any Sparks fans out there?

[steelglam]

I've been listening to Sparks' first 6 albums (Halfnelson through Big Beat) a lot lately, and I forgot how much I love 'em. I think they were arguably glam before glam. Perhaps I'm crazy, but it also appears to me that one of the biggest bands of all time--Queen--had to be heavily influenced by their style.

At the same time, they are one band that I never seem able to turn my friends onto. Not sure exactly why...perhaps Russell Mael's voice, perhaps the theatricality of their style, I don't know. My girlfriend, in fact, is quite frustrated because she can't get me to like musical theater, but at the same time she can't understand why I love Sparks since she thinks they sound like musical theater. My response is usually: "yeah, except with way better music, way more interesting lyrics, and way more edginess!"

Anyhow, since I'm the only person out of my family and friends that likes Sparks, I'm wondering if there are any other fans on this board. They seem hard to come by.

 

[spartanmanor]

Very fun group. I have at least 15 of there albums.

 

[313guy]

I bought "Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing" at a music store bargain bin or "sidewalk sale" or some mega discount without ever have heard of the band. The outrageousness of the title alone piqued my curiosity. I played it fairly often, then loaned to a friend of a friend who...took it with him into the abyss? Anyway, never saw it again. Flash forward to the '80's, and I heard a cut on an alternative radio show that highlighted newer stuff mainly from "Introducing Sparks". I had to have it and tracked it down and never let it out of my collection. By the way, the cut was "Goofing Off."

 

[Jon_Logan]

i like Sparks. Earlier stuff mostly. Indiscreet, etc. Not so much the disco-y stuff.

....and I hate musical theater too.

 

[RobShaz]

Got a greatest hits collection. They managed to put out some very interesting synthpop material during that phase. They're a bit like Bowie though. You can like them but you can't afford to buy everything they've ever done ;-)

 

[Dynacophil]

Don't know why, just remember the "this town ain't big enough" thing
got somewhere one LP of them... maybe I should give them more interest?

 

[qdrone]

Mindless Self Indulgence

My ex roomie is really into MSI so I played some Sparks off Utube and she agreed that the infliction in the vocalist of MSI was an influence of Sparks. I have listened to them off and on since Kimino My House.

 

[electronjohn]

"Wonder Girl" always sounded cool coming out of a little transistor radio...too bad it wasn't a bigger hit. I have a bunch of their 45s...one that sticks out in my mind is "Over The Summer" on Columbia from around '75 or so...neat record.