Tag Archives: Russell Mael

Sparks: A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing

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On January 25, 1973, “Bearsville” in 1972, label released “A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing”, the second Sparks studio album. It was recorded at “ID Sound at La Brea” and “Walley Heider Studios” and was produced by Thaddeus James Lowe.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Earle Mankey – guitar
  • Ron Mael – keyboards
  • Jim Mankey – bass
  • Harley Feinstein – drums
  • Larry DuPont – photography

Track listing:

  1. Girl from Germany – Russell Mael, Ron Mael
  2. Beaver O’Lindy – Ron Mael, Russsell Mael, Earle Mankey, Jim Mankey, Harley Feinstein
  3. Nothing is Sacred – Ron Mael
  4. Here Comes Bob – Ron Mael, Russell Mael
  5. Moon Over Kentucky – lyrics by Jim Mankey, music by Ron Mael
  6. Do Re Mi – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  7. Angus Desire – Ron Mael, Russell Mael
  8. Underground – Earle Mankey
  9. The Louvre – Ron Mael, French translation by Josée Becker
  10. Batteries Not Included – Ron Mael
  11. Whippings and Apologies – Ron Mael

 

Sparks: Hippopotamus

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On September 8, 2017, “The End” and “BMG” labels released “Hippopotamus”, the twenty third Sparks studio album. It was recorded in 2016, at “Sparks Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael– vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Ron Mael– keyboards, programming, orchestrations, mixing
  • Dean Menta– guitars
  • Steven Nistor– drums
  • Leos Carax– vocals, accordion
  • Rebecca Sjöwall– vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. Probably Nothing
  2. Missionary Position
  3. Edith Piaf(Said It Better Than Me)
  4. Scandinavian Design
  5. Giddy Giddy
  6. What the Hell Is It This Time?
  7. Unaware
  8. Hippopotamus
  9. Bumme
  10. I Wish You Were Fun
  11. So Tell Me  LincolnAside from That How Was the Play?
  12. When You’re a French Director
  13. The Amazing Mr. Repeat
  14. A Little Bit Like Fun
  15. Life with the Macbeths

Sparks: Propaganda

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On November 11, 1974, “Island” label released “Propaganda”, the fourth Sparks album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Muff Winwood.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Ron Mael- keyboards
  • Trevor White – guitar
  • Adrian Fisher– guitar
  • Ian Hampton – bass
  • Norman “Dinky” Diamond- drums
  • Richard Digby-Smith, Robin Black, Bill Price – recording
  • Bill Price – remix engineer
  • Monty Coles – art concept, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael, except where noted.

  1. Propaganda
  2. At Home, At Work, At Play
  3. Reinforcements – Ron Mael, Russell Mael
  4. B. C.
  5. Thanks But No Thanks – Ron Mael, Russell Mael
  6. Don’t Leave Me Alone with Her
  7. Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth
  8. Something for the Girl with Everything
  9. Achoo
  10. Who Don’t Like Kids
  11. Bon Voyage

Sparks: Big Beat

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In October 1976, “Columbia” label released “Big Beat”, the sixth Sparks album. It was recorded in August 1976, at “Mediasound” in New York City, and was produced by Rupert Holmes and Jeffrey Lesser.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Ron Mael – keyboards
  • Jeffrey Salen – guitar
  • Sal Maida – bass
  • Hilly Boy Michaels– drums
  • Godfrey Diamond- engineer, remix
  • Bob Clearmountain, Harvey Goldberg, Michael Barbiero- additional engineering
  • Richard Avedon- photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael.

  1. Big Boy
  2. I Want to Be Like Everybody Else
  3. Nothing to Do
  4. I Bought the Mississippi River
  5. Fill-er-up
  6. Everybody’s Stupid
  7. Throw Her Away (And Get a New One)
  8. Confusion
  9. Screwed Up
  10. White Women
  11. I Like Girls

Sparks: Indiscreet

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In October 1975, “Island” label released “Indiscreet”, the fifth Sparks album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Tony Visconti.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael– vocals
  • Trevor White – guitar
  • Ron Mael– keyboards
  • Ian Hampton – bass
  • Norman “Dinky” Diamond– drums
  • Mike Piggott – fiddle
  • Tony Visconti – orchestral arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael; except where noted.

  1. Hospitality On Parade
  2. Happy Hunting Ground
  3. Without Using Hands
  4. Get in the Swing
  5. Under the Table With Her
  6. How Are You Getting Home?
  7. Pineapple – Russell Mael
  8. Tits
  9. It Ain’t 1918
  10. The Lady is Lingering
  11. In the Future
  12. Looks, Looks, Looks
  13. Miss the Start, Miss the End

Sparks: Interior Design

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In August 1988, “Fine Art” label released “Interior Design”, the fifteen Sparks album. It was recorded in 1988, at “The Pentagon Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Ron Mael- keyboards
  • Spencer Sircombe – guitar
  • John Thomas – keyboards, engineer
  • Pamela Stonebrooke – backging vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. So Important
  2. Just Got Back From Heaven
  3. Lots of Reasons
  4. You’ve Got a Hold of My Heart
  5. Love-O-Rama
  6. The Toughest Girl in Town
  7. Let’s Make Love
  8. Stop Me if You’ve Heard this Before
  9. A Walk Down Memory Lane
  10. Madonna

Sparks: Whomp That Sucker

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In July 1981, “RCA” label released “Whomp That Sucker”, the tenth Sparks album. T was recorded in 1980, at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Reinhold Mack.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals, guitar
  • Ron Mael – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Bob Haag – guitar, backing vocals
  • Leslie Bohem – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • David Kendrick – drums
  • Reinhold Mack – synthesizer programming, engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. Tips for Teens
  2. Funny Face’
  3. Where’s My Girl
  4. Upstairs
  5. I Married a Martian
  6. The Willys
  7. Don’t Shoot Me
  8. Suzie Safety
  9. That’s Not Nastassia
  10. Wacky Women

FFS: Same

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On June 9, 2015, “Domino” label released the self-titled, debut FFS studio album. The band consists of members from Franz Ferdinand and Sparks. It was recorded in 2014, at “RAK Studios” in London, and was produced by John Congleton.

Personnel:

  • Alex Kapranos – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Nick McCarthy – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Russell Mael– lead and backing vocals
  • Ron Mael– keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bob Hardy– bass, backing vocals
  • Paul Thomson– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • John Congleton– engineer, mixing
  • Mike Horner – engineer assistant
  • Cenzo Townshend– mixing
  • Greg Calbi– mastering
  • Matthew Cooper – layout, design
  • Galen Johnson – front cover design
  • David Edwards – photography

Track listing:

  1. Johnny Delusional
  2. Call Girl
  3. Dictator’s Son
  4. Little Guy from the Suburbs
  5. Police Encounters
  6. Save Me from Myself
  7. Sõ Desu Ne
  8. The Man Without a Tan
  9. Things I Won’t Get
  10. The Power Couple
  11. Collaborations Don’t Work
  12. Piss Off

Sparks: Kimono My House

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In May 1974, “Island” label released “Kimono My House”, the third Sparks studio album. It was recorded December 1973-February 1974, and was produced by Mulf Winwood.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael– vocals
  • Adrian Fisher– guitar
  • Ron Mael– keyboards, cover concept
  • Martin Gordon– bass
  • Norman “Dinky” Diamond– drums, percussion, castanets
  • Richard Digby-Smith – recording
  • Tony Platt – recording
  • Bill Price– mixing
  • Nicholas de Ville – art direction, cover concept
  • Bob Bowkett, CCS – artwork
  • Karl Stoeker – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael, except where noted.

  1. This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us
  2. Amateur Hour
  3. Falling in Love with Myself Again
  4. Here in Heaven
  5. Thank God It’s Not Christmas
  6. Hasta Mañana, Monsieur – Russell Mael, Ron Mael
  7. Talent Is an Asset
  8. Complaints
  9. In My Family – Russell Mael, Ron Mael
  10. Equator

Sparks: Lil’ Beethoven

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sparks_lil_beethoven

On November 26, 2002, “Palm Pictures” label released “Lil’ Beethoven”, the 19th Sparks album. It was recorded in 2002, at “Sparks Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael– vocals, programming, arrangements
  • Ron Mael– keyboards, orchestrations, programming, arrangements
  • Dean Menta– guitar
  • Tammy Glover– drums
  • Günther Koch – vocals
  • Cristiano Avigno – live sounds
  • John Thomas – mixing, additional engineering
  • Dave Park – design
  • Aaron Rapoport – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. The Rhythm Thief
  2. How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?
  3. What Are All These Bands So Angry About?
  4. I Married Myself
  5. Ride ‘Em Cowboy
  6. My Baby’s Taking Me Home
  7. Your Call’s Very Important To Us. Please Hold
  8. Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls
  9. Suburban Homeboy