Iowa Great Lakes Recording Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording |
| Founded | June 1, 1965 in Milford, Iowa, United States |
| Founder | Roger Blunt, Cliff Plagman, John Senn |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Fate | Closed |
| Headquarters | Milford , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, record pressing and packaging services |
Iowa Great Lakes Recording Company, Inc
The Iowa Great Lakes Recording Company, Inc was a music recording studio situated at 906 9th St. in Milford, Iowa, part of the Iowa Great Lakes area. Established by Roger Blunt, Cliff Plagman, and John Senn, the studio’s construction commenced in February 1965 and officially opened its doors on June 1 of the same year. It holds the distinction of being Iowa’s second known recording facility and the first to implement multi-track tape recording technology.
Operating until 1980 under the sole proprietorship of John Senn, IGL recorded hundreds of artists and issued over 200 records. Its most notable success came with Peter Rabbit by Dee Jay and the Runaways, originally released on IGL’s own label before being licensed to Mercury/Smash Records. The studio’s portfolio encompassed a wide array of genres such as rock, pop, gospel, polka, and school choir performances.
IGL Recording Company’s emphasis on multi-track recording technology combined with its diverse genre production helped establish a strong regional presence in the music market. The company’s contributions were recognized through inductions into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, and South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
History
The Iowa Great Lakes Recording Company, Inc. (IGL) was created by Roger Blunt, Cliff Plagman, and John Senn, who became connected through a shared bandmate in 1960. Blunt’s initial recording experiments in 1961 revealed a local demand for a professional-quality studio, inspiring the concept for IGL.
From 1961 to 1964, the founders explored the idea of establishing a nearby recording facility since the closest studios were located more than 350 miles away in metropolitan centers such as Minneapolis and Chicago. Plagman brought technical expertise from his television repair business, which he combined with Blunt’s recording experience and Senn’s background as a musician to design the studio.
The studio was constructed behind Plagman’s store in Milford, Iowa. With advice from Vic Blacketer, a distributor of radio equipment, IGL was modeled after Memphis’s Sun Studio and built within approximately five months at a cost exceeding $10,000 (equivalent to over $82,000 today). The facility officially opened on June 1, 1965.
Initial equipment included an Ampex 3-track recorder alongside Ampex mixing consoles, Electro-Voice monitor speakers, a McIntosh amplifier, and Neumann microphones. Over time, IGL upgraded its equipment and expanded its studio space to better accommodate clients’ needs. Additionally, pressing and packaging services were offered through partnerships with companies such as Wakefield Manufacturing and later Queen City Album Co., providing artists with options for record labels. Studio musicians were also available to contribute to recordings when necessary.
In 1965, IGL charged $45 per hour for studio time including engineering; by the time it closed, rates had increased to $55 per hour. The company also provided services distributing records to radio stations and distributors to enhance artist exposure. Pressing costs were approximately $300 for 1,000 singles and $1,510 for albums with jackets. Bundled packages combined recording sessions with pressing services.
In 1973, IGL expanded operations by launching IGL Music Inc., a retail branch selling records and musical accessories managed by Dennis and Karen Kintzi.
Ownership evolved over time until John Senn became sole proprietor by 1980; however, declining business—attributed to disco’s popularity surge, advances in home recording technology, and fewer bands after the British Invasion—led to the studio’s closure.
IGL’s inaugural release was Jenny Jenny b/w Boney Maronie by Dee Jay and the Runaways (with only 100 copies produced). Other significant recordings include Peter Rabbit by the same band and Shekina Glory’s 1976 album Have You Considered?, now considered a rare collectible valued at over $1,000.
This narrative underscores IGL’s business approach centered on comprehensive recording solutions, strategic alliances for production and distribution, and responsiveness to evolving market conditions prior to its eventual shutdown.
Peter Rabbit
The most notable recording for IGL Recording Co. was Dee Jay and the Runaways' rendition of the 1961 track Peter Rabbit, originally by Myron Lee and the Caddies. This achievement distinguished them as the only Iowa-based band in the 1960s to make a national appearance on Dick Clark's television program Where the Action Is.
The group first encountered the song during their performances at the PlaMor Ballroom in Fort Dodge, IA, where local disc jockey Peter McClain frequently featured it. Band members Denny Storey (October 31, 1943 – September 13, 2018) and John Senn (September 29, 1940 – July 18, 2019) crafted their own arrangement, recording it alongside eight additional tracks at IGL in July 1965.
In January 1966, while playing a show in Jefferson, IA, DJ Jim Michaels of central Iowa's Top 40 station KIOA introduced their single during a dance event. Following an enthusiastic response from attendees, Michaels included the song in the station’s playlist under a conditional three-week trial period.
The single rapidly gained momentum, with regional distributors placing initial orders exceeding 5,000 copies. Sales under the IGL label eventually reached between 8,000 and 9,000 units before the recording was leased out. Interest from several major record companies emerged, and upon Michaels’ recommendation, IGL and the band collaborated with Mercury Records, which issued the single nationally through their Smash imprint.
Peter Rabbit debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 30, 1966, maintaining its position for 14 weeks and peaking at number 45. It also achieved a peak of number 56 in Canada. The follow-up release, He's Not Your Friend, reached number 85 on Canadian charts. The success of Peter Rabbit significantly elevated IGL Recording's profile within the music industry.
Personnel
IGL Recording Co. was co-established by Plagman, Milford’s Blunt, and Senn from Spirit Lake. Additional stakeholders included Dennis Kintzi (Milford), Dave Peterson (Arnolds Park), Jerry Wolford (Spirit Lake), Lynn Wee (Spencer), Dee Swenson (Ocheyedan), and Rose Otto (Everly). In 1983, Senn founded IGL Audio and played a key role in establishing the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Among its past owners, five have passed away: founders Roger Blunt (1994), Cliff Plagman (2007), John Senn (2019), along with Dee Swenson (2015) and Jerry Wolford (2009). At the time of his passing, Senn was living in Spirit Lake, Iowa.