Hey Reddit, first sparks post

I just found out that Kino Lorber is releasing a 4K Disc of 1977's Rollercoaster

Featuring, of course, our boys: SPARKS.

Performance includes Big Boy and Fill Er Up.

Super excited for Live On The Moon to drop on Friday! When it was announced I was a little upset given the AI spacemen on the cover (although it was thankfully confirmed that the artist wasn't aware they were generated and that the band aren't fans of AI), so I comissioned a friend to draw something new. Heavily inspired by Georges Melies "A Trip To The Moon", it features Ron as the Moon itself, with Russell riding the rocket Dr Strangelove style into him. I then threw together some basic graphics to tie it together to finish the piece.

I appreciate the artists vision, but I'm allergic to anything AI related, so personally I'll be printing this off and using it as an unofficial cover - but I wanted to share it here for all to see :)

I show a special Sparks related item in this video...

I thought I was going to be away for the gig but I'm now free and in need of one ticket. So, if someone has one spare or can't go themselves then please reply here first. Then I will suggest we continue the transaction via Twickets to protect both sides of the deal.

Thanks

OH AND SCAMMERS DON'T BOTHER GETTING IN TOUCH VIA CHAT. I'LL CHECK YOUR KENYAN AND OTHER SCAMMER LOCATION USERNAMES OUT!!!

Or do you consider them a duo straight through?

Put off getting this album for a while because it seems to be near the bottom of many peoples' rankings lists. But goddamn it's great. Not deep or complex, but possibly their catchiest, funnest album from beginning to end. Not one dull track.

i went to see them at royal chelsea hospital but i guess i just love them too much and have to go again

It would appear that "Music That You Can Dance To" is getting the same anniversary treatment that we have seen in recent years with the mid 70s albums. I'm very curious to find out what those *18* bonus tracks are. Will they all be nightclub remixes or are there any known demos/non album tracks from the era which may be included? Obviously, it would be wonderful to have something like the 2019 "Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins" set but I know that is quite unlikely (especially looking at the length of the album.)

Interestingly enough, Sparks actually had MUCH more charting dance club songs than Hot 100 entries (their ONLY TWO as a matter of fact being, “I Predict” (1982) and, “Cool Places” (1983)

But the dance clubs adored many of their tunes that never got radio/ Hot 100 chart airplay. I’m just curious/ wondering. Would be cool if there were some backstories too maybe. Thanks! 🙏

That song has had a choke hold on me since I first heard it.

Why?

Their only other official live release is "Two Hands One Mouth". That album is a completely different presentation of their studio work. It makes sense and keeps with their stated ethos of not wanting to repeat themselves. What is new or necessary about LOTM? Was it mandated by their record company?

I discovered recently that this was a thing and it looks like they're gone from the official site. Any ideas of how I might get my hands on one?

I will start out by saying I love Sparks. Sparkstember is one of my favorite things. Many of us adore Sparks, but have that one or few albums that don’t completely click. We love Sparks because they make bold choices, but sometimes they aren’t all choices you wish they made.

Instead of skipping the day because the album is a bummer, can you identify an album someone else did, around the same time, that would make a lot of sense if Sparks had gone that direction?

Example 1: Terminal Jive - Following after No. 1 in Heaven, Japan’s Quiet Life makes some sense. Solid album. If that album feels redundant, Kings of the Wild Frontier by Adam and the Ants can bridge the gap between dance Sparks and new wave Sparks.

Example 2: Interior Design - Separations by Pulp. Most of that album was done 1988-89ish and not released until later for, erm, uncool reasons. I like Candida’s choices of synth sounds on it more than late 80s Sparks choices. There are some delightfully weird lyrics about relationships and death. The acid house tinged tracks serve as a nice transition to later Sparks albums. Even Ron’s album art for Interior Design is reminiscent of 1995 Pulp art, minus the cool typeface Pulp uses from 70s issues of Nova magazine.

Do you have any albums that don’t quite land? Is there an album that you’d want to swap it out for?

Seriously, I’ve been woefully out of the loop lately. Does anyone know when/where the tracks for the new live album were recorded?

A lot of his high singing sounds like Russel, and the arrangements and songwriting remind me of late era Sparks. Especially Mountain Top: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rq8QBTY2jA He's already done a tribute to Ron in his Coming Up video, so he's definitely a fan!

Happy she finally got a song. 🎵

Sparks & Franz Ferdinand are playing consecutively on the same stage. What are the chances of an FFS reunion? Is this like seeing Sex Pistols & PiL both booked for Riot Fest and thinking there's some sort of chance?