Sparks, a.k.a. the ever so slightly weird Ron & Russell Mael, made it big in 1974 with This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us. Thereafter they released a range of singles and albums in an ever-decreasing rate of excellence until disappearing into a mire of electropop in which The Number 1 Song in Heaven was but a deceptive patch of dry land which doesn't really bear weight or close inspection.
Until now. Yesterday evening I heard Stuart Maconie playing what I thought must have been a lost gem from the 70s. It wasn't. "Good Morning" is their new single.
Welcome back, boys.
I've never heard of Sparks before, but this is amazing!
ReplyDeleteHuzzah! We can only hope that they've left the wrong turning of "Li'l Beethoven" et seq behind them. Must look for new album...
ReplyDeleteNew album also includes a track called "Lighten up, Morrissey". A sentiment impossible not to agree with.
ReplyDeleteSweet.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, Stuart Maconie is the author of a book about t'North that I'm currently reading. Seems an affable sort of lad.
He is my favourite of all the Radio 2 DJs. He doesn't try to be wild or whacky and he has a very wry way with words. He also sounds a little like Chris Evans, so if you just tune in at random you get the added pleasure of realising that's who he isn't.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed "Pies and Prejudice". An intelligent DJ. What will they think of next?
ReplyDelete