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 | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Frank Fara, Patty Parker |
| Genre | Country |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
Founders
editCo-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
editIn 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
editComstock 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
editComstock'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
editIn 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
editMuch of the Comstock catalog now resides with Fervor Records, which has placed many of their songs in TV and film.
Discography
edit| 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 | ||
| Atlantic Freeway | The Grind of Your Heel/Makin' Love With You | CD, Single | COM 1030-CDS | Europe | 1997 |
| Atlantic Freeway | Shine/Baby You're A Bad Idea | CD, Single | COM 1036-CDS | Europe | 1997 |
| 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 |
Film and television
edit| 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 |
References
edit- ^ Whalley, Larmay (April 2, 1960). "The Cash Box Best Bets: Fafara is Singing Rage". Cash Box.
- ^ "Good Sales Potential". Billboard Magazine. August 15, 1960. p. 37.
- ^ "The Billboard's Music Popularity Charts, Pop Records: Good Sales Potential". Billboard. March 28, 1960.
- ^ Dominic, Serene (2013-06-22). "Two New Collections Unearth Arizona's Rock and Roll Past". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- ^ a b c d e "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.
- ^ "1 Jan 1995, Page 80 - Arizona Republic at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ a b c Breckenridge, D.P. (January–February 1983). "Silent Partners in the Music Business". Missouri Life. pp. 21–22.
- ^ a b c Cecilia, Walker (September 8, 1989). "Row File: Patty Parker". Music Row. p. 23.
- ^ "Nevada Lodge Slates Frank Fara and Phoenix". Reno Gazette-Journal. December 20, 1974.
- ^ a b c d "Comstock Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- ^ a b "Comstock's Search For Gold". Country Music News. October 1986.
- ^ a b Drake, Elizabeth (June 22, 1984). "Company Gives Unknowns a Shot". The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana). p. C-8.
- ^ a b c Morris, Edward (April 5, 1986). "Indie Label Looks Northward To Capitalize on Canadian Support". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 14.
- ^ ACE. "ACE Repertory". www.ascap.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ a b Morrison, Jim (May 1994). "Eurotwang In Nashville". American Way. p. 46.
- ^ a b c Ortega, Bob (September 10, 1993). "A Studio is Teaching A Twang or Two to Foreign Crooners". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Alex Fraser (3) - Midnight Star / Devils Oval". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Top Single Picks: Country: Recormmended". Billboard. December 12, 1981.
- ^ "The O'Roark Brothers". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ ""Recently Recorded O'Roarks playing Country at Fitzgerald's"". Reno-Gazette-Journal. August 5, 1982. p. 71.
- ^ "Billboard Singles Review: Country Picks: Recommended". Billboard. October 1984. p. 58.
- ^ "Top 100 Country Singles". Cash Box. October 27, 1984.
- ^ "Country Singers Working on a two-by-two basis". Nanaimo Daily News. October 3, 1984.
- ^ "TV Guide". The Times Herald. February 28, 1988. p. 64.
- ^ "5 Dec 1984, 18 - Nanaimo Daily News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- ^ "15 May 1994, 104 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- ^ "3 Jun 1994, 33 - The Indianapolis News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
- ^ Hansen, Valerie (October 18, 1986). "The Indies: Where They're Coming From and Where They're Going". Cash Box.
- ^ "Music from Red Oaks". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music by Frank Fafara". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Claws". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from The Americans". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Get Hard (2015)". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
- ^ "Music from Preacher S1E05". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-24.