Sparks is an American
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and
popPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band formed in
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1968 by brothers
RonRonald David Mael , is an American musician and songwriter. He and his younger brother Russell, make up the pop duo Sparks.Ron Mael was born in Culver City, California. Ron plays keyboard and writes most of the songs for Sparks...
(keyboards) and
Russell MaelRussell Mael is an American singer and songwriter who, with his older brother Ron, is in the band Sparks....
(vocals), initially under the name
HalfnelsonHalfnelson was an American rock band, which was a precursor to the more successful Sparks. Halfnelson was formed in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , the first incarnation also including friend and electro-whizz Earle Mankey .-History:In the late sixties,...
. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting, Sparks' music is often accompanied by intelligent, sophisticated, and acerbic lyrics, and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling. Starting with their masterwork, "Lil' Beethoven" in 2001, the band began performing their albums in their entirety. 2008 saw the band perform all 21 of their albums in successive nights at the Islington Academy and Shepherd's Bush Empire in London.
Though the band's long career has seen them successfully pioneer many different musical genres; including
glam popGlam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
,
power popPower pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
,
electronic dance musicElectronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
, mainstream pop and most recently chamber pop, Sparks have created their own unique musical universe. While achieving chart success in various countries around the world including
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany, France, and the United States, they have enjoyed a cult following since their first releases. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with
Giorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
(and
TelexThe Belgian synth-pop group Telex was formed in 1978 by Marc Moulin, Dan Lacksman, and Michel Moers, with the intention of "Making something really European, different from rock, without guitar — and the idea was electronic music." Mixing the aesthetics of disco, punk and experimental electronic...
subsequently), they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music. They are held in esteem by such bands and performers as
MorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
,
Kurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
,
Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, Arcade Fire,
Fang IslandFang Island is an American indie rock band formed in Providence, Rhode Island, and based in Brooklyn, New York. The group consists of guitarists Jason Bartell, Chris Georges and Nicholas Andrew Sadler, bassist Michael Jacober, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur...
, Ott,
MGMTMGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
,
Sonic YouthSonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
,
RamonesThe Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
,
Duran DuranDuran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
,
BjorkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
,
Depeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
,
New OrderNew Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
,
Def LeppardDef Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
,
Faith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, The Pixies,
WeenWeen is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
,
Mark BurgessMark Burgess is an English singer, bass player and songwriter. He was the lead singer, co-founder and main force behind English post-punk band The Chameleons. He currently resides in Germany and the UK.-Biography:...
of the Chameleons and
They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, all of whom cite Sparks as a major influence.
The 2002 release of
Lil' Beethoven-Deluxe edition:-Personnel:* Russell Mael – Vocals, programming, production, arrangements* Ron Mael – Keyboards, orchestrations, programming, production, arrangements* Tammy Glover – Drums* Dean Menta – Guitar* John Thomas - Mixing, additional engineering...
, their "genre-defying opus", as well as the more recent albums
Hello Young LoversHello Young Lovers is the twentieth album by Sparks. It is a concept album which addresses aspects of modern love.-Release:Hello Young Lovers was commercially more popular than any Sparks album since the nineteen-seventies, and it reached #66 on the UK Album Chart. The album did not chart in the US...
(2006, their 20th studio album),
Exotic Creatures Of The Deep-Imperial Records edition DVD:- Personnel :* Russell Mael - all vocals, engineering, mixing* Ron Mael - keyboards, programming, orchestrations, mixing* Tammy Glover - drums* Dean Menta - guitars* John Thomas - mixing, engineering-Sparks Spectacular:...
(2008), and their latest fantasy musical
The Seduction of Ingmar BergmanThe Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is the 22nd album by American rock/pop group Sparks, released in August 2009. The duo's first pop musical, Seduction is built around an imaginary visit to Hollywood by Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman in the mid-1950s. Its storyline focuses on the divides between...
(2009–2010) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to "steer clear of pop conventions."
Sparks are best known for the song "
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" is a song written by Ron Mael of the American pop group Sparks. It is the opening track on their 1974 album Kimono My House, and was the lead single from the album, reaching number two in the UK singles chart....
", which reached number 2 in the British charts in 1974, "When I'm With You" which topped the French Charts in 1980, and "When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'" which topped the German and European charts in 1994/95 and was the top airplay record in Germany for 1994. They are also noted for Russell Mael's
falsettoFalsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
voice and Ron Mael's keyboard style as well as their stage presence.
Early inception
The history of Sparks spans five decades, from inception in the late 1960s LA club scene, through adoption by British fans in the middle 1970s, electronic experimentation in the late 1970s, and finally breaking through in the US of the early 1980s, a cinematic sojourn at the end of that decade with a return to form in the mid-1990s which continues to this day as they continue to push the boundaries of pop music.
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael grew up in Pacific Palisades, in western Los Angeles County,
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, during the “Golden Age” of the LA club scene, with
The DoorsThe Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
,
LoveLove was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
and
The StandellsThe Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
regularly playing the Whisky-a-Go-Go on
Sunset StripThe Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
and the Beach Boys playing the afternoon event Teenage Fair.
Both Ron and Russell Mael are seen in the audience during
the RonettesThe Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
section of the famous rock movie
Big TNT Show, filmed in 1966. Both attended UCLA, Ron studying cinema and graphic art, Russell theatre arts and filmmaking. Detesting the folk music scene, which they considered "cerebral and sedate and we had no time for that", they developed a particular taste in English bands of the time such as
The WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
,
Syd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
's
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
,
The KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and
The MoveThe Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
, which led to their description of themselves as "Anglophiles".
Forming
HalfnelsonHalfnelson was an American rock band, which was a precursor to the more successful Sparks. Halfnelson was formed in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles in 1968 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael , the first incarnation also including friend and electro-whizz Earle Mankey .-History:In the late sixties,...
in 1968, they soon came to the attention of producer
Todd RundgrenTodd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
, at whose urging
Albert GrossmanAlbert Bernard Grossman was an American entrepreneur and manager in the American folk music scene and rock and roll. He was most famous as the manager of Bob Dylan between 1962 and 1970.-Biography:...
signed the band to his
BearsvilleBearsville Records was founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman. Artists included Todd Rundgren, Elizabeth Barraclough, Foghat, Halfnelson/Sparks, Bobby Charles, Randy VanWarmer, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Lazarus, Jesse Winchester, and NRBQ. The label closed in 1984, two years before Grossman's...
record label. Their self-titled debut — with the line-up consisting of college friend
Earle MankeyEarle Mankey was a guitarist for the seminal band Halfnelson, later called Sparks...
on guitar, Mankey's brother
JamesJames Andrew Mankey is an American rock guitarist, who has been the longtime guitarist in Concrete Blonde and also played with Sparks.Born 23 May 1952 in Washington, USA. Released J.A.M. - a solo work of instrumental music in 2003-External links:****...
on bass, Harley Feinstein now on drums and Rundgren producing — sold poorly, but after switching labels to
Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and renaming themselves Sparks, a play on the
Marx BrothersThe Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
, the re-issued debut spawned the minor regional hit "Wonder Girl".
Their follow-up album,
A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing, led to a tour of the United Kingdom, including a residency at the Marquee in
LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which incidentally saw on one night
QueenQueen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
open for Sparks. These London appearances helped them to secure a significant cult following. An appearance on the
BBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's
Old Grey Whistle TestThe Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
led to wider interest where host
Bob HarrisRobert Brinley Joseph "Bob" Harris, OBE , known as "Whispering" Bob Harris, is British radio host who currently works for BBC Radio 2, presenting music two nights a week...
compared the band to a cross between Zappa's Mother's of Invention and the Monkees.
Early Seventies
Relocating to England in 1973 with a new manager, John Hewlett, founder of
John's ChildrenJohn's Children were a 1960s pop art/mod rock band from Leatherhead, England that briefly featured future T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. John's Children were known for their outrageous live performances and were booted off a tour with The Who in Germany in 1967 when they upstaged the headliners...
, and a deal from
Island RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, thanks in part to the exposure garnered by their
BBC2BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
Television
Whistle TestThe Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
performance, they placed an ad in music weekly
Melody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
("Wanted bass player for Sparks. Must be beard free and exciting") and through this hired
Martin GordonMartin Gordon is an English musician, who plays bass guitar and piano.-Biography:Martin Gordon was born in Ipswich, and grew up Hitchin, Hertfordshire...
. With Adrian Fisher on guitar and Dinky Diamond on drums, in the midst of power strikes and a threatened vinyl shortage, they recorded their breakthrough
Kimono My House-21st Century Edition:-Personnel:*Russell Mael, vocals*Ron Mael, keyboards*Martin Gordon, bass*Adrian Fisher, guitar*Norman "Dinky" Diamond, drums-Other credits:*Recording engineers - Richard Digby-Smith, Tony Platt*Mixdown engineer - Bill Price...
in 1974, scoring a number 2 hit with the single "
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" is a song written by Ron Mael of the American pop group Sparks. It is the opening track on their 1974 album Kimono My House, and was the lead single from the album, reaching number two in the UK singles chart....
", despite
Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
betting producer
Muff WinwoodMervyn "Muff" Winwood is an English songwriter and record producer, and the older brother of Steve Winwood. Both were formerly members of the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, in which Muff Winwood played bass guitar...
that the song wouldn't break into the charts. This hit led to an appearance on the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's flagship music show
Top of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. Russell's hyperactive movements were in sharp contrast to the keyboard-bound, soberly-dressed Ron's expressionless squint. In 1975 the band returned to the states to tour supporting the Kimono & Propaganda albums which had gained strong cult attention in New York, Cleveland, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles primarily from FM radio play and a national TV appearance on
Don Kirshner's Rock ConcertDon Kirshner's Rock Concert is a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations...
. Flo and Eddie were the supporting act. Sparks also performed on
American BandstandAmerican Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
in 1975 with host Dick Clark mugging with Ron.
The follow-up albums,
Propaganda and
Indiscreet, the latter produced by
Tony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
, were similarly successful and produced the hit singles "Looks, Looks, Looks", "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" and "Something For The Girl With Everything".
Return home
1976 saw the Maels return home to LA. Concerned that their music may have become stale, they changed to a more "American" sound and recorded
Big Beat- 21st Century Edition :- Personnel :* Russell Mael - Vocals* Ron Mael - Keyboards* Sal Maida - Bass* Jeffrey Salen - Guitar* Hilly Boy Michaels - Drums* Rupert Holmes - Production* Jeffery Lesser - Production...
with
Rupert HolmesRupert Holmes is an American-British composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape " and the song "Him", which reached the number 6 position on the Hot 100 U.S. pop chart in 1980...
on production, followed by
Introducing Sparks-Credits:* All songs written by Ron Mael & Russell Mael* All lyrics ©1977 Ackee Music,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.* Lead & Background Vocals: Russell Mael...
; both were mostly recorded with session musicians. This new "West Coast" sound yielded such songs as ""Nothing To Do", "Everybody's Stupid", and "Throw Her Away (and Get A New One)". In 1976, Sparks made one of their first forays into the movie business, making a cameo appearance in the thriller film
Rollercoaster, after
KissKiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
turned down the roles. They performed the songs "Fill 'Er Up" and "Big Boy."
By 1979 the brothers found themselves at a crossroads. They had tired of the rock band format and determined to take their music in a more electronic direction. They had expressed admiration for
Giorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
, creator of the iconic disco anthem
I Feel Love"I Feel Love" is a song by Donna Summer, taken from her 1977 concept album I Remember Yesterday.The song constituted the "future" segment of the album, which represented a stylistic progress through time...
performed by
Donna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, to a German journalist who turned out to be a friend of his. As a result, they teamed up with Moroder and created
No. 1 In Heaven-Personnel:* Chris Bennett - Backing Vocals* Keith Forsey - Drums* Ron Mael - Keyboards, Synthesiser, Vocals* Russell Mael - Vocals* Jack Moran - Backing Vocals* Giorgio Moroder - Synthesiser, Vocoder, Producer* Dan Wyman - Synthesiser Programming...
, an album which would not only redefine the Sparks sound but would challenge the concept of what is meant by a band but also be a major influence on emerging electro pop artists. The follow-up in 1980,
Terminal Jive-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards* Giorgio Moroder, production* Harold Faltermeyer, production...
, scored a massive hit single in France, "When I'm With You", which led to the Maels' (of
BretonThe Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
descent themselves) staying in the country for a year promoting the album, Russell being sufficiently fluent in French. The single also hit the Top 20 in Australia, reaching #14.
Finding the electronic equipment they had adopted for their new sound too cumbersome to tour with, they returned to the more traditional band format for their next three releases,
Whomp That Sucker-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards and synthesizers* Bob Haag, guitar and additional background vocals* Leslie Bohem, bass guitar and additional background vocals* David Kendrick, drums...
,
Angst In My Pants- Personnel :* Russell Mael, Vocals* Ron Mael, Keyboards and synthesizers* Leslie Bohem, Bass guitar and additional background vocals* Bob Haag, Guitar and additional background vocals* David Kendrick, Drums* James Goodwin, Synthesizers...
(the title track of which appears in the 1983 movie "
Valley GirlValley Girl is a 1983 romantic comedy film, starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily, Cameron Dye, and Joyce Heiser. The film was the directorial debut of Martha Coolidge, and was the first film in which Nicolas Coppola was billed as Nicolas Cage.The American release of Valley Girl...
") and
Sparks In Outer Space-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards* Bob Haag, guitars* Leslie Bohem, bass* David Kendrick, drums* James Goodwin, keyboards* Jane Wiedlin, guest vocals on "Cool Places" and "Lucky Me, Lucky You"* Dan Lacksman, engineer...
. They finally broke into the US singles charts with "
Cool Places"Cool Places" is a song recorded by American duo Sparks in collaboration with Go-Go's member Jane Wiedlin.The song was released as the lead single for Sparks’s 1983 album In Outer Space. At the time Sparks were at their most popular in US, their two previous albums had dented the lower reaches of...
" from 1983's
In Outer Space. The track was a collaboration with
Go-GoThe Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts....
Jane WiedlinJane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
, who, at one time, ran her own Sparks fanclub, and its success was in part thanks to LA's
KROQ-FMKROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
radio station, which hailed them as local heroes.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the brothers concentrate on filmmaking, particularly an attempt to make a
mangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
,
Mai, The Psychic Girl, into a movie musical. Despite interest from
Tim BurtonTimothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
and six years' work on the project, the film has not yet gone into production. There currently is speculation that Tim Burton may once again take on the project and direct.
Return to music
1994 saw the Maels return with the release of
Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins-Personnel:* Russell Mael - Vocals, production* Ron Mael - Keyboards, production* Tsui Hark and Bill Kong - Guest vocals on "Tsui Hark"* John Thomas - Additional engineering and mixing* Steve Bates - Additional engineering and mixing...
, providing the hit singles "When Do I Get To Sing My Way?" and "When I Kiss You (I Hear
Charlie ParkerCharles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
Playing)". 1997 saw the release of
Plagiarism, an album of cover versions of their own songs featuring collaborations with
Faith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
,
ErasureErasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
and
Jimmy SomervilleJames William Somerville is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career. He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice...
. Half of the album was recorded by Tony Visconti in London with the other half recorded by the brothers in their own purpose-built studio in LA, surrounded by busts of
ElvisElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. In 1998 they recorded the soundtrack for the movie
Knock Off, starring
Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
, directed by the acclaimed Hong Kong based producer/director
Tsui HarkTsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
(who had appeared on his own tribute song by the band on the album
Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins).
Balls, released in 2000, again put the band in a context of electronic instrumentation with some of Ron Mael's most striking and perceptive lyrics. However, it was panned by critics who thought the band were 'treading water'.
The legacy continues
After
Balls, the band resurfaced in 2002 with the release of the album which has been described as their "genre-defying opus".
Lil' Beethoven, featuring quasi-classical arrangements of strings and choirs, led to renewed interest in the band, for instance
Record Collector magazineRecord Collector is the United Kingdom's longest-running monthly music magazine. It distributes both within the UK and worldwide. It started in 1979.-The early years:...
named the album as one of its "Best New Albums of 2002", describing it as "... possibly the most exciting and interesting release ever from such a long established act" and later in 2003 saying "... it really does feel like one of the best albums ever made." A UK and European tour had the band playing the entire album each night in the first half of the show, with fan favourites making up the second. The line-up now included former
Faith No MoreFaith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
guitarist
Dean MentaDean Menta served as the guitarist for the rock band Faith No More from 1995 to 1996. Menta had been a keyboard tech for the band and was recruited to handle guitar duties after Trey Spruance declined to tour for the album King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime. He appears in their videos for...
in addition to Tammy Glover on drums. Long-time fan
MorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
invited Sparks to perform at the 2004
Meltdown FestivalMeltdown is an annual, English festival, held in London, featuring a mix of music, art, performance and film. Meltdown is held in June at Southbank Centre, the arts complex covering and including the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward...
, of which he was curator. They performed their breakthrough
Kimono My House album, followed by
Lil Beethoven, both in their entirety. Also in this period, the duo appeared in the video for
Justin HawkinsJustin David Hawkins is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist of The Darkness, alongside his brother, guitarist Dan Hawkins...
's cover of "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us", in which Ron and Russell play the referee and MC at a darts match between Hawkins and darts champion Phil Taylor. This version of "This Town" reached No. 6 in the UK charts.
February 2006 saw the release of
Hello Young Lovers, their twentieth studio album. The album is regarded as carrying on where
Lil Beethoven left off, being described as "... cynical, intelligent and very, very funny", it has met with considerable acclaim.
The brothers tend to be dismissive of the latest trends in popular music, seeing most current bands as lacking musical ambition and experimental drive. Indeed the predictable trends in much of modern rock, as they see it, served as inspiration for their latest album. However, they have expressed admiration for
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and
MorrisseySteven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
.
The pair appeared in the season 6 finale of the US TV show
Gilmore GirlsGilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
, performing "Perfume" from the album
Hello Young Lovers. They released a live DVD of a September 2006 show at the London Forum as well as a long-awaited CD release of their previously unavailable 1977 album
Introducing Sparks-Credits:* All songs written by Ron Mael & Russell Mael* All lyrics ©1977 Ackee Music,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.* Lead & Background Vocals: Russell Mael...
. The track "Perfume" was featured in a
Dolce & GabbanaDolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
TV commercial in 2009.
On May 12, 2008, Sparks released the single "Good Morning", taken from the album
Exotic Creatures Of The Deep-Imperial Records edition DVD:- Personnel :* Russell Mael - all vocals, engineering, mixing* Ron Mael - keyboards, programming, orchestrations, mixing* Tammy Glover - drums* Dean Menta - guitars* John Thomas - mixing, engineering-Sparks Spectacular:...
.
May and June 2008 saw the 21-night "Sparks Spectacular" in London, where they played each of their albums in chronological order during the first twenty nights, and premièred their new album on the twenty-first concert on June 13, 2008. Each night, they performed an album in its entirety followed by a rare track — many of the songs have never been performed live before. The band asked their fans to visit their website and vote for the track that they'd most like to hear the band perform during the second half of the 21st concert after the première of
Exotic Creatures Of The Deep, though Russell Mael admitted that he and Ron would probably influence the poll a little.
Fans who bought a "Golden Ticket" (which allowed entry into all 21 gigs) also received a poster signed by the band and a CD single entitled Islington N1, a reference to the postal address of the venue for the first 20 gigs.
In 2009 the band played two consecutive nights at the
London ForumThe London Forum, or sometimes Kentish Town Forum is a well-known venue for concerts in Kentish Town, London, United Kingdom owned by the MAMA Group. The venue was built in 1934 and was originally used as an art deco cinema. After the closure of the cinema, The Town & Country Club was established...
on 20 and 21 March. They played Exotic Creatures of the Deep in its entirety at both gigs, followed by Kimono My House in its entirety on the first night and No. 1 In Heaven in its entirety on the second night.
Valentine's Day evening 2009 saw Sparks perform the same show featuring their Exotic Creatures of the Deep and Kimono My House albums played in their entirety before a sold-out hometown crowd at the Mael Bros. alma mater in Los Angeles, UCLA.
On August 14, 2009, the band premièred the radio musical
The Seduction of Ingmar BergmanThe Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is the 22nd album by American rock/pop group Sparks, released in August 2009. The duo's first pop musical, Seduction is built around an imaginary visit to Hollywood by Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman in the mid-1950s. Its storyline focuses on the divides between...
, commissioned by the Swedish public radio (SR) and featuring the Mael brothers themselves and Swedish actors
Elin KlingaElin Klinga is a Swedish actress who took part in several of Ingmar Bergman's late stage productions. One of Bergman's favourite actresses, she starred in such productions as The Image Makers , The Ghost Sonata and Ghosts .-External links:...
and
Jonas MalmsjöCarl Jonas Love Malmsjö is a Swedish actor who has worked in theatre, TV and radio; he is the son of Swedish actor Jan Malmsjö and the Swedish actress Marie Göranzon...
, both of whom worked with Bergman in his lifetime. The musical, partly in English, partly in Swedish, tells the story of Bergman's supposed relocation to Hollywood after his breakthrough with
Smiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer Night a.k.a. Smiles on a Summer Night is a 1955 Swedish comedy film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was the first of Bergman's films to bring the director international success, due to its exposure at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival...
(1956), and the surreal and discomforting encounter with the movie capital. On October 28, 2009, the UK's BBC 6 Music held a similar event in London whereby the musical was played in its entirety before a live audience at BBC Broadcasting House in London and later to be broadcast with a Q&A with the Maels. In interviews for Swedish newspapers, the band said they hoped to be able to theatrically stage the musical as well as turn the musical into a feature film. Amongst the filmmakers cited as undertaking "The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman" with the Mael Brothers is Canadian avant-garde director
Guy MaddinGuy Maddin, OM is a Canadian screenwriter, director, cinematographer and film editor of both features and short films from Winnipeg, Manitoba...
.
Ron and Russell Mael appear as interview subjects in the 2009 documentary
The Magnificent Tati, discussing their proposed involvement during the early 1980s in a
Jacques TatiJacques Tati was a French filmmaker, working as a comedic actor, writer and director. In a poll conducted by Entertainment Weekly of the Greatest Movie Directors Tati was voted the 46th greatest of all time...
movie titled
Confusion, for which a screenplay was written but never shot due to Tati's death.
In 2010, Sparks remixed
Yoko Onois a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
's song "
Give Me Something"Give Me Something" is a song by Yoko Ono, originally released in 1980 on John Lennon and Ono's duet album Double Fantasy. The song appeared in Ono's off-Broadway musical New York Rock and her compilation albums Walking on Thin Ice and Onobox...
". September 2, 2010 marks the debut of the new theme songs that Ron and Russell have composed and recorded for NPR radio's Bookworm show, broadcast in Los Angeles on station KCRW. The two songs mark the first time in 21 years that the Bookworm show has used a new theme song, these being commissioned by show host and Sparks fan Michael Silverblatt. The compositions are entitled,
"Where Would We Be Without Books?" and
"I Am A Bookworm."
For the encore of what may have been the final live date ever in America for Faith No More on December 1, 2010 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, Ron and Russell Mael were invited by Mike Patton and Co. to perform the Sparks' classic hit "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us." To a surprised and ecstatic sold-out crowd, the brothers reprised the song that also appears as a collaboration with Faith No More on Sparks' 1997 album Plagiarism. The original Sparks' version is from their 1974 classic LP, "Kimono My House."
On June 25, 2011 as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival, Sparks presented the World Premiere live performance of
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman. Film maker Guy Maddin provided directions based on the screenplay, with Ron and Russell reprising their recorded roles on stage. The role of Ingmar Bergman was performed by Finnish movie actor
Peter FranzénPeter Franzen is a retired English journalist, who was the editor of the Norwich-based regional newspaper the Eastern Daily Press, a position he occupied from 1993 until his retirement in 2009...
.
Ann MagnusonAnn Magnuson is an American actress, performance artist, and nightclub performer who first gained prominence in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan...
portrayed the role of Greta Garbo, and
Rebecca SjöwallRebecca Sjöwall is an American opera singer. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Luther College, a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from UCLA and is a two-time District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions....
did the role she performed on the original album as the Starlet.
Tammy Glover reprised her role that she originated on the original album as The Hollywood Starlet. The show was held at the
John Anson Ford AmphitheatreThe John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is a 1421-seat performing arts theatre in Los Angeles, California. The theatre is owned and operated by the County of Los Angeles, and run through a three-way partnership between the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the...
in Hollywood, a fitting place to enact the premiere performance live. The group showcased at the film festival in their quest for funding for the feature film version. The performance garnered glowing reviews from journals such as The Huffington Post, the LA Times, the LA Weekly, and LA Record.
Style
Sparks' musical style has changed dramatically over their forty-year career. In the beginning they attempted to emulate the sound of their English heroes, such as
The WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
,
Syd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
-era
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and
The KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, sometimes even pretending to be an English band while on the LA club circuit. They relocated to England during the
Glam rockGlam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
era where, despite cutting an odd figure on this scene, they found success with their polished brand of intricate pop tunes and convoluted lyrics. By the second half of the decade, they were concerned that the sound they had developed while based in England was in danger of becoming stale; they returned to LA, determined to adopt a more "
West CoastWest Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
" sound. This they achieved with producer Rupert Holmes on
Big Beat and (sans Holmes) on
Introducing Sparks.
However the band were not satisfied with the results, which they felt lacked personality, perhaps because of the reliance on
session musicianSession musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s. This led to the most dramatic change of style the band would attempt, when they teamed up with
Giorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
, dropped the band format altogether and produced
No. 1 In Heaven. This album is regarded as a landmark in the development of electronic music and greatly influenced bands which would emerge in the following years. They soon returned to a more traditional line-up, which remained until 1988's
Interior Design. There then followed a long hiatus until 1994's
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, which was a foray into the techno dance world, which they had helped to spawn back in the late 1970s. While their style has remained on the same path since
Gratuitous Sax..., they have nonetheless continued to push the boundaries of conventional pop music and songwriting, remaining both innovative and highly influential.
Lyrically, the band's style has been described as coming from "the school of Cole Porter, favouring caustic wit over trivial personal problems, ...achingly clever lyrics seesaw between superficial gloss, profound sentiment and the incomprehensibly bizarre." Repeated lyrical motifs have become a distinct feature on recent albums. On "My Baby’s Taking Me Home" off
Lil' Beethoven (2002), the song title is repeated 104 times, with no other words being used, other than a spoken interlude. Similarly, on the same album, "Your Call Is Very Important To Us", uses a corporation style call-hold message: "Your call is very important to us. Please hold" which is then sung with some additional words: "At first she said your call is very important to us, then she said please, please hold." The only other lyrics in the song are "Red light", "Green light", "I'm Getting Mixed Signals" and "Sorry, I'm Going To Have To Put You Back On Hold". These elements are layered with a simple piano line to create a highly textured effect.
Other musicians
Many musicians have contributed to Sparks music, both on record and live. In addition to the Maels, Sparks currently consists of
Steven NistorSteven Nistor is an American touring and studio drummer, best known for his work with Daniel Lanois and Danger Mouse. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
,
Jim WilsonJim Wilson is an American guitarist in the band Mother Superior, and previously in the Rollins Band. He is a professional musician known for his soulful vocals and powerful blues-rock guitar work. He also plays guitar and bass with Daniel Lanois...
,
Marcus Blake,
Steven McDonaldSteven Shane McDonald is the bass player in the Los Angeles alternative rock/power pop band Redd Kross. He is also a member of the hardcore punk band OFF!, which formed in late 2009. Other projects included The SMG and Green and Yellow TV - both were Los Angeles-based groups from the 2000s...
,
Dean MentaDean Menta served as the guitarist for the rock band Faith No More from 1995 to 1996. Menta had been a keyboard tech for the band and was recruited to handle guitar duties after Trey Spruance declined to tour for the album King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime. He appears in their videos for...
and Tammy Glover.
Previous musicians who have played in Sparks include Ben Benay,
Leslie Bohem-Biography:Les Bohem's writing credits include the miniseries Taken, Dante's Peak, Twenty Bucks, Daylight, and The Alamo. Bohem also played bass in the 1980s with the pop groups Sparks and Gleaming Spires. He also wrote the storybook of the Steven Spielberg produced mini-series Nine Lives.-External...
,
Alan BroadbentAlan Broadbent, MNZM , is a jazz pianist, arranger and composer best known for his work with artists such as Woody Herman, Diane Schuur, Chet Baker, Irene Kral, Sheila Jordan, Charlie Haden, Warne Marsh, Bud Shank, and many others.Broadbent studied piano and music theory in his own country, but in...
, the late Norman "Dinky" Diamond,
Harold FaltermeyerHarold Faltermeyer is a German musician, keyboardist, composer and record producer.He is recognized as one of the composers/producers who best captured the zeitgeist of 1980s synth-pop in film scores...
, Harley Feinstein, the late Adrian Fisher,
Keith ForseyKeith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
,
David FosterDavid Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
, James Goodwin,
Martin GordonMartin Gordon is an English musician, who plays bass guitar and piano.-Biography:Martin Gordon was born in Ipswich, and grew up Hitchin, Hertfordshire...
,
Ed GreeneEd Greene is an American drummer and session musician.An early recording in 1971 has him as a member of the Donald Byrd Group, together with Thurman Green Harold Land Bobby Hutcherson Joe Sample and Wilton Felder , among others....
, Bob Haag, Ian Hampton, Christie Haydon, David Kendrick,
Josh KlinghofferJoshua Adam "Josh" Klinghoffer is an American multi-instrumentalist, who is best known as the current guitarist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Klinghoffer replaced his friend and frequent collaborator John Frusciante, who left the band in 2009.Klinghoffer also fronts Dot Hacker, and was...
, Sal Maida, Robert Mache,
Earle MankeyEarle Mankey was a guitarist for the seminal band Halfnelson, later called Sparks...
, Jim Mankey, John Mendelsohn,
Hilly Boy MichaelsHilly Michaels, also known as Hilly Boy Michaels is an American drummer and musician, best known for playing drums with Sparks in the 70's and his two solo albums from the early 80's, Calling All Girls and Lumia .- History :His first music experience came with playing in a band called Joy,...
,
Giorgio MoroderHansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
,
David PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
,
Mike PorcaroMike Porcaro is best noted as the bass player in the Grammy Award winning band, Toto.He is the middle brother of Toto members Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro...
, Reinie Press, Hans Reumschüssel,
Lee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
, Thom Rotella, Jeffrey Salen, Spencer Sercombe, John Thomas,
Tony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
,
Thomas WhiteThomas White is a Brighton, England-based musician, producer and visual artist. Educated at Davigdor Infants, Somerhill Juniors and Hove Park schools, he began learning the piano at the age of 5, picking up the violin a year later and teaching himself guitar, drums and clarinet in his early teens...
, Trevor White and
Richie ZitoRichie Zito is a session guitarist and record producer from Los Angeles.He has worked with Poison, Neil Sedaka, Yvonne Elliman, Eric Carmen, Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer, Diana Ross, Marc Tanner, Elton John, the Motels, as well as The Cult, White Lion, Eddie Money, Heart, and Bad English...
.
Discography
- Sparks / Halfnelson
-Personnel:* Russell Mael: Vocals* Ron Mael: Keyboards* Earle Mankey: Guitar, Lead Vocal on 'Biology 2'* Jim Mankey, Bass, Guitar* Harley Feinstein, Drums-External links:*...
(1971)
- A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (1972)
- Kimono My House
-21st Century Edition:-Personnel:*Russell Mael, vocals*Ron Mael, keyboards*Martin Gordon, bass*Adrian Fisher, guitar*Norman "Dinky" Diamond, drums-Other credits:*Recording engineers - Richard Digby-Smith, Tony Platt*Mixdown engineer - Bill Price...
(1974)
- Propaganda (1974)
- Indiscreet (1975)
- Big Beat
- 21st Century Edition :- Personnel :* Russell Mael - Vocals* Ron Mael - Keyboards* Sal Maida - Bass* Jeffrey Salen - Guitar* Hilly Boy Michaels - Drums* Rupert Holmes - Production* Jeffery Lesser - Production...
(1976)
- Introducing Sparks
-Credits:* All songs written by Ron Mael & Russell Mael* All lyrics ©1977 Ackee Music,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.* Lead & Background Vocals: Russell Mael...
(1977)
- No. 1 In Heaven
-Personnel:* Chris Bennett - Backing Vocals* Keith Forsey - Drums* Ron Mael - Keyboards, Synthesiser, Vocals* Russell Mael - Vocals* Jack Moran - Backing Vocals* Giorgio Moroder - Synthesiser, Vocoder, Producer* Dan Wyman - Synthesiser Programming...
(1979)
- Terminal Jive
-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards* Giorgio Moroder, production* Harold Faltermeyer, production...
(1980)
- Whomp That Sucker
-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards and synthesizers* Bob Haag, guitar and additional background vocals* Leslie Bohem, bass guitar and additional background vocals* David Kendrick, drums...
(1981)
- Angst in My Pants
- Personnel :* Russell Mael, Vocals* Ron Mael, Keyboards and synthesizers* Leslie Bohem, Bass guitar and additional background vocals* Bob Haag, Guitar and additional background vocals* David Kendrick, Drums* James Goodwin, Synthesizers...
(1982)
- In Outer Space
-Personnel:* Russell Mael, vocals* Ron Mael, keyboards* Bob Haag, guitars* Leslie Bohem, bass* David Kendrick, drums* James Goodwin, keyboards* Jane Wiedlin, guest vocals on "Cool Places" and "Lucky Me, Lucky You"* Dan Lacksman, engineer...
(1983)
- Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
-Personnel:*Ron Mael - Synthesizers *Russell Mael - Vocals*Leslie Bohem - Bass, Backing Vocals*Bob Haag - Guitar, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals*David Kendrick - Drums*John Thomas - Keyboards*Producer - Ian Little...
(1984)
- Music That You Can Dance To
- Personnel :* Russell Mael - vocals* Ron Mael - all synthesizers * Bob Haag - Endodyne guitars, Roland synthesizers, backing vocals* Leslie Bohem - bass guitar, backing vocals* David Kendrick - drums...
(1986)
- Interior Design
-CD Edition:-Personnel:* Russell Mael, Vocals, production* Ron Mael, Keyboards, production* Spencer Sircombe, Guitar* Pamela Stonebrooke, Background vocals* John Thomas, Keyboards, engineering...
(1988)
- Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1994)
- Plagiarism
-Personnel:* Russell Mael - Vocals, production, mixing* Ron Mael - Keyboards, production* Tony Visconti, Orchestral, choral arrangements and conducting on "Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat", "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", "When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'", "Change", "Something For The Girl...
(1997)
- Balls (2000)
- Lil' Beethoven
-Deluxe edition:-Personnel:* Russell Mael – Vocals, programming, production, arrangements* Ron Mael – Keyboards, orchestrations, programming, production, arrangements* Tammy Glover – Drums* Dean Menta – Guitar* John Thomas - Mixing, additional engineering...
(2002)
- Hello Young Lovers
Hello Young Lovers is the twentieth album by Sparks. It is a concept album which addresses aspects of modern love.-Release:Hello Young Lovers was commercially more popular than any Sparks album since the nineteen-seventies, and it reached #66 on the UK Album Chart. The album did not chart in the US...
(2006)
- Exotic Creatures Of The Deep
-Imperial Records edition DVD:- Personnel :* Russell Mael - all vocals, engineering, mixing* Ron Mael - keyboards, programming, orchestrations, mixing* Tammy Glover - drums* Dean Menta - guitars* John Thomas - mixing, engineering-Sparks Spectacular:...
(2008)
- The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is the 22nd album by American rock/pop group Sparks, released in August 2009. The duo's first pop musical, Seduction is built around an imaginary visit to Hollywood by Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman in the mid-1950s. Its storyline focuses on the divides between...
(2009)
External links