The Lady's Comprehensive Guide to Sparks

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:

04-19-2015, 11:35 AM	#16 (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.