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.
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, and Billboard magazine gave him a three star rating He made frequent appearances at the Phoenix Rock'n Roll club, Stage 7, and opened for artists such as Conway Twitty, Del Shannon and the Everly Brothers. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
Parker became Comstock's producer and Fara focused on marketing and promotions. Parker was one of Nashville's first female Independent Country music producers.
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).
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-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.
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.
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.
The O'Roark Brothers had three singles make the U.S. Country charts, "Long Time Comin,'" "A Woman Like You" and "You're Going Out of My Mind." In 1980 they were chosen to appear on the Music City News Cover Awards Show in Nashville.
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. She also made a TV appearance on the show Big Sky Country.
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.
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. 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.
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.
In 1986, five Comstock records made the Cash Box Top 100.
In 1998 Comstock was awarded Indie Label of the Year in Europe by the ECMA.
Several Comstock produced videos found frequent rotation on Country Music Television and The Nashville Network.
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 +ArtistAlbumFormatCat #CountryRelease dateThe SteelesFaith/My Happiness7"16301976Frank Fara/Patty ParkerFrank Fara/Patty ParkerLPCOM 977US1977Alex FraserMidnight Star/Devils Oval7", Single, Promo, 45 RPMCOM 1634US1979Alla Dee FranklinGarage Sale7", Single, PromoCOM 1636US1979The O'Roark BrothersLong Time Comin'LP, AlbumCOM 980US1982Long Time Comin'7", Single, PromoCOM 1641US1980Under the Double Nickel7", Single, PromoCOM 1647US1980Ray LansberyHeartache Remover7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1655US1981Bob JonesWoman Unsatisfied/She's Not a Fallen Angel7", SingleCOM 1671US1981Don TeBeauxA Part of MeLP, AlbumCOM-982US1982Christmas Without You/To Love My Woman More7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1694US1982Put Me in My Place/ A Part of Me7", Single, 45 RPM, VinylCOM 1735US1984Buddi DayLovin' Time of Night7", Single, VinylCOM 1684US1982The Last Desperado7", Single, VinylCOM 1696US1982Debbie MartinMoments of Love/The Price I Pay (For Loving You Again)7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1675US1982Bill HershBabysittin' with the Blues/Curly's Theme7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1710US1983Don MalenaNew Shade of Blue7" Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1753US1984I've Been Down7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1762US1984I'm Not Tough Enough (To Fall in Love Again)7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 17751985Lightning7", Single, Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1784US1985One More Night7', SingleCOM 17931985Lee MahonyFreedom is Only Another Word for Lonely/One Good Turn7", VinylCOM 1727 AUS1983Reg Watkins & Lori KristinOklahoma Memory7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM-1704 BUS1983Stop and Think It Over7"COM 1734US1983Anne LordEndlessly7"COM 17171983Stars in My Eyes1985Blue RainCOM 19231989Peter ChipmanFor All Those Years/She Can Survive7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1781US & Canada1984PegasusMore Than a Friend/Last Chance Saloon7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1773US1985Sherry AnnDon't Waste Your Love On Her Tonight7", Vinyl, SingleCOM 1792US1985Billie J. HelmkayNothing Could Ever Be the Same1985AlibiTil The Fire's Burned Out7", Vinyl, 45 RPMCOM 1813US1986No DoubtsCD, AlbumCOM 1884CanadaunknownPriscilla WrightWords on the WireVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 1801US1986God Bless You Baby7", SingleCOM 1983US 1990Rick HarrelsonLovin' You Like ThisVinyl, 7"COM 1827US1986Rae PalmerCall Me UpVinyl, 7"COM 1830US1986RJ McClintockWhen Two Hearts Speak (You Just Can't Stop The Feeling)7"COM 1836US1987Fred BrownPlease Handle with Care7"COM 1870US1987Johnny RamoneWhere Did I Go Right7", SingleCOM 1911US1988James Edward HolmesI Got Your Memory on the Line7", SingleCOM 1920-AUS1989John LindseyAm I the Only OneCOM19221989Rodney YoungBad Habits7", SingleCOM 1985US1990The Crosby'sHit & Run7", SingleCOM 1980US1990Thomas E ThomasThe Mighty BuffaloVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, StereoCOM 2038US1990Jess OwenRemember MeVinyl, 7", 45 RPMNR-1992-AUS1990Stoker BrothersDance a Little Closer/Dance a Little CloserCOM 19811990Love on the RunVinyl, 7", Single, PromoCOM 2027US1991The Roberts SistersDaddy Was a Lawman7", SingleCOM 2008US1991Ray Dean JamesWhen All the Trains Are Gone7", SingleCOM 2011US1991Debbie BakerSend Me a PictureVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 2014US1991Jodie SinclairI Can't Help Feelin' CrazyVinyl, 7", 45 RPM, SingleCOM 2016US1991White CanyonOur Love's Not Perfect7", SingleCOM 2017US1991Jeff Southern Highway to Heaven7", SingleCOM 2019US1991Colin ClarkThe Price for Loving You7", SingleCOM 2021US1991Boogie Woogie ThangVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2093US1993Dusty MartinAin't Nothin Been the SameVinyl, 7", 45 RPMCOM 2103US1993Horst KrushPortrait of a Cowboy7", SingleCOM 2022US1991Jess OwenBig Boys Don't Cry7", SingleCOM 2023US1991Double GageCar SingerVinyl, 7", 45 RPMCOM 2058US1992Gregg WeaverThe Stars Disappear with the Rising SunVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2091US1993Claudia I Can TellVinyl, 7", SingleCOM 2092US1993Arizona TrilogySong of the Grand CanyonCD, SingleCOM-&16-CDSUS1994Abby & JohnnyCrossing the PondCD, Album, Comp. StereoCOM-1001-CDUS1994Cindy StinesWatch and PrayCD, SingleCOM1013-CDSEurope1995Christopher Lee ClaytonLivin'Alone Together/The Folks Across the StreetCD, SingleCOM 1022-CDSUS1996Various ArtistsComstock Records International Country Music Sampler Summer 1996COM SM961996Atlantic FreewayThe Grind of Your Heel/Makin' Love With YouCD, SingleCOM 1030-CDSEurope1997Atlantic FreewayShine/Baby You're A Bad IdeaCD, SingleCOM 1036-CDSEurope1997HowdyStill StraightCD, AlbumCOM 3141US1999Frank FafaraOnly in My DreamsCD, RemasteredUS2006Frank Fara (Fafara)Charming Billy, Billy the KidSingle2006Songs of the Untamed WestUS2008Custer's Last CommandSingleUS2010Tombstone LegacySingleUS2014Ride with Pancho VillaSingleUS2014Patty ParkerLa Noche Buena, It's Christmas EveSingleUS2005Southwestern SerenadeCDUS2007Song of the Grand CanyonSingleUS2010Hotel SaguaroSingleUS2014Scheibee & FoosenNews For YouCD, Album, Super Jewel CaseSFCR-092708-CDUS2009Rick GreysunJesus Came with Music/I Just Cry Unto You Lord7", SingleCOM-1639USunknownGary KirklandHeartful of Love/Are You from Dixie7"COM 1858unknown
Film and television