Sparks discography
The following is a comprehensive discography of Sparks, an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting,[1] Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics,[2] and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.[3]
| Sparks discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 25 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Compilation albums | 12 |
| Video albums | 4 |
| Music videos | 24 |
| Singles | 49 |
Albums
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
AUS [5] |
CA [6] |
GER [7] |
NL [8] |
SWE [9] |
UK [10][11] | |||
| 1971 | Halfnelson (as Halfnelson)
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1973 | A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1974 | Kimono My House
|
101 | 22 | 58 | – | 10 | – | 4 | |
Propaganda
|
63 | 75 | 81 | 49 [8] |
– | 50 | 9 |
| |
| 1975 | Indiscreet
|
169 | – | 86 | – | 19 | 6 | 18 | |
| 1976 | Big Beat
|
– | – | – | – | – | 24 | – | |
| 1977 | Introducing Sparks
|
– | – | – | – | – | 41 | – | |
| 1979 | No. 1 in Heaven | 204 | 63 | – | – | – | 43 | 73 | |
| 1980 | Terminal Jive
|
– | 96 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1981 | Whomp That Sucker
|
182 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1982 | Angst in My Pants
|
173 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1983 | In Outer Space
|
88 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1984 | Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
|
202 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1986 | Music That You Can Dance To
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1988 | Interior Design
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1994 | Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
|
– | – | – | 29 [15] |
– | – | 150 | |
| 1997 | Plagiarism
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2000 | Balls
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2002 | Lil' Beethoven
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2006 | Hello Young Lovers
|
– | – | – | – | – | 48 | 66 | |
| 2008 | Exotic Creatures of the Deep
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | 54 | |
| 2009 | The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2015 | FFS (as FFS)[16]
|
– | – | – | 22 | 13 | – | 17 | |
| 2017 | Hippopotamus
|
– | – | – | 88 | 38 | 45 [17] |
7 | |
| 2020 | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip[18]
|
75 | – | 32 | 24 | 88 | – | 7 | |
Live albums
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
CA [6] |
GER | NL [8] |
SWE [9] |
UK [10][11] | |||
| 2013 | Two Hands, One Mouth: Live In Europe
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | |
Compilation albums
- A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (1968, Self-released) (Collection of demo recordings)
- 2 Originals of Sparks (1975, Bearsville) - Double LP set consisting of Halfnelson and A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
- The Best of Sparks (1978, Island Records)
- The History of the Sparks (1981, Carrere)
- Mael Intuition (The Best of the Sparks 1974-76) (1990, Island)
- Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection (1991, Rhino)
- The Heaven Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
- The Hell Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
- In the Swing (1993, Spectrum/Karussell)
- The 12 Inch Mixes (1996, Kiosk)
- 12" Mixes (1999, Oglio Records)
- The Best of Sparks (2000, Repertoire Records)
- This Album's Big Enough… The Best of Sparks (2002, Music Club)
- Shortcuts – The 7inch Mixes (1979-1984) (2012, Repertoire Records)
- Extended – The 12inch Mixes (1979-1984) (2012, Repertoire Records)
- Real Extended: The 12 inch Mixes (1979 - 1984)" (2012, Repertoire Records) Improved and Corrected Version of above
- New Music for Amnesiacs: The Essential Collection (2013, Lil Beethoven Records)
- Past Tense – The Best of Sparks (2019, BMG Rights Management UK)
Singles
1970s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AUS [5] |
DEU [19] |
FR [19][20] |
IE [21] |
NL [22] |
SWI [23] |
UK [10][11] | |||
| 1972 | "Wonder Girl" | 112 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Sparks |
| 1974 | "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" | – | 69 | 12 | 15 | – | 4 | 7 | 2 | Kimono My House |
| "Girl from Germany" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing | |
| "Amateur Hour" | – | – | 12 | – | 19 | 6 | – | 7 | Kimono My House | |
| "Talent Is An Asset" (US and New Zealand only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" | – | – | 40 | – | – | – | – | 13 | Propaganda | |
| "Propaganda/At Home, At Work, At Play" (FR only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1975 | "Something for the Girl with Everything" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 | |
| "Achoo" (US only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Get in the Swing" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27 | Indiscreet | |
| "Looks, Looks, Looks" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 26 | ||
| 1976 | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — |
| "Big Boy" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Big Beat | |
| "I Like Girls" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1977 | "Over the Summer" (US only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Introducing Sparks |
| "A Big Surprise" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1979 | "La Dolce Vita" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | No. 1 In Heaven |
| "The Number One Song in Heaven" | – | 85 | – | – | 5 | – | – | 14 | ||
| "Beat the Clock" | – | – | – | – | – | 16 | – | 10 | ||
| "Tryouts for the Human Race" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | ||
1980s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 [24] |
US D-P [24][25] |
US D-S [24] |
AUS [5] |
FR [19][20] |
UK [10][11] | |||
| 1980 | "When I'm with You" | – | – | – | 14 | 16 | – | Terminal Jive |
| "Young Girls" | – | – | – | – | 55 | – | ||
| 1981 | "Tips for Teens" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Whomp That Sucker |
| "Funny Face" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1982 | "I Predict" | 60 | – | – | – | – | – | Angst in My Pants |
| "Angst in My Pants" (DEU only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Eaten by the Monster of Love" (US only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Modesty Plays" | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | |
| 1983 | "Get Crazy"/"Hot Shot" (Malcolm McDowell) (Split single) | – | – | – | – | – | – | Get Crazy (OST) |
| "Cool Places" | 49 | 13 | – | – | – | – | In Outer Space | |
| "All You Ever Think About is Sex" (US only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Please Baby, Please" (FR only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1984 | "Pretending to be Drunk" | – | 60 | – | – | – | – | Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat |
| "With All My Might" | 104 | 28 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Progress" (US 12" only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1985 | "Give It Up" (Evelyn "Champagne" King)/"Armies of the Night" (Split single) | – | – | – | – | – | – | Music That You Can Dance To |
| "Change" | – | – | – | – | – | 85 | ||
| 1986 | "Music That You Can Dance To" | – | 6 | 11 | – | – | – | |
| "Fingertips/The Scene" (US 12" only) | – | 38 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1987 | "Rosebud" (UK only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1988 | "So Important" | – | 8 | – | – | – | – | Interior Design |
| 1989 | "Madonna" (FR only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "Just Got Back from Heaven" | – | 7 | 24 | – | – | – | ||
| "Singing in the Shower" (Les Rita Mitsouko and Sparks) | – | 24 | – | – | 37 | – | Marc & Robert | |
1990s-present
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US D-P [24] |
AUS | DEU [19] |
NL [22] |
SWI [23] |
UK [10][11] | |||
| 1993 | "National Crime Awareness Week" | – | – | – | – | – | – | — |
| 1994 | "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" | 9 | – | 7 | 35 | 22 | 38 | Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins |
| 1995 | "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" | 24 | – | 61 | – | – | 36 | |
| "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" (UK re-issue) | – | – | – | – | – | 32 | ||
| "Now That I Own the BBC" | – | – | 81 | – | – | 60 | ||
| 1997 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | 28 | – | – | – | – | 70 | Plagiarism |
| "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More) | – | 69 | – | – | – | 40 | ||
| 1999 | "More Than a Sex Machine" (DEU only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | Balls |
| 2000 | "The Calm Before the Storm" | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "The Angels" (DEU only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2003 | "Suburban Homeboy" (UK only) | – | – | – | – | – | 142 | Lil' Beethoven |
| 2006 | "Perfume" (UK only) | – | – | – | – | – | 80 | Hello Young Lovers |
| "Dick Around/Waterproof" | – | – | – | – | – | 139 | ||
| 2008 | "Good Morning" | – | – | – | – | – | 147 | Exotic Creatures of the Deep |
| 2009 | "Lighten Up, Morrissey" (UK only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2015 | "Johnny Delusional" | – | – | – | – | – | – | FFS |
| "Call Girl" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Police Encounters" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Christmas Without a Prayer" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Non-album single | |
| 2017 | "Hippopotamus" | – | – | – | – | – | – | Hippopotamus |
| "What The Hell Is It This Time?" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "I Wish You Were Fun" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 2019 | "Please Don't Fuck Up My World" | – | – | – | – | – | – | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip |
| 2020 | "Self-Effacing" | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "I'm Toast" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "One for the Ages" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Lawnmower" | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
Collaborations and contributions
- 1979 - produced and wrote an album called Is There More to Life Than Dancing? for a singer named Noël.
- 1979 - produced the album Pas Dormir for a French band Bijou.
- 1979 - produced the single "C’est Sheep" by Adrian Munsey.
- 1981 - wrote the lyrics for the album Sex by Telex.
- 1982 - worked with Lio on her album Suite Sixtine, which was a compilation of French rarities and English versions (translated by Sparks) of tracks from her first album.
- 1984 - co-wrote a song called "Yes or No" for The Go-Go's album Talk Show.
- 1987 - "When She Comes" with Salon Music for This Is Salon Music.
- 1988 - "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" with Salon Music for O Boy.
- 1988 - "Singing in the Shower", "Live in Las Vegas" and "Hip Kit" with Les Rita Mitsouko from Marc et Robert.
- 2001 - "Kimono" with Pizzicato Five from Çà et là du Japon.
- 2001 - "La nuit est là" and "Yo quiero màs dinero" with Grand Popo Football Club from Shampoo Victims.
- 2004 - "Acid Pants" with Orbital from Blue Album.
- 2005 - remixed Morrissey's song, "Suedehead", for the compilation Future Retro
- 2010 - remixed the song "Give Me Something" by Yoko Ono
- 2011 - remixed the song "A Happy Place" by Katie Melua as Sparks Vs Katie Melua
- 2012 - produced Gemma Ray's cover versions of Sparks songs "How Do I Get to Carnegie Hall" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
Soundtrack appearances
- Rollercoaster (1977) - "Big Boy" and "Fill 'Er Up"
- Valley Girl (1983) - "Angst in My Pants" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
- Get Crazy (1983) - "Get Crazy"
- Where the Boys Are '84 (1984) - "Mini-Skirted"
- Heavenly Bodies (1984) - "Breaking Out of Prison"
- Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains) (1984) - "Motorcycle Midget"
- Fright Night (1985) - "The Armies of the Night"
- Rad (1986) - "Music That You Can Dance To"
- Black Rain (1989) - "Singing in the Shower"
- Unlawful Entry (1992) - "National Crime Awareness Week"
- Knock Off (1998) - Original Musical Score and "It's a Knockoff"
- Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009) - "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
- Kick Ass (2010) - "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
- Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) - "The Number One Song in Heaven"
- The Overnight (2015) - "Tryouts for the Human Race"
Video
- Amateur Hour (V-CD, 1995)
- Live in London (2003)
- Lil' Beethoven - Live In Stockholm (2004)
- DEE VEE DEE - Live at the London Forum (2007)
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" | |
| 1977 | "Occupation" | |
| 1979 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | Bruce Gowers[26] |
| "Beat the Clock" | Brian Grant[26] | |
| "La Dolce Vita" | Bruce Gowers[26] | |
| "Tryouts for the Human Race" | Brian Grant[26] | |
| 1980 | "When I'm with You" | Brian Grant[26] |
| "Stereo" | Brian Grant[26] | |
| 1981 | "Tips for Teens" | |
| "Funny Face" | Sam Peckinpah | |
| 1982 | "I Predict" | Steve and Doug Martin |
| 1983 | "Cool Places" | Graham Whiffler[27] |
| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" | Pat Warner | |
| 1984 | "With All My Might" | Graham Whiffler |
| 1986 | "Music That You Can Dance To" | Ron & Russell Mael |
| 1988 | "So Important" | Ron & Russell Mael |
| 1989 | "Singing in the Shower" | |
| 1993 | "National Crime Awareness Week" | Finitribe |
| 1994 | "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" | Sophie Muller[26] |
| 1995 | "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" | Sophie Muller[26] |
| "Now That I Own the BBC" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas | |
| 1997 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas |
| 2000 | "The Calm Before the Storm" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas |
| 2003 | "The Rhythm Thief" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas |
| 2003 | "I Married Myself" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas |
| 2004 | "My Baby's Taking Me Home" | Shaw Petronio[26] |
| 2006 | "Perfume" | Shaw Petronio |
| "Dick Around" | Shaw Petronio | |
| 2009 | "Lighten Up Morrissey" | Shaw Petronio |
| 2017 | "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" | Joseph Wallace |
| 2020 | "The Existential Threat" | Cyriak Harris |
| "iPhone" |
References
- Dye, David (2006). "Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical". npr.org. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
- Alfvegren, Skylaire (1998-11-04). "Shooting Off Sparks". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
- McNair, James (2006). "Sparks: Creating mischief again with their latest album". Independent Newspapers (UK). Enjoyment. London. Archived from the original on January 24, 2007. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
- "Allmusic - Billboard Albums - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 286. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Search - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- "Discographie von Sparks". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- "charts.de - Discographie Sparks". 2012 media control. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
- "swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
- "The Official Charts Company - Sparks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "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.
- Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS first LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second LP album on Bearsville Records". =Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- "Album artist 970 - Sparks". © 2007-9, Steve Hawtin et al. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- "Chartverfolgung / Sparks / Longplay". MusicLine.de. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ffs/id978830771
- "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 15 September 2017. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
- "Sparks Announce New Album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Charts Surfer - UK, German and French charts". charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2014-11-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste (Search Sparks)
- "The Irish Charts - Sparks search". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "dutchcharts.nl - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- "chitparade.ch - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- "Allmusic - Billboard Singles - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- "Sparks Videography - Music Video Database - The Base Of Music Videos". © 2006 onlinemusikvideos.com. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- Dave Thompson. "Cool Places - Sparks,Jane Wiedlin | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
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