Bill Traut and Bud Van Horn. *'' Man of Miracles'' – Styx, 1974, BWL1-0638 (11-74, #154). Reissued in 1979 as ''Miracles'' on RCA AFL1-3596. *''It's All Done with Mirrors'' – Richie Lecéa, 1975, BWL1-0673
Artists: Tom Hensley, Charles Larkey, Andy Newmark and Dean Parks. *'' Come Again'' – The Jaggerz, 1975, BWL1-0772 *''Schizoid'' – Boa, 1975, BWL1-0790
Artists: Roger Alther, Dennis Belfield, Roger Kahn, Lewis Mark, Mickey McMeel, Thomas Obomsawin, Ron Stockert and Robert Zinner. *''Zazu'' – Zazu, 1975, BWL1-0791
Produced by Zazu, Bill Trout, and Barry Mraz. Artists: Randy Curlee, Mickey Lehocky, John Melnick and Paul Ricupero. *'' Best of Styx'' – Styx, 1977, BWL1-02250
Reissued in 1979 as RCA AFL1-3597 with a different cover.

CD

Varèse Sarabande Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, owned by Concord Music Group and distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and cast recording, original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums, as ...

/Varèse Vintage VSD-6006 - The Very Best of the Siegel-Schwall Band: The Wooden Nickel Years (1971-1974) - Siegel-Schwall Band

999 999 or triple nine most often refers to: * 999 (emergency telephone number), a telephone number for the emergency services in several countries * 999 (number), an integer * AD 999, a year * 999 BC, a year Media Books * 999 (anthology), ''99 ...

Singles: 65 prefix series

Wooden Nickel singles, like the albums, started with their own numbering system, but in 1973 were put into the consolidated RCA numbering system where they shared a catalog numbering sequence with all of the RCA-distributed labels. The label design was the same as for the albums, that is, a brown, wood-like color with a buffalo nickel backdrop, and "wooden nickel" in white at the top of the label. Promotional records used the same design, with "NOT FOR SALE" printed on the label. Promo copies usually featured the same song on both sides, one mono and one stereo. The deejay numbers on the 65–0100 series were completely different (e.g., the promo issue of "Guitar Picker" was SP/SPS-45-314 vs. the commercial issue of 65-0105). The WB-10000 series deejay issues used the same numbers, but with a "JH-" prefix instead of "WB-". *65-0100 - David Patton - "The Devil In Me" / "You Are Gone" (1971) *65-0102 - Megan McDonough - "Pocketful" / "Don't Worry Mama" (1972) *65-0103 - David Patton - "Her" / "Like Tonight" (1972) *65-0104 - Siegel-Schwall Band - "Always Thinking Of You Darling" / "Sleepy Hollow" (1972) *65-0105 - Megan McDonough - "Guitar Picker" / "Stay In Touch" (1972) *65-0106 - Styx - "

Best Thing "Best Thing" is the first single released by the band Styx (band), Styx from their self-titled debut album, ''Styx (album), Styx'' (1972). It charted at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100. ''Cash Box'' said that "high vocal harm ...

" (9-72, #82) / "What Has Come Between Us" (1972) *65-0107 - David Patton - "People In Dallas Got Hair" / "Los Angeles Leavin'" (1972) *65-0108 - Wolfman Jack - "I Ain't Never Seen A White Man" (9-72, #106) / "Gallop" (1972) *65-0109 - Megan McDonough - "Lady In Love" /"On The Shores Of Your Tomorrow" (1972) *65-0110 - Wolfman Jack - "There's An Old Man In Our Town" / "Hey Wolfman" (1972) *65-0111 - Styx - "I'm Gonna Make You Feel It" / "Quick Is The Beat Of My Heart" (1972) *65-0112 - Megan McDonough - "Broken Guitar" / "No Return" (1973) *65-0113 - James Lee Stanley - "Every Minute" / "I Knead You" (1973) *65-0114 - Siegel-Schwall Band - "Good Time Band" / "Hey Billy Jean" (1973) *65-0115 - Exile - "Devil's Bite" / "Mabel" (1973) *65-0116 - Styx - "

Lady ''Lady'' is a term for a woman who behaves in a polite way. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female counterpart of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. "Lady" is al ...

" / "You Better Ask" (1973) *65-0117 - Wolfman Jack - "Ling Ting Tong" / "Johnny Do It Faster" (1973) *65-0118 - James Lee Stanley - "Wishing Well" / "This Could Be Goodbye" (1973)

Singles: RCA APB0 series

The series used four prefix characters, the first of which indicated if the single was on the RCA parent label (=A) or a subsidiary/distributed label (=B). The second letter indicated the label, with "W" indicating Wooden Nickel. The third letter was mostly "B" except for a few pop artists' reissues (=A). The final character was intended to always be a "0" (zero), but was often erroneously typeset as a capital O. Since several labels shared the sequence, the Wooden Nickel numbers are not continuous. *BWB0-0006 - Exile - "Do What You Think You Should" / "Hold Tight Sweet Woman" (1973) *BWB0-0032 - Megan McDonough - "Daddy Always Liked A Lady" / "Wishing" (1973) *BWB0-0065 - Styx - "You Need Love" / "Winner Take All" (1973) *BWB0-0066 - Siegel-Schwall Band - "Old Time Shimmy" / "Blow Out The Candle" (1973) *BWB0-0110 - Wolfman Jack - "The Rapper" / "My Girl" (1973) *BWB0-0137 - Megan McDonough - "Love Comes And Love Goes" Stereo / "Love Comes And Love Goes" Mono (1974) *BWB0-0138 - James Lee Stanley - "Afternoon Rain" / "Lydia" (1974) *BWB0-0190 - Siegel-Schwall Band - "I Think It Was The Wine" / "Traitor From Decatur" (1974) *BWB0-0207 - Christopher - "Henry's Highway" /"Get Me Goin' In The Right Direction" (1974) *BWB0-0252 - Styx - "Young Man" / "Unfinished Song" (1974) *BWB0-0264 - Richie Lecéa - "Magic Is You" / "Season Of The Mist" (1974) *BWB0-0322 - Mo McGuire - "Mama Was A Cowgirl" / "Saturday Night In The Summertime" (1974)

Singles: RCA "PB" series

RCA Consolidated numbering system changes to the PB-10000 sequence, with the letter prefixes pared down to the middle two letters of the four-letter combination above. *WB-10004 - James Lee Stanley - "Plenty Of Reason" / "Windmill" (1974) *WB-10027 - Styx - "Lies" /"22 Years" (1974) *WB-10043 - Richie Lecéa - "Season Of The Mist" /"Slowin' Down But Goin' Faster" (1974) *WB-10101 - Mo McGuire - "First Of May" / "Just About Over The Hill" (1974) *WB-10102 - Styx - "Lady" (12-74, #6) / "Children Of The Land" (Short Version) (1974) *WB-10107 - Donny Mann - "I'm A Weak Man" / "Try Me" (1974) *WB-10193 - Boa - "Crazy Days" / "Love Ranger" (1975) *WB-10194 - The Jaggerz - "2+2" / "Don't It Make You Want To Dance" (1975) *WB-10272 - Styx - " You Need Love" (5-75, #88) / "You Better Ask" (1975) *WB-10329 - Styx - "Best Thing" / "Havin' A Ball" (1975) *GB-10492 - Styx - "Lady" / "Children Of The Land" (1975) *WB-11205 - Styx - "Best Thing" / "Winner Take All" (1978, Golden Standard Series)

Singles: promotional

*SP/SPS-45-299 - Megan McDonough - "Pocketful" (mono) / "Pocketful" (stereo) 972*SP/SPS-45-314 - Megan McDonough - "Guitar Picker" (mono) / "Guitar Picker" (stereo) 972*SPS/SP-45-411 - Wolfman Jack - "There's An Old Man In Our Town" (stereo) / "There's An Old Man In Our Town" (mono) 972*SPS-45-442 - Styx - "Father O.S.A." / "A Day" 972*JH-10272 - Styx - "You Need Love" (stereo) / "You Need Love" (mono)

References

{{Authority control Record labels established in 1971 Record labels disestablished in 1977 American independent record labels RCA Records