This award has significance as an illustration of Festival Records' success in generating sales of records by its local recording artists, and as evidence of the outstanding success of Sister Janet Mead. It was presented by Festival Records to its affiliated music publishing company Festival Music.

In late 1973 one of Festival's biggest hits came when Martin Erdman produced a recording session for Sister Janet Mead, a singing nun from Adelaide. As an afterthought, a rocked-up arrangement of 'The Lords Prayer', sung to a tune written by one of her parishioners, was recorded. Erdman became convinced that it was a potential hit and radio stations agreed. It became a national hit and topped the Melbourne pop charts for four weeks. Released in 31 countries, 'The Lords Prayer' sold over one and a half million copies worldwide, reaching the top five on the US singles charts. Its huge sales provided a windfall for Festival Records.

Festival Records manufactured vinyl discs in Sydney for 40 years. At the height of production in the 1980s Festival's factory was buzzing with 26 record presses pumping out 25,000 records per day. In addition there was a cassette duplicating plant, an art department, a printing department for album covers, plus a huge warehouse for packing and distribution.

Festival Records provided a home to a vast array of musical styles and many independent labels, not readily identified with the Festival brand. For over fifty years its existence as a major independent record company, competing with the multinationals, helped to create a healthy environment for Australian music.

The first gold record awards were presented by American own record companies to their artists to acknowledge sales of 1,000,000 records. Various measurements have been used at different times around the world for album and single awards. Some were based on the value of retail sales and others on units sold. The Recording Industry Association of America established a standard for an official gold record in 1958. This was based on wholesale shipments to retail outlets, rather than actual retail sales. Australia follows a similar system. In Australia ARIA awards gold records for 35 000 sales and platinum records for 70 000 sales.

Made by Festival Records at their factory in Miller St Pyrmont.

When Festival Records prepared gold and platinum awards to present to its recording artists, the company sometimes made duplicates to display in the board room and the reception area of its premises. This award was also displayed in the Museum's exhibition 'Spinning Around: 50 Years of Festival Records', from 2001 to 2003.

Music award, gold record, 'The Lord's Prayer' by Sister Janet Mead, wood / metal / acrylic / paper, made and used by Festival Records, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1974

Wooden gold and brown frame with acrylic cover. Brown background. Gold 45 rpm seven inch disc with Festival label. Gold plaque that reproduces on left side the Cashbox Top 100 chart showing 'The Lord's Prayer' at No 5, and on the right side the Billboard Hot 100 chart showing 'The Lord's Prayer' at No 4. Text: 'Presented to Festival Music Pty Limited by the directors of Festival Records for the achievement of an Australian gold award for 'The Lord's Prayer' by Sister Janet Mead, and being the first Australian recording to be awarded a gold record with sales in excess of 1,000,000 copies in the USA. August 1974'. Festival Records logo at bottom. Solid backing board. Two metal hooks on reverse with metal cord.

Made: 1974

2007/50/21

1974

595 mm

497 mm

68 mm