Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard the Duck
just got Whomp That Sucker, Angst in my Pants, In Outer Space and Exotic Creatures from the Deep
will letcha all know what I think of them
for the record, to me, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins is like a 2nd rate Pet Shop Boys, with the only stand out track being I am Tsui Hark
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That's a tricky place to start. Those first three albums aren't the best in production quality; the lyrics from many of the songs are hilarious and during that time the bros were getting noticed a little more in America (and you'll hear Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's on a couple tracks on
In Outer Space) but I suggest, if you don't find that sound to your taste, that you should perhaps go a little further back (as they have changed their sound many times).
Personally I have a major soft spot for Angst In My Pants because it was one of my first Sparks records, and because I'd heard it during a particularly difficult period of my life. There's no thought necessary and it's easy to just sit back and laugh at how silly the whole album is. It's a great cure for a bad day. I often tell people who are a little closer to me that, without getting really wordy, Sparks saved my life by reminding me that everything in life is hilarious.
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins marked another point in Sparks history when they were noticed a little more in America (though they had a huge popularity gain in Germany for some reason).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier
I've still got quite of bit of vinyl from 1970s and 1980s bands, the only band that I've got that consistently went in for coloured vinyl are Devo, I've got a number of coloured Devo vinyl records.
Sparks have always been known here, in 1974 and 1975 they were a big act in the UK with Kimono, Propaganda and Indiscreet all top 40 charting along with a string of hit singles. They then decided to concentrate on the US market with the less than successful Big Beat and Introducing Sparks, the former was more like a rock album and their popularity faded. It was thanks to their collaboration with Moroder that they made a big return to the UK in 1979 and their change of sound helped to usher in a whole wave of synth pop bands. When I was at school, nearly everybody knew who Sparks were, they were basically the curly haired guy that lept around and the other one that looked like Charlie Chaplin or Hitler who would shift his eyes now and again  I imagine thats how your average music listener would view them here today in the UK.
I bought that Sparks album (Rabbits) the same day I bought the Doors Greatest Hits (that was the first time I bought a Doors album) so I remember that day quite well. |
I have a couple DEVO Lps with the original sleeves still intact - they've got a bunch of merchandise advertising inside. It's trippy to see old school prices on band merch. Weird band. If I'm not mistaken, David Kendrick (who played for Sparks for a short while in the early 80s) was part of DEVO for a short while. Sparks' backup band during that time went on to become Gleaming Spires.
Have you heard the "Live at the Bottom Line" (1976?) bootleg? It's basically a bunch of tracks from "Big Beat" and a few from prior albums. It's from a performance somewhere in New York; the bootleg album has been floating around for a while (on the topic of bootlegs, are you aware of or have you heard the 'Arista' demos?) and there's a terrific live version of "Equator" that I think everyone should hear.