SPARKS
Short Biographie




Here a short description about the Sparks ( Ron and Russell Mael ).


Ron Mael on the Keyboard

Ron Mael, older brother of Russel, behind the Keyboards. Ron with a 'Hitler' style moustache is the Keyboardplayer and his brother Russel is the Vocalist.
Started as "Halfnelson" in 1968 with John Mendelssohn on drums and 1971 evolved in "Sparks" in which the band were joined by Earle Mankay as guitar-player, Jim Mankay as bass and Harley Fernstein on the drums.

The second release of the Sparks was "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" that sold poorly. the Maels emigrated to the U.K. 1973 to gain an Island recording contract and enlist a new Sparks from native players. This Anglo-American edition of Sparks notched up eight UK chart entries, starting with 1974's "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" from Kimono My House.
1975 the Maels' return to California to make "Big Beat" with LA session musicians.
Terminal Jive
Terminal Jive ( 1980 )




The Sparks
The Sparks on a Poster

Giorgio Moroder Collaborations of Sparks:

    Sparks - No 1 in Heaven ( 1979 )
    - Tryouts for the Human Race 6.07 ( Ron and Russel Mael - G. Moroder )
    - Academy Award Performance 5.00 (Ron Mael )
    - La Dolce Vita 5.56 ( Ron Mael - Giorgio Moroder - Russel Mael )
    - Beat the Clock 4.23 ( Ron Mael - Russel Mael )
    - My Other Voice 4.54 ( Ron Mael - Giorgio Moroder - Russel Mael )
    - The Number One Song in Heaven 7.28 ( Ron and Russel Mael - G. Moroder )
      Produced by Giorgio Moroder



    Sparks - Terminal Jive ( 1980 )

    - When I'm with You 5.45 ( Ron Mael - Russel Mael )
    - Just Because You Love Me 4.36 ( Ron & Russel Mael )
    - Rock'n'Roll People in a Disco World 4.47 ( Ron & Russel Mael )
    - When I'm with You ( ins.) 3.45 ( [Ron & Russel Mael )
    - Young Girls 4.49 ( Ron & Russel Mael )
    - Noisy Boys 3.55 ( H. Faltermeyer - K. Forsey - Ron & Russel Mael )
    - Stereo 4.01 ( G. Moroder - Ron & Russel Mael )
    - The Greatest Show on Earth 4.17 ( G. Moroder - H. Faltermeyer - Ron and Russel Mael )
      Produced by Giorgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeier



Interesting Release of Sparks:

Sparks - No 1 Song In Heaven
( 5"cd single , march 3, 1999 )

- No. 1 Song In Heaven ( Plagiarism Album version )
- No. 1 Song In Heaven ( Dave Aude's Heavenly Vocal )
- No. 1 Song In Heaven ( Dave's Rubber dub )
- Hey Skinny
- No. 1 Song In Heaven ( bonus track, multimedia )




Ron Mael in a curious pose
Ron Mael in a curious Pose

 

 

Some titles of the Sparks Discographie

Angst In My Pants - 1982
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins - 1995
In Outer Space - 1983
Plagiarism - 1998
Profile-Ultimate Collection
Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat - 1984
Sparks - No 1 in Heaven - 1979
Terminal Jive - 1980
Whomp That Sucker - 1981
Big Beat - 1975
In The Swing
Indiscreet
Kimono My House - 1974
Propaganda
A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing

 

NEWS:
Sparks have signed a Worldwide deal with Warner Brothers in Germany for the release of their new album. The first single "More Than A Sex Machine" will be released in August ( 1999 ) around the same time as the album

Columbia Records will be releasing a compilation album called "Beat The Clock" on July 6th featuring a new remix of Sparks "Beat The Clock."
The song is remixed by Liquid Todd (a radio Dj in New York) from the master tapes used in the Plagiarism album. The remix is wildly different than the Plagiarism version.
Thanks to Carl Oglio for the info



Sparks newest release, a new 12" collection of some of the Hits, is out. The 12" collection is released by Oglio Records.

 

SPARKS 12" Mixes
Track List

All You Ever Think About Is Sex 5:09
Beat The Clock 6:36
Young Girls 3:55
Cool Places 4:40
Dance Godammit 4:03
I Predict 6:20
Modesty Plays 5:17
Kiss Me Quick 5:41
Pretending To Be Drunk 5:38
The Number One Song In Heaven 8:33

All songs written by Ron Maul and Russel Mael.

Manufactured by Oglio Records under licence from Giorgio Moroder.

 

Oglio records - OGL 81605