The Lady's Comprehensive Guide to Sparks

Oriphiel · 04-19-2015, 06:42 AM

Quote:

The far more impressive Russell Mael's performance was the sledgehammer accident : During a show in Houston, Texas, Russell Mael went on stage with a sledgehammer. Sparks' singer threw the hammer up, the mallet came down on his head and there was blood everywhere. People though it was part of the act and thought it was fake blood but Russell Mael went to hospital... When Sparks appeared on "American Bandstand" Russell Mael still wielded his huge wooden sledgehammer.

Quote:

Sparks got a miniature ocean liner made out of papier-mache, and Russell Mael had burst out of it wearing a dark sailor suit to begin the show. In the name of props Russell Mael had a roadie who pushed him accross the stage in the boat on wheels during the song "Slowboat". Then the singer showered the audience with confetti!

Russell Mael is the man!

ladyislingering · 04-19-2015, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oriphiel

Russell Mael is the man!

Young Russell was often in a whole lot of trouble on stage throughout the 70s. Later in our adventure I'll be posting some videos that show some overexcited fans essentially trying to tear his clothes off and/or kidnap him.

ladyislingering · 04-19-2015, 11:35 AM

1973 brought us "A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing", and there's an excellent fact that make this album dear to my icy little heart.

Todd Rundgren also produced this gem - alongside the Electric Prunes' (a psychedelic rock group that's got a hold on my soul) Thaddeus James Lowe.

Let's have some Prunes in the undercut, because everyone should be familiar with them if they're familiar with 1960s psychedelic rock. The Electric Prunes were weavers of delicate doilies of tunes dressed with gorgeous lyrical imagery.

Spoiler for "Antique Doll":

Larry DuPont took the boys down to the basement of the UCLA Ethnic Arts Museum for the album cover. Drummer and hooligan Harley Feinstein tipped Ron Mael's chair the second this shot was taken. In true Sparks style, it remained.

Track listing!

Side A

Girl From Germany
Beaver O'Lindy
Nothing is Sacred
Here Comes Bob
Moon Over Kentucky

Side B

Do Re Mi
Angus Desire
Underground
The Louvre
Batteries Not Included
Whippings and Apologies

Sparks' delightful second album opens with a real head-ripper ... well, actually, it'll just make you shake your head with a dumb smile on your face, all the while thinking "oh my god, did you really go there with this song?"

"Girl From Germany" is precisely what it sounds like - on the surface. Our protagonist is about to take his German girlfriend to meet his Jewish parents, who are still quite sore at Germany some 30 years after the war.

I feel as if I should mention, in good faith, that this might actually offend some people - and if you're one of those people, maybe Sparks aren't the right band for you to wrap your head around. Maybe you should listen to Air Supply instead. Or Barry Manilow.

Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW:

ladyislingering · 04-23-2015, 05:13 PM

I'm gonna come right out and say it: who doesn't like a cleverly-worded, hand-clapping, chanting song about masturbation and dark, filthy thoughts?

At this point you ought to be used to the peculiar quiver in Russell's voice, but just in case you're not, now's as good of a time as any to acquaint yourself with it.

"Beaver O'Lindy"

Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW:

"Beaver O'Lindy" is almost like a warm-up to prepare you for the falsetto in "Nothing is Sacred" - both tunes are of similar tempo, but of slightly different lyrical matter, almost as if the next song is an afterthought.

Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW:

I adore the next track. It's one of those songs that make Weird Al's allegiance to Sparks highly understandable because it's just that clever. I also used this song to gently tease my significant other (who could very well be a "Bob" if it suited him) when he was learning to drive.

This isn't the first time you've heard strings in a Sparks song and it certainly won't be the last.

"Here Comes Bob"

Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW:

04-19-2015, 11:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
ladyislingering Maelian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle Posts: 695	1973 brought us "A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing", and there's an excellent fact that make this album dear to my icy little heart. Todd Rundgren also produced this gem - alongside the Electric Prunes' (a psychedelic rock group that's got a hold on my soul) Thaddeus James Lowe. Let's have some Prunes in the undercut, because everyone should be familiar with them if they're familiar with 1960s psychedelic rock. The Electric Prunes were weavers of delicate doilies of tunes dressed with gorgeous lyrical imagery. Spoiler for "Antique Doll": Larry DuPont took the boys down to the basement of the UCLA Ethnic Arts Museum for the album cover. Drummer and hooligan Harley Feinstein tipped Ron Mael's chair the second this shot was taken. In true Sparks style, it remained. Track listing! Side A Girl From Germany Beaver O'Lindy Nothing is Sacred Here Comes Bob Moon Over Kentucky Side B Do Re Mi Angus Desire Underground The Louvre Batteries Not Included Whippings and Apologies Sparks' delightful second album opens with a real head-ripper ... well, actually, it'll just make you shake your head with a dumb smile on your face, all the while thinking "oh my god, did you really go there with this song?" "Girl From Germany" is precisely what it sounds like - on the surface. Our protagonist is about to take his German girlfriend to meet his Jewish parents, who are still quite sore at Germany some 30 years after the war. I feel as if I should mention, in good faith, that this might actually offend some people - and if you're one of those people, maybe Sparks aren't the right band for you to wrap your head around. Maybe you should listen to Air Supply instead. Or Barry Manilow. Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW: How I wished my folks were Gracious hosts and not dismayed But wit and wisdom take a back seat, girl When you're that afraid Oh, no! Bring her home and the folks look ill My word, they can't forget, they never will They can hear the storm troops on our lawn when I show her in And the Fuhrer is alive and well, in our paneled den Oh, no! Bring her home and the folks look ill My word, they can't forget that war, what a war My word, she's from Germany Well, it's the same old country But the people have changed My word, Germany With its splendid castles and fine cuisine Well, the car I drive is parked outside It's German-made They resent that less than the people Who are German-made Oh, no! Bring her home and the folks look ill My word, they can't forget that war What a war, some war My word, she's from Germany Well, it's the same old country But the people have changed My word, Germany With its splendid castles and fine cuisine Its lovely German women And its wonderful rivers That do flow from her hills My word, she's from Germany Well, it's the same old country But the people have changed My word, Germany With its splendid castles and fine cuisine Its lovely German women And you and me __________________ You and I, We were born to die.

04-23-2015, 05:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
ladyislingering Maelian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle Posts: 695	I'm gonna come right out and say it: who doesn't like a cleverly-worded, hand-clapping, chanting song about masturbation and dark, filthy thoughts? At this point you ought to be used to the peculiar quiver in Russell's voice, but just in case you're not, now's as good of a time as any to acquaint yourself with it. "Beaver O'Lindy" Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW: I'm one minute older and I'm doing all right I'll gain valuable experience in front of you tonight They say my voice is going to change I'm one minute older, I'm doing all right I'll gain valuable experience with you tonight They say my voice is going to change It cracks like Arctic ice-flows then it croaks like old-folks homes B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y Well, I'm the London that is dead, I'm the boy in your bed B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y Well, sure you've seen me before, No doubt you'll see much more Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed The trash man’s valet, the words that you say You've seen me before, you'll see me much more Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV I'm the words that you say, the words that you say The trash man’s valet and the words that you say Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV I'm your wallet-sized friend, your wallet-sized friend The London that's dead, the London that's dead Well, you've seen me before, you'll see me much more Well, I'm as big as can be, as big as TV B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y Well, I'm the girl in your head but the boy in your bed B-E-A-V-E-R O'-L-I-N-D-Y Well, sure you've seen me before, No doubt you'll see much more "Beaver O'Lindy" is almost like a warm-up to prepare you for the falsetto in "Nothing is Sacred" - both tunes are of similar tempo, but of slightly different lyrical matter, almost as if the next song is an afterthought. Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW: Nothing...no nothing, is...is, sacred ...no sacred, any more Adding some of this to some of that madame science wins again We are now forever people, we'll outlive our will to live Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more I remember when i needed you several billion years ago If you'll hang on just a trifle more i might need you once again Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more I am sure you will appreciate your new found leisure time I am sure we will appreciate our new found leisure time Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Well, if you have the money i've got time And if you know a honey i've got time If you have the money i've got time And if you know a honey i've got time Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more Nothing is sacred any more... I adore the next track. It's one of those songs that make Weird Al's allegiance to Sparks highly understandable because it's just that clever. I also used this song to gently tease my significant other (who could very well be a "Bob" if it suited him) when he was learning to drive. This isn't the first time you've heard strings in a Sparks song and it certainly won't be the last. "Here Comes Bob" Spoiler for LYRICS BELOW: When I spot a driver worth a second glance Foot to floorboard, impact soon achieved Here comes Bob! I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends Girl, this rubbled mess was caused by my neglect Of course, I'll pay and by the way, my dear Here comes Bob! I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends Sometimes I'll stoop to hitting Two-door coupes without the frills But that's just for casual acquaintances, For stripped-down thrills Your car, girl -or mine? It doesn't matter, doesn't matter, no But for affairs with staying power I go after limousines. It's always nice if something big Is acting as your go-between And for group encounters I'll hit buses, Mobile homes, or trains to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania It's hard to make acquaintances in our big town Most (guys scare?) eyes stare at nothing much at all But here comes Bob! I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends Friends, acquaintances! Instant adulation comes to some at birth Born to queens or corporate entities But here comes Bob! Someday they'll put me away I'll think back on active days Most were worth the minor scars Some were worth the damaged cars And the judge will say to me: "Bob, you've got a bad means to a worthwhile end" Well, here comes Bob! __________________ You and I, We were born to die.