2021 Sparks Documentary
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Do try to make that, the Nashville show last year was big fun.
Just scored good seats for NYC! Last year's tour was fantastic. Can't wait to see what Ron & Russell will come up with this year!
Hell yeah, can't believe the brothers Mael will be within jogging distance of my house - at the ol' Keswick in Glenside PA! Tickets secured.
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I'm heading there!
Here's the first single from the forthcoming album. I checked for it on Apple Music hoping that it might be available in Atmos. Sadly, it's not. . Hopefully one day Ron & Russell will get bitten by the Atmos bug. The new album will be out on May 26.
. Hopefully one day Ron & Russell will get bitten by the Atmos bug. The new album will be out on May 26. 
And now the video for the new single has premiered. Pure Sparks. Cate Blanchett stars.
Another single released from the forthcoming album:
Can't wait.
Plan9
800 Club - QQ All-Star
Two great tracks so far!
U.S. tour starts in 12 days. Can't wait! Until then, the folks at The Midnight Special have just uploaded this vintage 1974 clip:
Thanks for sharing. These Midnight Special releases have been amazing!
So this was a surprise. I have a friend who collects all sorts of obscure stuff and last time I went up to visit he played me a quad DVD of this band and someone named "Electric Samurai" which is a Japanese synth pioneer I believe. The latter was literally like Disneyland electric light parade meets pop music...but the Sparks release was an absolute revelation. It's the 1977 "Introducing" release in quad (or at least most of it it seems) and sounded amazing like it was recorded yesterday...one of the best four channel quad releases I've heard to date. Several of the tracks sound like they're literally right in the room with you.
I could have sworn they're from the UK based on their voice--but they're from the United States. I'm from California originally and the band rings a bell (especially as I heard KGB played them)...but I do not recall hearing of them per se. Definitely going to have to look into them further after hearing this release.
I could have sworn they're from the UK based on their voice--but they're from the United States. I'm from California originally and the band rings a bell (especially as I heard KGB played them)...but I do not recall hearing of them per se. Definitely going to have to look into them further after hearing this release.
"Electric Samurai" was a pseudonym for synth pioneer legend Isao Tomita! 
the Japanese SQ Quad LP of his "Switched On Hit & Rock" album decodes amazingly well through the Surround Master
the Japanese SQ Quad LP of his "Switched On Hit & Rock" album decodes amazingly well through the Surround Master
Hi Scott - as you note this Sparks LP came out in 1977. This coincides with the last CBS SQ/Q8 releases. Sparks had been recoding since 1969 and seems to have had a new label about every two or three LPs. Introducing was the first for CBS. They did another afterwards. I always assumed that what you heard was a partial remix for a planned, but cancelled SQ release. So far as I know, CBS had never announced this release the way they did some that never came out, but if you listen to the mix, it is clearly not complete. Several instruments, including guitar solos are pretty much missing, as are some entire songs. Still, it's a terrific glimpse of what should have been!
If KGB played them, it was late at night. Of course, they probably heard them on KCR first, so who knows.
They're still making music? That album is closing on 50 years old and know they had a few prior---they must be in their mid-70s and they still sound like this (both voice themselves & musical invention)? This is my immediate favorite on the newest one...
The tape contained 8 songs, including two fully produced unreleased songs ('Kidnap'[8] and 'Keep Me
This must have been what I listened to...the mentioned songs sound very familiar. I recall being impressed by both, but I believe "Keep Me" was the one that literally sounded like they were right next to me in quad--almost scaringly so One of the most "presence" I've ever heard in that format... and it isn't even an "official" release. Wow...
Japanese SQ Quad LP of his "Switched On Hit & Rock" album decodes amazingly well
And this must be the other but it was on DVD so maybe he transferred it. It has Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel covers in way crazy & wacky Moog. Makes the Moog Cookbook group from a few years ago pale in comparison
This must have been what I listened to...the mentioned songs sound very familiar. I recall being impressed by both, but I believe "Keep Me" was the one that literally sounded like they were right next to me in quad--almost scaringly so
One of the most "presence" I've ever heard in that format... and it isn't even an "official" release. Wow...Japanese SQ Quad LP of his "Switched On Hit & Rock" album decodes amazingly well
And this must be the other but it was on DVD so maybe he transferred it. It has Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel covers in way crazy & wacky Moog. Makes the Moog Cookbook group from a few years ago pale in comparison
TiberiusSpock
Member
Oh my dear, sweet Lord. Sparks has been one of my favorite bands for almost 50 years. They're basically two brothers from Southern Cal, one on keyboards (Ron Mael) and the other vocalist (Russell Mael). I believe Russell was a QB on his high school football team. Anyway, they had like three really good rock albums the 70's when they were basically a band: Propaganda, Kimono My House and Indiscreet. Catchy tunes with amusing lyrics. They've put out maybe 25 albums over the years in all different genres. Personally, I like their typical rock band stuff the best.
Over the last few years they happen to have just put out a couple more "band" albums (like noted above), meaning not just the two brothers with some extra musicians. The actually recorded as a band. Hippopotamus was the album with the biggest "hit" song of Edith Piaf (said it better than me):
It's interesting to ask people if they've heard of Sparks. Usually it's "no" or "I think I've heard of them" and, occasionally, "Oh, yeah. The band where the guy had a Hitler mustache" (Paul McCartney imitated Ron Mael in the video "Coming Up"). But every once in a while you ask the question and you see the person's eyes get big, along with a huge smile, and they'll say "one of my favorite bands". Sparks fan base is loyal and dedicated. I am one of those freaks!
I did some catalog checking and I will say I *definitely* know the Jane Wiedlin collab "Cool Places"... In fact I think it's how I know their name.. This appears to be another band that was way more popular overseas (i.e. out of the musically brain-dead US) than they were in their native country.
I remember that in the Paul McCartney video where he played almost every character... Including his versions of Buddy Holly and what looks like John Bonham on drums.
I remember that in the Paul McCartney video where he played almost every character... Including his versions of Buddy Holly and what looks like John Bonham on drums.
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