Pop Detective Records was launched in April of 2007 with the primary objective being the release of the debut album by The Deadbeat Poets.  The name Pop Detective Records was born from a moniker that I used, The Pop Detective,  when I wrote a series of “Where Are They Now” type articles for a power pop publication called “Audities”,  many years ago.  One of the bands that I located and interviewed was legendary Youngstown, Ohio artists Blue Ash.  Long story short…Frank Secich of Blue Ash became a founding member of….The Deadbeat Poets.  And so, Pop Detective Records was initially born to work with Frank Secich and the rest of The Deadbeat Poets (Terry Hartman, Pete Drivere, and John Koury).

I had been a guitarist and vocalist for many years in the Allentown, PA area playing in some popular outfits like the rockabilly band The Agency…as well as other local faves The Few and Vinyl Diner.  So, music has been an integral part of my life for a very long time.

Over  time…my love of music lead me to a great appreciation of Norwegian power pop, rock, punk pop and the like.  I saw a definite lack of exposure in the USA for great Norwegian music…and so I set out to release some of the artists that I thought deserved more recognition outside of their home country.  This lead Pop Detective Records to release a wonderful album by Vibeke Saugestad (The World Famous Hat Trick) and a Christmas EP from her as well (From All of Me).  Following closely behind these releases was the fantastic Yum Yums with their US debut (Whatever Rhymes With Baby).   And, most recently, a CD/EP release from The Dahlmanns featuring a rocking cover of “Holiday Road”.  Vibeke’s track “Tonight”,  The Yum Yums track “Too Good To Be True”, and The Dahlmanns track “Holiday Road” were all selected, at various times, as “Coolest Song in the World” on Little Steven’s Underground Garage show on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.  In addition, The Yum Yums track “Too Good To Be True” will be featured in a soon to be released indie film called “Coming and Going” directed by Eduardo Ponti and starring Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords).  A track from The Deadbeat Poets debut album (Notes From the Underground) called “The Green Man” is featured in an indie film out of Pittsburgh, PA called “The Green Man”. 

And so, bringing you up to date as of July 2010, The Deadbeat Poets second album, “Circustown”, having just been released at the end of June, has just had a track, “The Staircase Stomp” featured on a Joe Meek special on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, and, is also the  “Coolest Song in the World” for the week of July 11, 2010.

I hope you enjoy all of the music I have been so fortunate to be able to release on this label.  It is truly a labor of love for fantastic music and exceptionally talented artists that I have been so blessed to know and work with.   All releases are available through this website, as well as t-shirts,  pins and other swag!  You can also find the music via many other outlets like CDBaby, Itunes, Not Lame, and Kool Kat.

I thank you so much for supporting Pop Detective Records and the artists involved.  Please feel free to drop me a line via the contact page!

All the best,

Mark W. Hershberger / President / Pop Detective Records