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Sparks discography

Sparks discography
Studio albums26
Soundtrack albums2
Live albums1
Compilation albums12
Singles76
Video albums4
Music videos42

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]

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[4] 		AUS
[5] 		CAN
[6] 		FRA
[7] 		GER
[8] 		NLD
[9] 		NOR
[10] 		SCO SWE
[11] 		UK
[12]
Halfnelson (as Halfnelson) – – – – – – – – – –
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
  • Released: January 1973[14]
  • Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
 – – – – – – – – – –
Kimono My House
  • Released: May 1974
  • Label: Island
 101 22 58 – – 10 – – – 4
Propaganda
  • Released: November 1974
  • Label: Island
 63 75 81 – 49 – 16 – 50 9
Indiscreet
  • Released: October 1975
  • Label: Island
 169 – 86 – – 19 18 – 6 18
Big Beat
  • Released: October 1976
  • Labels: Island, Columbia
 – – – – – – – – 24 –
Introducing Sparks
  • Released: October 1977
  • Labels: Columbia, CBS
 – – – – – – – – 41 –
No. 1 in Heaven – 63 – – – – – – 43 73
Terminal Jive
  • Released: 1980
  • Labels: Virgin, Carrere/Underdog, Ariola, Oasis
 – 96 – – – – – – – –
Whomp That Sucker
  • Released: 1981
  • Labels: Why-Fi, Carrere, Ariola, Oasis
 182 – – – – – – – – –
Angst in My Pants
  • Released: May 1982
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere
 173 – – – – – – – – –
In Outer Space
  • Released: April 1983
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere/Underdog, Oasis
 88 – – – – – – – – –
Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
  • Released: 1984
  • Labels: Atlantic, Oasis
 – – – – – – – – – –
Music That You Can Dance To – – – – – – – – – –
Interior Design
  • Released: August 1988
  • Labels: Rhino/Fine Art, Carrere
 – – – – – – – – – –
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Logic
 – – – – 29
[16] 		– – 45
[17] 		– 150
[18]
Plagiarism – – – – – – – – – –
Balls – – – – – – – 22
[19] 		– –
Lil' Beethoven
  • Released: November 26, 2002
  • Labels: Artful/Lil' Beethoven
 – – – – – – – 13
[19] 		– –
Hello Young Lovers
  • Released: February 6, 2006
  • Labels: Gut, In the Red
 – – – – – – – 49
[19] 		48 66
Exotic Creatures of the Deep
  • Released: May 19, 2008
  • Label: Lil' Beethoven
 – – – – – – – 28
[20] 		– 54
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
  • Released: August 15, 2009
  • Labels: SR, Lil' Beethoven
 – – – – – – – 17
[20] 		– –
FFS (as FFS) – 85
[22] 		– 27 22 13 – 8
[23] 		– 17
Hippopotamus
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Labels: BMG
 – – – 108 88 38 – 7
[24] 		45 7
A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
  • Released: May 15, 2020[25]
  • Label: BMG
 75 – 32 159 24 88 – 2
[26] 		– 7
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
  • Released: May 26, 2023[27]
  • Label: Island
 – – – 128
[28] 		37 – – 2
[29] 		– 7

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe
  • Released: March 2013
  • Labels: Lil' Beethoven

Soundtrack albums

List of soundtrack albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Chart positions
BEL
(FL)
[30] 		FRA
[7] 		GER
[8] 		SCO
[31]
Annette
  • Released: July 3, 2021
  • Labels: Milan
 68 90 72 32
The Sparks Brothers
  • Released: March 2022
  • Labels: Waxwork
 – – – –

Compilation albums

  • 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)
  • The Best & The Rest Of The Island Years 74-78 (2018, Island Records, 2 (Limited Edition, Remastered, Red Translucent) Vinyle LP)
  • Past Tense – The Best of Sparks (2019, BMG Rights Management UK) SC #23,[32] UK #73[12]

Singles

1970s

Year Single Chart positions Album
US AUS
[5] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		BEL
(WA)
[30] 		GER
[33] 		IRE
[34] 		NLD
[35] 		SWI
[36] 		UK
[12][18]
1972 "Wonder Girl" 112 – – – – – – – – Sparks
1974 "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" – 69 4 3 12 – 4 7 2 Kimono My House
"Girl from Germany" – – – – – – – – 51[A] A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
"Amateur Hour" – – 22 36 12 19 6 – 7 Kimono My House
"Talent Is An Asset" (US and New Zealand only) – – – – – – – – –
"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" – – – 48 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" – – – 38 – – – – 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" – – 10 – – – 16 – 10
"Tryouts for the Human Race" – – – – – – – – 45

1980s

Year Single Chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[37] 		US D-P
[37][38] 		US D-S
[37] 		AUS
[5] 		FRA
[7] 		UK
[12][18]
1980 "When I'm with You" – – – 17 1 – Terminal Jive
"Young Girls" – – – – – –[B]
1981 "Tips for Teens" – – – – – –[C] Whomp That Sucker
"Funny Face" – – – – – –
1982 "I Predict" 60 – – – – – Angst in My Pants
"Angst in My Pants" (DE 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" (with Jane Wiedlin) 49 13 – – – – In Outer Space
"All You Ever Think About is Sex" (US only) – – – – – –
"Please Baby, Please" (FR only) – – – – – –
1984 "With All My Might" 104 28 – – – – Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
"Progress" (US 12" only) – – – – –
"Pretending to be Drunk"/"Kiss Me Quick" – 60 – – – –
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

Year Single Chart positions Album
US D-P
[37] 		AUS
[41] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		BEL
(WA)
[30] 		GER
[33] 		NLD
[35] 		SCO SWI
[36] 		UK
[12][18]
1993 "National Crime Awareness Week" – – – – – – – – – —
1994 "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" 9 – 16 12 7 35 41 22 38 Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
1995 "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" 24 – – – 61 – 38 – 36
"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" (UK re-issue) – – – – – – 35 – 32
"Now That I Own the BBC" – – – – 81 – 53 – 60
1997 "The Number One Song in Heaven" 28 – – – – – 54 – 70 Plagiarism
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More) – 69 – – – – 39 – 40
1999 "More Than a Sex Machine" (DE only) – – – – – – – – – Balls

2000s

Year Single Chart positions Album
US D-P
[37] 		AUS
[42] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		BEL
(WA)
[30] 		GER
[33] 		NLD
[35] 		SCO SWI
[36] 		UK
[12][18]
2000 "The Calm Before the Storm" – – – – – – – – – Balls
"The Angels" (DE only) – – – – – – – – –
2003 "Suburban Homeboy" (UK only) – – – – – – – – 142 Lil' Beethoven
2006 "Perfume" (UK only) – – – – – – 46 – 80 Hello Young Lovers
"Dick Around/Waterproof" – – – – – – 67 – 139
2008 "Good Morning" – – – – – – – – 147 Exotic Creatures of the Deep
2009 "Lighten Up, Morrissey" (UK only) – – – – – – – – –

2010s

Year Single Chart positions Album
US D-P
[37] 		AUS
[43] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		BEL
(WA)
[30] 		GER
[33] 		NLD
[35] 		SCO SWI
[36] 		UK
[12][18]
2015 "Johnny Delusional" – – 90 – – – – – – 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" – – – – – – – – –
2018 "You Earned The Right To Be A Dick" (Hippopotamus shaped disc) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Record Store Day exclusive single
2019 "Please Don't Fuck Up My World" – – – – – – – – – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

2020s

Year Single Chart positions Album
US D-P
[37] 		AUS
[44] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		BEL
(WA)
[30] 		GER
[33] 		NLD
[35] 		SCO SWI
[36] 		UK
[12][18]
2020 "Self-Effacing" – – – – – – – – – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
"I'm Toast" – – – – – – – – –
"One for the Ages" – – – – – – – – –
"Lawnmower" – – – – – – – – –
2021 "Your Fandango" (with Todd Rundgren) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Space Force
2023 "The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte" -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
"Veronica Lake" -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is" -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
2024 "Don't Go Away" (with Max Richter) – – – – – – – – – Spaceman (OST)

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[45]
"Beat the Clock" Brian Grant[45]
"La Dolce Vita" Bruce Gowers[45]
"Tryouts for the Human Race" Brian Grant[45]
1980 "When I'm with You" Brian Grant[45]
"Stereo" Brian Grant[45]
1981 "Tips for Teens"
"Funny Face" Sam Peckinpah[citation needed]
1982 "I Predict" Steve and Doug Martin
1983 "Minnie Mouse" The Walt Disney Company
"Cool Places" Graeme Whifler[46]
"All You Ever Think About Is Sex" Pat Warner
1984 "With All My Might" Graeme Whifler
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[45]
1995 "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" Sophie Muller[45]
"Now That I Own the BBC" Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
1997 "No. 1 Song In Heaven (Plagiarism) " Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2000 "The Calm Before the Storm" Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2003 "The Rhythm Thief" Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
"I Married Myself" Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2004 "My Baby's Taking Me Home" Shaw Petronio[45]
2006 "Perfume" Shaw Petronio
"Dick Around" Shaw Petronio
2009 "Lighten Up Morrissey" Shaw Petronio
2015 "Christmas Without A Prayer"
2017 "Hippopotamus" Scott Peters
"WHat The Hell Is It This Time?" Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson
"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" Joseph Wallace
2020 "One For The Ages" Chintis Lundgren
"Lawnmower" Ron & Russell Mael
"The Existential Threat" Cyriak Harris
"iPhone"
2021 "Left Out In The Cold"
"Your Fandango" Liisa Vääriskoski
"So May We Start" Leos Carax
2023 "The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte" Richie Starzec, Ron & Russell Mael
"Escalator" Paul Trewartha, Ron & Russell Mael

Notes

  1. ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  2. ^ This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Chart.[39]
  3. ^ This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Top 100 chart.[40]

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. ^ "Billboard 200 - Sparks". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c "Discographie Sparks". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Discographie von Sparks". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Discografie Sparks". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Discography Sparks". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sparks | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  13. ^ Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS first LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  14. ^ Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  15. ^ a b "Album artist 970 - Sparks". © 2007-9, Steve Hawtin et al. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  16. ^ "Chartverfolgung / Sparks / Longplay". MusicLine.de. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 22 November 2019 - 28 November 2019". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "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.
  19. ^ a b c "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 06 May 2022 - 12 May 2022". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 3 June 2022 - 9 June 2022". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "FFS by FFS". iTunes. 5 June 2015.
  22. ^ Ryan, Gavin (13 June 2015). "ARIA Albums: Muse Debuts At No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 14 June 2015 - 20 June 2015". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 15 September 2017 - 21 September 2017". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  25. ^ "Sparks Announce New Album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". Pitchfork. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 10 July 2020 - 16 July 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  27. ^ "S P A R K S on Instagram: "BREAKING NEWS! Sparks signs with #IslandRecords! New album coming May 2023! #TheGirlIsCryingInHerLatte ☕️"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  28. ^ "Top Albums (Week 22, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 2 June 2023 – 8 June 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Discography Sparks". Ultratop. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 23 July 2021 - 29 July 2021". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 15 November 2019 - 21 November 2019". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  33. ^ a b c d e "Charts Surfer - UK, German and French charts". charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  34. ^ "The Irish Charts - Sparks search". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  35. ^ a b c d e "dutchcharts.nl - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  36. ^ a b c d e "chitparade.ch - Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g "Allmusic - Billboard Singles - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  38. ^ "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  39. ^ "The Singles Chart 61-100". Record Business. Vol. 3, no. 8. May 12, 1980. p. 7. ISSN 0144-0691.
  40. ^ "Singles Top 100". Record Business. Vol. 4, no. 10. May 25, 1981. p. 7. ISSN 0144-0691.
  41. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
  42. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
  43. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
  44. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sparks Videography - Music Video Database - The Base Of Music Videos". © 2006 onlinemusikvideos.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  46. ^ Dave Thompson. "Cool Places - Sparks,Jane Wiedlin | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
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