ladyislingering
retired
This review in honour of what Sparks fans call "Equator Day", a song including the specifics: 3PM, March the 10th.
Amongst many other glam kings and rock favourites of the mid-70s, Sparks were otherwise globally unknown until their 3rd album release, "Kimono My House". The album reached #4 in the UK, #12 in Germany, and #101 in the States.
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael had nixed their band lineup they'd previously formed in the states and recruited three British talents: Norman "Dinky" Diamond (drums), Adrian Fisher (guitar), and Martin Gordon (bass). Their presence remained relatively quiet until a legendary appearance on British television programme "Top of the Pops".
Russell, the younger of the brothers Mael, would bounce, spin and sachet his way through "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", appealing to a lesser intended tender audience of screaming young girls with his boyish good looks, curly dark hair, and trim figure. His older brother, Ron, would soon be remembered for scaring the knickers off of a good many children with his likeliness to Hitler, spooky facial expressions, and comical stoicism behind the keyboard.
Russ (left), and Ron.
"This Town", the album's opener, would reach #2 on the UK singles chart for that year, beaten out only by the Rubettes' "Sugar Baby Love". Ron, who wrote most of the lyrics on the album, had intentions of taking a stab at Western movie cliches with "This Town". Produced (as was the rest of the record) by **** Winwood, it has been said that **** had a bet with Elton John, asking whether he (Elton) thought the song would be a top 5 hit in the UK. Elton said no, and he obviously lost the bet.
Ron said, regarding the way "This Town" was to be sung:
Ron once also noted that during this time their parents (their mother being born in the UK but raised the brothers in Los Angeles - their father passed away when they were very young, however) were living in the UK. Every Sunday Ron took the bus to Clapham Station; he wrote "This Town" right there at the flat, since there had been a piano to be messed with freely.
(I'm pretty sure that if someone would just wrap Russ up with a great big bow and leave him on my doorstep, I'd be happier than a little girl with a boxful of kittens.)
An alternate line that is usually left out from "This Town" on the album and many popular compilations featuring the track:
My favourite line from the track:
Russell's incredible falsetto pipes are to be heard throughout the entirety of "Kimono" as to be discussed later in the review.
"Kimono My House" was released in 1974 on Island Records. Its cover, after some pushing by the brothers, didn't feature the name of the band or the album. They had a theory that the cover itself would say more to the buyer than a name or title of any kind. True? See for yourself:
As if the gunshots, vocal acrobatics, and upbeat tempo of "This Town" isn't enough to get a person all riled up and quite ready to kick some ass, the screaming guitars in the intro to "Amateur Hour" (an ode to teenage sexuality) will ensure that your record isn't going to stop anytime soon.
"Amateur Hour", released as a 7" single (b/w "Lost and Found") reached #7 in the UK, and #12 in Germany. It was the only other song aside from "This Town" that was to be released as a single from "Kimono".
(Pardon me, Russ, but those trousers are FREAKING INCREDIBLE.)
My favourite line from "Amateur Hour":
"Falling In Love With Myself Again", the third track (and a fine ode to narcissism) tells the story of a man who becomes bored of the girl he's seeing, 'cause he's more interested in himself. The song is performed in a way that is similar to a ballroom dance. Listen here: (audio only)
My favourite lyric from this song:
And a nice photo of the lovely lads for good measure:
"Here in Heaven" illustrates the dramatics of Romeo and Juliet, from Romeo's point of view after he's killed himself and is brokenhearted that Juliet "broke our little pact" because he's "never coming back". He wonders, aloud:
Glittered with Russell's falsetto, that, if any higher, could perhaps be a dog whistle instead, the song is especially bass-heavy and upbeat despite its humourously morbid lyrics.
Concluding Side A of the record is "Thank God It's Not Christmas", another fine display of Russell's exceptional control over his voice, and ultimately should have been a massive hit. Much guitars. Much bass. It's a simply incredible rock gem.
With rather sleazy lyrics only Ron Mael could master (e.g.; "thank god it's not Christmas/where there is only you, and nothing else to do"), in fact. Listen here (audio only):
My favourite line from this naughty little masterpiece:
See the next post for side B of the record.
Amongst many other glam kings and rock favourites of the mid-70s, Sparks were otherwise globally unknown until their 3rd album release, "Kimono My House". The album reached #4 in the UK, #12 in Germany, and #101 in the States.
Brothers Ron and Russell Mael had nixed their band lineup they'd previously formed in the states and recruited three British talents: Norman "Dinky" Diamond (drums), Adrian Fisher (guitar), and Martin Gordon (bass). Their presence remained relatively quiet until a legendary appearance on British television programme "Top of the Pops".
Russell, the younger of the brothers Mael, would bounce, spin and sachet his way through "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", appealing to a lesser intended tender audience of screaming young girls with his boyish good looks, curly dark hair, and trim figure. His older brother, Ron, would soon be remembered for scaring the knickers off of a good many children with his likeliness to Hitler, spooky facial expressions, and comical stoicism behind the keyboard.
Russ (left), and Ron.
"This Town", the album's opener, would reach #2 on the UK singles chart for that year, beaten out only by the Rubettes' "Sugar Baby Love". Ron, who wrote most of the lyrics on the album, had intentions of taking a stab at Western movie cliches with "This Town". Produced (as was the rest of the record) by **** Winwood, it has been said that **** had a bet with Elton John, asking whether he (Elton) thought the song would be a top 5 hit in the UK. Elton said no, and he obviously lost the bet.
Ron said, regarding the way "This Town" was to be sung:
Ron once also noted that during this time their parents (their mother being born in the UK but raised the brothers in Los Angeles - their father passed away when they were very young, however) were living in the UK. Every Sunday Ron took the bus to Clapham Station; he wrote "This Town" right there at the flat, since there had been a piano to be messed with freely.
(I'm pretty sure that if someone would just wrap Russ up with a great big bow and leave him on my doorstep, I'd be happier than a little girl with a boxful of kittens.)
An alternate line that is usually left out from "This Town" on the album and many popular compilations featuring the track:
My favourite line from the track:
Russell's incredible falsetto pipes are to be heard throughout the entirety of "Kimono" as to be discussed later in the review.
"Kimono My House" was released in 1974 on Island Records. Its cover, after some pushing by the brothers, didn't feature the name of the band or the album. They had a theory that the cover itself would say more to the buyer than a name or title of any kind. True? See for yourself:
As if the gunshots, vocal acrobatics, and upbeat tempo of "This Town" isn't enough to get a person all riled up and quite ready to kick some ass, the screaming guitars in the intro to "Amateur Hour" (an ode to teenage sexuality) will ensure that your record isn't going to stop anytime soon.
"Amateur Hour", released as a 7" single (b/w "Lost and Found") reached #7 in the UK, and #12 in Germany. It was the only other song aside from "This Town" that was to be released as a single from "Kimono".
(Pardon me, Russ, but those trousers are FREAKING INCREDIBLE.)
My favourite line from "Amateur Hour":
"Falling In Love With Myself Again", the third track (and a fine ode to narcissism) tells the story of a man who becomes bored of the girl he's seeing, 'cause he's more interested in himself. The song is performed in a way that is similar to a ballroom dance. Listen here: (audio only)
My favourite lyric from this song:
And a nice photo of the lovely lads for good measure:
"Here in Heaven" illustrates the dramatics of Romeo and Juliet, from Romeo's point of view after he's killed himself and is brokenhearted that Juliet "broke our little pact" because he's "never coming back". He wonders, aloud:
Glittered with Russell's falsetto, that, if any higher, could perhaps be a dog whistle instead, the song is especially bass-heavy and upbeat despite its humourously morbid lyrics.
Concluding Side A of the record is "Thank God It's Not Christmas", another fine display of Russell's exceptional control over his voice, and ultimately should have been a massive hit. Much guitars. Much bass. It's a simply incredible rock gem.
With rather sleazy lyrics only Ron Mael could master (e.g.; "thank god it's not Christmas/where there is only you, and nothing else to do"), in fact. Listen here (audio only):
My favourite line from this naughty little masterpiece:
See the next post for side B of the record.
