Comstock Records

Comstock Records is an independent American record label. Established and managed by Frank Fara and Patty Parker, Comstock achieved international success in the 1980s and 1990s by producing country music records for international artists. Several Comstock artists charted nationally and internationally, and many were nominated for Country Music awards.

Comstock Records
Founded1978 (1978)
FounderFrank Fara, Patty Parker
GenreCountry
Country of originU.S.
LocationNashville, Tennessee

Founders

Co-founder Frank Fara grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Under his birth name, Frank Fafara, he enjoyed a brief recording career as a Teen Idol in the early 1960s and had several regional hits. His first recording "Only in My Dreams" went to number #5 on the Phoenix Top Ten radio charts. His song was given a B+ from Cashbox magazine[1], and Billboard magazine gave him a three star rating[2][3] He made frequent appearances at the Phoenix Rock'n Roll club, Stage 7,[4] and opened for artists such as Conway Twitty, Del Shannon and the Everly Brothers.[5] He was also regularly featured on the local TV shows Teen Beat and The Wallace and Ladmo Show. As an adult he changed his last name to Fara and moved to California, where he started a country music band which began touring as The Frank Fara Show.[6]

Co-Founder Patty Parker grew up Shawnee, Kansas. In college she earned her degree in music education and toured with the John Brown University vocal gospel ensemble The Harmonaires. After college she worked for three years as a music teacher but moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.[7][8] In California, Parker met Fara and she began singing and playing the drums in their traveling road show. When audiences reacted enthusiastically to her performances, the band renamed the show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. Parker later performed as a background vocalist for hundreds of Nashville recordings.

History

In the mid 1970s Fara and Parker toured the Nevada casino circuit and major venues across the US and Canada.[7][9] Each time they visited a city, their first stop was to the local radio station where they presented their latest single release. Over time, they visited hundreds of DJs and radio stations and as a result, their music was played on radio stations across North America.[10]

Fara and Parker married, and after five years of touring, they transitioned out of the road show and into the record business. While creating their own album, Parker discovered she preferred time in the studio over a life of touring. The couple launched Comstock Records in 1978 and named the company after the Comstock Lode, a gold and silver mine in Virginia City, Nevada.[11]

Parker became Comstock's producer and Fara focused on marketing and promotions. Parker was one of Nashville's first female Independent Country music producers.[12][8]

In 1988 Comstock moved its studio to Scottsdale, Arizona but continued to provide the same production and promotion services.

Comstock formed a subsidiary label, Paylode, which featured adult contemporary and pop artists, and two publishing companies White Cat (ASCAP) and Rocky Bell (BMI).[13][8][14][15]

European interest

Comstock Records discovered that artists in Canada and Europe were interested in recording Country music songs. To the artists Comstock accepted - typically professional singers who had not been accepted by major labels[5]-Comstock offered a recording service which included rehearsal, two original songs produced by Parker, an authentic Nashville band, a recording session in a top Nashville studio, and the promise to distribute their songs to music critics and international radio stations.[16][17]

Many of these artists wanted to sing like American Country music stars and requested coaching to perfect their dialect. To help artists pronounce words, Parker would often write song lyrics phonetically and provide audio tapes illustrating the country-western way of enunciating.[17][5]

Comstock produced artists from Australia, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Sweden, the USA, and elsewhere.

Successful artists

Comstock's first artist, Alex Fraser, achieved immediate success with his album Four States to Go which hit #9 on the Canadian Country charts. Due to his album's success, he received nominations, appearances on TV shows, and a national distribution deal.[10][18]

The O'Roark Brothers had three singles make the U.S. Country charts, "Long Time Comin,'" "A Woman Like You[19]" and "You're Going Out of My Mind."[7][20] In 1980 they were chosen to appear on the Music City News Cover Awards Show in Nashville.[21]

In October 1984, Billie J. Helmkay reached number 88 on the Cash Box Top 100 Country Singles chart with the song, "You're Spreadin' My Hurt Around." This song was also listed under the "Recommended" Country section of the October 1984 Billboard Singles Reviews.[22][23][24] She also made a TV appearance on the show Big Sky Country.[25]

In the mid-1980s Anne Lord won three Danny Molson Awards (Vancouver, British Columbia) for Female Vocalist of the Year and a Horizon Award for most notable newcomer. She received six Canadian Country Music Award nominations, and in 1984 was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Country Female Vocalist. Her song "Nobody Said" reached #26 on the Australian top 40 charts, and received airplay on stations in Britain, Holland, France and Germany.[11][12][13][26]

Inger Nordstrom and Her Rhinestone Band received a nomination for a music award in Nashville, and earned the Critic's Choice Pick of the Week from Billboard Magazine.[16][17][5] in 1991 she won Scandinavian Album of the Year with her record Cimarron County. In both 1992 and 1993, she and her band were named Scandinavian Country Performer of the Year. Their single "I Saw You Look At Her" peaked at #5 on the Indie Bullet Chart. Inger also hosted her own country music show on Swedish radio.[27][28]

Thirteen Comstock Artists made the Nashville Top 40 Indie World charts, 31 Comstock artists made the Top 50 charts in the European Country Music Association (ECMA), and 24 Comstock acts made New York's Music Review National Top 30 charts.

Awards and honors

In 1985 Comstock earned ten nominations from the Canadian Country Music Association, including one for Record Company of the Year.[13]

In 1986, five Comstock records made the Cash Box Top 100.[29]

In 1998 Comstock was awarded Indie Label of the Year in Europe by the ECMA.[10]

Several Comstock produced videos found frequent rotation on Country Music Television and The Nashville Network.[5]

In 1986, Fara wrote the book How to Open Doors in the Music Industry the Independent Way. Parker contributed a chapter called "The Producer."

Legacy

Much of the Comstock catalog now resides with Fervor Records, which has placed many of their songs in TV and film.

Discography
Artist Album Format Cat # Country Release Date
The Steeles Faith/My Happiness 7" 1630 1976
Frank Fara/Patty Parker Frank Fara/Patty Parker LP COM 977 US 1977
Alex Fraser Midnight Star/Devils Oval 7", Single, Promo, 45 RPM COM 1634 US 1979
Alla Dee Franklin Garage Sale 7", Single, Promo COM 1636 US 1979
The O'Roark Brothers Long Time Comin' LP, Album COM 980 US 1982
Long Time Comin' 7", Single, Promo COM 1641 US 1980
Under the Double Nickel 7", Single, Promo COM 1647 US 1980
Ray Lansbery Heartache Remover 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1655 US 1981
Bob Jones Woman Unsatisfied/She's Not a Fallen Angel 7", Single COM 1671 US 1981
Don TeBeaux A Part of Me LP, Album COM-982 US 1982
Christmas Without You/To Love My Woman More 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1694 US 1982
Put Me in My Place/ A Part of Me 7", Single, 45 RPM, Vinyl COM 1735 US 1984
Buddi Day Lovin' Time of Night 7", Single, Vinyl COM 1684 US 1982
The Last Desperado 7", Single, Vinyl COM 1696 US 1982
Debbie Martin Moments of Love/The Price I Pay (For Loving You Again) 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1675 US 1982
Bill Hersh Babysittin' with the Blues/Curly's Theme 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1710 US 1983
Don Malena New Shade of Blue 7" Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1753 US 1984
I've Been Down 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1762 US 1984
I'm Not Tough Enough (To Fall in Love Again) 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1775 1985
Lightning 7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1784 US 1985
One More Night 7', Single COM 1793 1985
Lee Mahony Freedom is Only Another Word for Lonely/One Good Turn 7", Vinyl COM 1727 A US 1983
Reg Watkins & Lori Kristin Oklahoma Memory 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM-1704 B US 1983
Stop and Think It Over 7" COM 1734 US 1983
Anne Lord Endlessly 7" COM 1717 1983
Stars in My Eyes 1985
Blue Rain COM 1923 1989
Peter Chipman For All Those Years/She Can Survive 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1781 US & Canada 1984
Pegasus More Than a Friend/Last Chance Saloon 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1773 US 1985
Sherry Ann Don't Waste Your Love On Her Tonight 7", Vinyl, Single COM 1792 US 1985
Billie J. Helmkay Nothing Could Ever Be the Same 1985
Alibi Til The Fire's Burned Out 7", Vinyl, 45 RPM COM 1813 US 1986
No Doubts CD, Album COM 1884 Canada unknown
Priscilla Wright Words on the Wire Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single COM 1801 US 1986
God Bless You Baby 7", Single COM 1983 US 1990
Rick Harrelson Lovin' You Like This Vinyl, 7" COM 1827 US 1986
Rae Palmer Call Me Up Vinyl, 7" COM 1830 US 1986
RJ McClintock When Two Hearts Speak (You Just Can't Stop The Feeling) 7" COM 1836 US 1987
Fred Brown Please Handle with Care 7" COM 1870 US 1987
Johnny Ramone Where Did I Go Right 7", Single COM 1911 US 1988
James Edward Holmes I Got Your Memory on the Line 7", Single COM 1920-A US 1989
John Lindsey Am I the Only One COM1922 1989
Rodney Young Bad Habits 7", Single COM 1985 US 1990
The Crosby's Hit & Run 7", Single COM 1980 US 1990
Thomas E Thomas The Mighty Buffalo Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Stereo COM 2038 US 1990
Jess Owen Remember Me Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM NR-1992-A US 1990
Stoker Brothers Dance a Little Closer/Dance a Little Closer COM 1981 1990
Love on the Run Vinyl, 7", Single, Promo COM 2027 US 1991
The Roberts Sisters Daddy Was a Lawman 7", Single COM 2008 US 1991
Ray Dean James When All the Trains Are Gone 7", Single COM 2011 US 1991
Debbie Baker Send Me a Picture Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single COM 2014 US 1991
Jodie Sinclair I Can't Help Feelin' Crazy Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single COM 2016 US 1991
White Canyon Our Love's Not Perfect 7", Single COM 2017 US 1991
Jeff Southern Highway to Heaven 7", Single COM 2019 US 1991
Colin Clark The Price for Loving You 7", Single COM 2021 US 1991
Boogie Woogie Thang Vinyl, 7", Single COM 2093 US 1993
Dusty Martin Ain't Nothin Been the Same Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM COM 2103 US 1993
Horst Krush Portrait of a Cowboy 7", Single COM 2022 US 1991
Jess Owen Big Boys Don't Cry 7", Single COM 2023 US 1991
Double Gage Car Singer Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM COM 2058 US 1992
Gregg Weaver The Stars Disappear with the Rising Sun Vinyl, 7", Single COM 2091 US 1993
Claudia I Can Tell Vinyl, 7", Single COM 2092 US 1993
Arizona Trilogy Song of the Grand Canyon CD, Single COM-&16-CDS US 1994
Abby & Johnny Crossing the Pond CD, Album, Comp. Stereo COM-1001-CD US 1994
Cindy Stines Watch and Pray CD, Single COM1013-CDS Europe 1995
Christopher Lee Clayton Livin'Alone Together/The Folks Across the Street CD, Single COM 1022-CDS US 1996
Various Artists Comstock Records International Country Music Sampler Summer 1996 COM SM96 1996
Howdy Still Straight CD, Album COM 3141 US 1999
Frank Fafara Only in My Dreams CD, Remastered US 2006
Frank Fara (Fafara) Charming Billy, Billy the Kid Single 2006
Songs of the Untamed West US 2008
Custer's Last Command Single US 2010
Tombstone Legacy Single US 2014
Ride with Pancho Villa Single US 2014
Patty Parker La Noche Buena, It's Christmas Eve Single US 2005
Southwestern Serenade CD US 2007
Song of the Grand Canyon Single US 2010
Hotel Saguaro Single US 2014
Scheibee & Foosen News For You CD, Album, Super Jewel Case SFCR-092708-CD US 2009
Rick Greysun Jesus Came with Music/I Just Cry Unto You Lord 7", Single COM-1639 US unknown
Gary Kirkland Heartful of Love/Are You from Dixie 7" COM 1858 unknown

[10]

Film and television
Artist Song Show Title Channel Program Type Episode Release Date
Billie J. Helmkay "You"re Spreading My Hurt Around" Red Oaks Amazon TV 205 11/11/16
Frank Fafara "Only In My Dreams' 11-22-63 Hulu SVOD 104 2/29/16
Durham County Global Television Network/ Ion Television 4/1/2010
The Good Wife CBS TV 514 3/16/2014
The Pretty One Provenance Pictures Film na 4/20/2013
Bates Motel A&E TV 501 2/20/2017
"Lovemaker/Lovebreaker" American Horror Story FX TV 201 2/29/2016
iZombie CW TV 313 6/20/2017
"A Tear Has Taken Your Place" Girls HBO TV 503 3/6/2013
Bob Jones "Woman Unsatisfied" Claws TNT TV 105 7/17/17
Bob Jones "Woman Unsatisfied" The Americans FX TV 504 3/28/17
Bobbie Bowlin "Trying to Be an Outlaw" Red Oaks Amazon TV 306 10/20/17
Debbie Martin "Moments of Love" King of the Road Viceland TV 203 5/9/17
Gale Wahl "The Hard Times All Over Again" Channel Zero SyFy TV 102 10/18/16
Gina Samuels "Lonely Hearts Lover" Red Oaks Amazon TV 207 11/11/16
Kathy Tate "I Am Your Lady" Get Hard na Film 2015
Mitch Clark "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" Red Oaks Amazon TV 205 11/11/16
Mitch Clark "Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten" The Americans FX TV 304 11/11/16
Patty Parker "Help You Find a Way" Preacher AMC TV 105 6/26/16
Ray Lansberry "Heartache Remover" Claws TNT TV 107 7/23/17
Susan Doll "Be My Cowboy Tonight" Preacher AMC TV 107 7/10/16
Susan Doll "Be My Cowboy Tonight" Channel Zero SyFy TV 101 10/11/16

[30][31][32][33][34][35]

References
  1. Whalley, Larmay (April 2, 1960). "The Cash Box Best Bets: Fafara is Singing Rage". Cash Box.
  2. "Good Sales Potential". Billboard Magazine. August 15, 1960. p. 37.
  3. "The Billboard's Music Popularity Charts, Pop Records: Good Sales Potential". Billboard. March 28, 1960.
  4. Dominic, Serene (2013-06-22). "Two New Collections Unearth Arizona's Rock and Roll Past". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  5. "Country from the Old Country for Crooners from the Continent, the Road to Nashville Runs Through Arizona". Phoenix New Times. 1993-02-10. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  6. "1 Jan 1995, Page 80 - Arizona Republic at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  7. Breckenridge, D.P. (January–February 1983). "Silent Partners in the Music Business". Missouri Life. pp. 21–22.
  8. Cecilia, Walker (September 8, 1989). "Row File: Patty Parker". Music Row. p. 23.
  9. "Nevada Lodge Slates Frank Fara and Phoenix". Reno Gazette-Journal. December 20, 1974.
  10. "Comstock Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  11. "Comstock's Search For Gold". Country Music News. October 1986.
  12. Drake, Elizabeth (June 22, 1984). "Company Gives Unknowns a Shot". The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana). p. C-8.
  13. Morris, Edward (April 5, 1986). "Indie Label Looks Northward To Capitalize on Canadian Support". Billboard. 98, no. 14.
  14. ACE. "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  15. "BMI | Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  16. Morrison, Jim (May 1994). "Eurotwang In Nashville". American Way. p. 46.
  17. Ortega, Bob (September 10, 1993). "A Studio is Teaching A Twang or Two to Foreign Crooners". The Wall Street Journal.
  18. "Alex Fraser (3) - Midnight Star / Devils Oval". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  19. "Top Single Picks: Country: Recormmended". Billboard. December 12, 1981.
  20. "The O'Roark Brothers". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  21. ""Recently Recorded O'Roarks playing Country at Fitzgerald's"". Reno-Gazette-Journal. August 5, 1982. p. 71.
  22. "Billboard Singles Review: Country Picks: Recommended". Billboard. October 1984. p. 58.
  23. "Top 100 Country Singles". Cash Box. October 27, 1984.
  24. "Country Singers Working on a two-by-two basis". Nanaimo Daily News. October 3, 1984.
  25. "TV Guide". The Times Herald. February 28, 1988. p. 64.
  26. "5 Dec 1984, 18 - Nanaimo Daily News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  27. "15 May 1994, 104 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  28. "3 Jun 1994, 33 - The Indianapolis News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  29. Hansen, Valerie (October 18, 1986). "The Indies: Where They're Coming From and Where They're Going". Cash Box.
  30. "Music from Red Oaks". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  31. "Music by Frank Fafara". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  32. "Music from Claws". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  33. "Music from The Americans". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  34. "Music from Get Hard (2015)". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  35. "Music from Preacher S1E05". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.