Sparmac (Sparmac Productions) was an Australian independent record production company and recording label of the early 1970s, best known for its association with the successful Australian rock band
Daddy Cool.
The company was established ca. 1969 by radio DJ (and former ''
Kommotion
''Kommotion'' was a popular Australian "Top 40" pop music TV show that premiered in December 1964. The program was hosted by popular disc jockey Ken Sparkes, who was one of the main presenters at Melbourne pop radio station 3UZ. In 1965, after ...
'' host)
Ken Sparkes, and John McDonald, who was then the owner of popular Melbourne record store The Disc Shop, in Bourke Street. The company name was taken from the combination of their surnames.
Rick Springfield released his debut solo single, "
Speak to the Sky
"Speak to the Sky" is the debut single by Rick Springfield. It reached No. 6 in Australia, No. 8 on the Canadian adult contemporary chart, No. 10 on the Canadian pop chart, No. 14 on the U.S. pop chart, and No. 16 on the U.S. Adult Contempora ...
", on the label. The song was a major hit in Australia, reaching No 5 on the ''
Go-Set'' national chart in January 1972 and it became his first hit in the US, reaching No 14 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100.
As well as acting as the label's producer, Robie Porter released three solo singles on Sparmac: "Gemini" / "He Is Not Me" (August 1970), "Santa Claus" / "Funky Version" (December 1970) and a cover of the Joe Cocker-Chris Stainton song "Try to Find More Love (There Must be a Reason)" / "Empty" (March 1971). Other notable Sparmac singles include:
* "Golden Miles" / "The Gully" (1971) by noted progressive rock band Healing Force, rated by Australian rock historian Ian McFarlane as the greatest Australian progressive rock recording of the early 1970s.
* "Ongo Bongo Man" (1972) by local supergroup Gerry & The Joy Band, fronted by former
Loved Ones singer Gerry Humphries, with an all-star backing group that included most of Daddy Cool
* "Feelings" / "Young Man's Lament" (1971) the debut single by the short-lived
soft rock
Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...
duo Frieze, consisting of
Darryl Cotton and
Beeb Birtles, both of whom were also former members of Zoot.
[Hank B. Facer, "Sparmac Records Discography", Museum of Independent Record Labels]
References
{{Authority control
Australian independent record labels