 |
Click on a Sparks album below to read the review:-
Halfnelson
A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing
Kimono My House
Propaganda
Indiscreet
Big Beat
Introducing Sparks
No. One In Heaven
Terminal Jive
Whomp That Sucker
Angst In My Pants
Sparks In Outer Space
Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat
Music That You Can Dance To
Interior Design
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
Balls
Lil' Beethoven
Hello Young Lovers
Exotic Creatures Of The Deep
HISTORY OF SPARKS
The group Sparks are Ron Mael and Russell Mael. Their debut album was 'Halfnelson' (1971) and this was followed in 1973 by 'A Woofer In Tweeters Clothing'. In 1974 the brothers relocated to London, reformed with a new backing band, and released 'Kimono My House' (1974) and 'Propaganda' (1974). In 1975 came 'Indiscreet' (produced by Tony Visconti). The 1976 album 'Big Beat' boasts a heavy guitar sound, and 'Introducing Sparks' (1977) was recorded using expensive session musicians. Disco producer Giorgio Moroder gave the band a new life with 'No. One In Heaven' (1979) and 'Terminal Jive' (1980). Sparks returned to guitar-driven rock on 'Whomp That Sucker' (1981) and 'Angst In My Pants' (1982). A number of synth-pop albums followed - 'Sparks In Outer Space' (1983), love-song heavy 'Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat' (1984) and 'Music That You Can Dance To' (1986). After a six-year absence, Sparks released 'Interior Design' (1992) and then came 'Gratuitous Sax And Senseless Violins' (1994). Another six-year interval followed. Then 'Balls' (2000) was released. The highly acclaimed 'Lil Beethoven' followed in 2002. Sparks 20th album, 'Hello Young Lovers', was released in February 2006 and a new album is expected in May 2008 entitled 'Exotic Creatures Of The Deep'.
SPARKS DID YOU KNOW ?
|
Sparks, brothers Ron Mael & Russell Mael, were originally called Urban Renewal Project and changed their name to Halfnelson in 1969 (and then to Sparks in the early 1970s).
Sparks first two albums, Halfnelson and A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing, were produced by Todd Rundgren.
Sparks first five Island singles all featured non-album tracks as B-sides (i.e. out-takes from the Kimono My House and Propaganda recording sessions). Albums Kimono My House and Propaganda got to numbers 4 and 9 in the UK charts respectively.
Indiscreet also produced a number of out-takes, including Gone With The Wind and Tearing The Place Apart. These tracks later surfaced on a Best Of Sparks compilation put together by the late Dinky Diamond. Indiscreet was produced by Tony Visconti.
The song I Like Girls was written for Sparks second album in 1972 but wasn't deemed good enough for inclusion. It later appeared on Big Beat, Sparks sixth album. Big Beat was produced by Rupert Holmes.
Introducing Sparks is, to-date, the only Sparks album not to have been released on CD. However a release is now imminent.
Sparks rubbed shoulders with M (Pop Muzik) and Mike Oldfield when they performed Beat The Clock (from album No. One In Heaven) on Top Of The Pops.
The single When I'm With You, taken from album Terminal Jive, spent 6 weeks at number one in France.
The single I Predict from Angst In My Pants gave Sparks a long overdue top 100 hit in their native USA. Cool Places from Sparks In Outer Space (a duet with Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos) also made inroads into the American charts.
Sparks recorded Whomp That Sucker in Giorgio Moroder's Musicland studios.
Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat was produced by Duran Duran producer Ian Little.
The 12 inch vinyl version of Change (from Music That You Can Dance To) is coupled with an acoustic guitar version of This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us. Change was performed on Terry Wogan's prime-time BBC chat show.
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins is the first re-release in the new Sparks CD Collection series (re-released May 2005 and presented in a digi pack with sleeve notes by Daryl Easlea). Gratuitous Sax was originally released in 1994.
Plagiarism consists of a reworking of the 'Best of Sparks' back catalogue, with the help of guest artists such as Erasure, Jimmy Somerville and Faith No More.
After releasing Balls, Sparks recorded a whole album of new songs which were a natural evolution from Balls. But these songs were never released.
The song My Baby's Taking Me Home from Lil Beethoven consists of the title repeated over 100 times, interspersed only by a brief monologue by Russell.
Sparks released a double A side single in September 2006, Dick Around / Waterproof, from their 20th album, Hello Young Lovers. The single was banned by the BBC.
Now 38 years into their career, the Mael brothers' new album, Exotic Creatures Of The Deep, and new single, Good Morning, will be released in May 2008. The album has eleven new exciting songs.
Franz Ferdinand's new album will feature collaborations with Sparks. The bands will work together on covers as well as new songs.
Buy 'Good Morning', Sparks' new single, out May 2007!
