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 albums25
Live albums1
Compilation albums12
Video albums4
Music videos24
Singles49

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
  • Released: January 1973 (1973-01)[13]
  • Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
1974 Kimono My House
  • Released: May 1974 (1974-05)
  • Label: Island
101 22 58 10 4
Propaganda
  • Released: November 1974 (1974-11)
  • Label: Island
63 75 81 49
[8]
50 9
1975 Indiscreet
  • Released: October 1975 (1975-10)
  • Label: Island
169 86 19 6 18
1976 Big Beat
  • Released: October 1976 (1976-10)
  • Labels: Island, Columbia
24
1977 Introducing Sparks
  • Released: October 1977 (1977-10)
  • Labels: Columbia, CBS
41
1979 No. 1 in Heaven 204 63 43 73
1980 Terminal Jive
  • Released: 1980 (1980)
  • Labels: Virgin, Carrere/Underdog, Ariola, Oasis
96
1981 Whomp That Sucker
  • Released: 1981 (1981)
  • Labels: Why-Fi, Carrere, Ariola, Oasis
182
1982 Angst in My Pants
  • Released: May 1982 (1982-05)
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere
173
1983 In Outer Space
  • Released: April 1983 (1983-04)
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere/Underdog, Oasis
88
1984 Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
  • Released: 1984 (1984)
  • Labels: Atlantic, Oasis
202
1986 Music That You Can Dance To
  • Released: September 1986 (1986-09)
  • Labels: MCA, Consolidated Allied, Disques Vogue
1988 Interior Design
  • Released: August 1988 (1988-08)
  • Labels: Rhino/Fine Art, Carrere
1994 Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
  • Released: November 1994 (1994-11)
  • Label: Logic
29
[15]
150
1997 Plagiarism
2000 Balls
2002 Lil' Beethoven
  • Released: 26 November 2002 (2002-11-26)
  • Labels: Artful/Lil' Beethoven
2006 Hello Young Lovers
  • Released: 6 February 2006 (2006-02-06)
  • Labels: Gut, In the Red
48 66
2008 Exotic Creatures of the Deep
  • Released: 19 May 2008 (2008-05-19)
  • Label: Lil' Beethoven
54
2009 The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
  • Released: 15 August 2009 (2009-08-15)
  • Labels: SR, Lil' Beethoven
2015 FFS (as FFS)[16]
  • Released: 9 June 2015 (2015-06-09) (US)
  • Labels: Domino
22 13 17
2017 Hippopotamus
  • Released: 8 September 2017 (2017-09-08)
  • Labels: BMG
88 38 45
[17]
7
2020 A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip[18]
  • Released: 15 May 2020 (2020-05-15)
  • Label: BMG
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
  • Released: March 2013
  • Labels: Lil' Beethoven Records

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

Soundtrack appearances

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

  1. Dye, David (2006). "Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical". npr.org. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  2. Alfvegren, Skylaire (1998-11-04). "Shooting Off Sparks". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
  3. 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.
  4. "Allmusic - Billboard Albums - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  5. 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.
  6. "Search - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  7. "Discographie von Sparks". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  8. "charts.de - Discographie Sparks". 2012 media control. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  9. "swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
  10. "The Official Charts Company - Sparks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  11. "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.
  12. Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS first LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  13. Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second LP album on Bearsville Records". =Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  14. "Album artist 970 - Sparks". © 2007-9, Steve Hawtin et al. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  15. "Chartverfolgung / Sparks / Longplay". MusicLine.de. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  16. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ffs/id978830771
  17. "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 15 September 2017. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  18. "Sparks Announce New Album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  19. "Charts Surfer - UK, German and French charts". charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  20. "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)
  21. "The Irish Charts - Sparks search". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  22. "dutchcharts.nl - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  23. "chitparade.ch - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  24. "Allmusic - Billboard Singles - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  25. "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  26. "Sparks Videography - Music Video Database - The Base Of Music Videos". © 2006 onlinemusikvideos.com. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  27. Dave Thompson. "Cool Places - Sparks,Jane Wiedlin | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
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