Sparks?

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You never hear much about these guys. Why?

These guys have to be one of the most overlooked bands of the last 40 years. I've got quite a bit of material from Sparks, they are brilliant, they covered just about every category of Music imaginable and made great songs in all categories.

They had great presence and persona, they lived the dream and yet people only remember them for about 4 songs. Oddly enough, for an American band they seemed to have more success Europe side, even in their more "Rock" early days.

I lost track after about 2006 but they are and were then still making good music.

Plus, they even managed to get their noses in on this film. ;-)

Any fans or praise for Sparks?

 

 

Only a Fool Would Say That.
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Comments

  • ICBMICBM Frets: 71951
    edited September 2013
    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41nas73-gvL.jpg

    1979 :-O

    I got it around 1983 I think. Still totally brilliant.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • @ICBM

    Ahhhh, no1 song. I'm not sure how the rock fans handled their transitions and I don't know how I would had I been of adult age in the 70's but you really have to hand it to these 2 brothers et al, they changed all the time and always came out with something brilliant.

    I don't think it's possible to even try to emulate them.

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • They were popular for a short time here around the "Kimono My House" and "Propaganda" time then they kind of faded away......

    “Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay


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  • FretwiredFretwired Frets: 24601
    edited September 2013
    @Bellycaster

    I remember them from the 1970s ... they were on the Jonathan Ross show a couple of years back when they toured the UK ...





    Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
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  • ddloopingddlooping Frets: 325
    edited September 2013
    I bought the "This Town Ain't Big Enough..." single when it came out. :)
    I don't know anything else by them (can't even remember what was on the B-side). :-S 
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  • johnnyurqjohnnyurq Frets: 1368
    edited September 2013
    Great band and I first saw them back in the 70's in a film called Rollercoaster I think, I worked in the cinema then as a young loon.

    They played full on rock in that film.

    One of my favourite tracks is Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, it has a simple but effective guitar solo.


    They are still producing material now and then but I think they are producing for other acts too, well last I heard in any case.

    Edit

    IMDB says 1977 for Rollercoaster.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollercoaster_(1977_film)

    Scroll down to the "Production" section for more info.
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  • @johnnyurq

    Great band, yes, they have made tons of great tracks.

    The Rollercoaster clip is in the O.P. I always remember the film being advertised as "Filmed in Sensurround". I've not seen much to do with Sensurround since. I bet it sounded great in the Flicks though. I was too young to see it but my Brother was mad on the film.

     

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • johnnyurqjohnnyurq Frets: 1368
    edited September 2013

    @Bellycaster

    My bad I never made the connection at first.

    Yes for sure it was good in the flicks but and Sparks were probably the best thing in it. Sensurround LOL in most cinemas it never translated and died a death but was still decent for the time.

    I did a bit of projection work their too so got to help setup/tweak the sound system for incoming movies with better sound reproduction.

    Star Wars was ace on the system but music movies and the like benefited for sure.

    Many late shows with a triple bill like the Song Remains the same, Woodstock and Live in Pompeii. You could eat a chinese, smirk tabs and drink beer at those (not all at once natch), imagine the outrage today LOL.
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  • @johnnyurq

    That must have been such a great job to have as a younger man, excellent :-)

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • @Bellycaster

    It was for sure lots of good movies (some shyte too though) and the soft porn movies on a Sunday night, fnaar fnaar. Well it was the 70's.

    I started when I was 12 and left at 16 or so and saw most 18's during that time, Imagine that today they would probably take me into care LOL.

    Perks were good thogh getting comps for girlies and the local bikers who then were useful to help me when remonstrating with arsehole patrons, good times indeed.

    Not to mention female co workers who adopted me and were happy to change with me in the staff room, looking back I am sure they were winding me up o purpose due to me being a hormonally driven teenager.

    The only bummer was the capn Nemo outfit when on the door or box office, at least I never had to be the Ice Cream Girl as I never had the legs or chest for it.

    Moved on to Theatre later and that was a hoot too.
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  • BellycasterBellycaster Frets: 5833
    edited September 2013

    Lol, 16 and watching soft porn, I bet you had to keep running off to the bogs ;-)

    Sounded a good time, things have certainly changed.

    Only a Fool Would Say That.
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  • Nah a dirty grey mac in the box or projection booth.

    Just like the old who is throwing ice cream at the screen joke.
    :D
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  • GrunfeldGrunfeld Frets: 4027
    edited September 2013
    johnnyurq said:


    One of my favourite tracks is Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, it has a simple but effective guitar solo.
    Although everything else I have ever heard by Sparks has left me indifferent at best, that song "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" is one of my all-time favourites. :)


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  • johnnyurqjohnnyurq Frets: 1368
    edited September 2013
    @Grunfeld

    Tis a cracking wee tune is it not?

    By coincidence it is also one of my all time fave tracks.

    Not a massive Sparks fan but like a fair bit of their material, even the Giorgio Moroder fuelled electro pop.

    But they are not everyones cup of char for sure. 
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  • That is a good track, not to go all activist or anything but I think a lot of politicians could benefit from seeing this video.

    “Theory is something that is written down after the music has been made so we can explain it to others”– Levi Clay


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