Hello Young Lovers (Sparks album)

Hello Young Lovers is the 20th album by Sparks. It is a concept album which addresses aspects of modern love.

Hello Young Lovers
Studio album by
Sparks
ReleasedFebruary 6, 2006
StudioSparks Studios, Los Angeles, California
GenreChamber pop, art rock
Length50:39
LabelIn The Red Recordings (US), Gut (UK)
ProducerRon Mael, Russell Mael
Sparks chronology
Lil' Beethoven
(2002)		 Hello Young Lovers
(2006)		 Exotic Creatures of the Deep
(2008)
Singles from Hello Young Lovers
  1. "Perfume" b/w "(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country (Alternative Verse)""
    Released: 13 Feb 2006
  2. "Dick Around" / "Waterproof""
    Released: 18 Sep 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
BBC(Positive)[2]
Dusted Reviews(Negative)[3]
Pitchfork Media(6.9/10)[4]
Play Louder[5]
Slant Magazine[6]
Stylus MagazineB+[7]

Release

Hello Young Lovers was commercially more popular than any Sparks album since the 1970s, and it reached #66 on the UK Album Chart.[8] The album did not chart in the US. The album was released on CD and both white and pink vinyl. The CD was initially released on Gut records, and then later released on In The Red records.

Two singles and an EP were released to promote the album. The first; "Perfume" was backed with an alternative version of "(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country" and a remix by Clor. It peaked at #80 on the UK Singles chart[8] and #10 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

"Dick Around" was released as an EP in the US, and as a double a-side single with "Waterproof" in the UK. Both versions featured an edited version of "Dick Around" and the US version included live tracks recorded earlier that year in Los Angeles. The UK release of the song fell foul of a ban by the BBC, who took issue with the title citing it as obscene. Sparks issued a statement; "In a reaction [to the ban] the band says: "The BBC has officially killed off our new single Dick Around, ostensibly through rather childish objections to the title, an innocent reference to the idle life. That a piece of music can be condemned purely by its title without the 'decision makers' even having the decency to open the CD case is a travesty and an insult to both us as the creators of the music and to the listeners of the BBC."[9] Eventually, In a statement BBC London said that the track is back in rotation.[9] The single charted at the lowly position of #139[10] in the UK.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael; except where indicated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dick Around" 6:35
2."Perfume" 4:59
3."The Very Next Fight" 5:18
4."(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country"Ron and Russell Mael, Francis Scott Key (Additional lyrics)5:56
5."Rock, Rock, Rock" 5:10
6."Metaphor" 4:03
7."Waterproof" 4:17
8."Here Kitty" 4:26
9."There's No Such Thing as Aliens" 2:53
10."As I Sit Down to Play The Organ at the Notre Dame Cathedral" 7:02

Personnel
  • Ron Mael - Keyboards, Orchestrations and Production
  • Russell Mael - Vocals, Engineering and Production
  • John Thomas - Mixing and additional Engineering
  • Tammy Glover - Drums
  • Dean Menta - Guitars
  • Jim Wilson - additional Guitar
  • Steve McDonald - additional Bass

Chart Placings

Album

Country/Region Peak
position
Swedish Sverigetopplistan Album Chart [11] 48
U.K. Albums Chart[8] 66
Perfume (single)
Chart (2006) Peak
Position
U.K. Singles Chart[8] 80
U.K. Indie Singles Chart 10

References
  1. Raggett, Ned. Review: Hello Young Lovers. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  2. Jones, Chris. Review: Hello Young Lovers. BBC. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  3. Mosurock, Doug. Review: Hello Young Lovers. ©2002-2005 Dusted Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  4. Abebe, Nitsuh. Review: Hello Young Lovers Archived 2008-01-04 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  5. Review: Hello Young Lovers. Play Louder.
  6. Keefe, Jonathan. Review: Hello Young Lovers. 2010 Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  7. O’Reilly, Fergal. Review: Hello Young Lovers. 2001-2007 stylusmagazine.com. Retrieved on 2010-03-23.
  8. "The Official Charts Company - Sparks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  9. "Sparks single banned on BBC: yes/no on www.side-line.com". Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  10. "Chart Log UK: DJ S - The System Of Life". Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz, 1994–2009. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  11. "swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
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