All You Ever Think About Is Sparks

Episode 42: Telex - Sex (1981-1982) part two

John Ashdown and I put a bow on the Telex album Sex. Well, sort of. Most of the world got the single disc version that was released in 1981, but the UK had a double album bestowed upon them when the record finally reached that country in 1982. We just didn't possess the ambition to tackle nearly 20 songs, but we did pay lip service two a couple of choice tracks from the expanded British version.
Check out John's own sparkling grooves with his electronic dance music outfit Christ on a Bike, right here: christonabike.net
You can always drop me a line at: podcastsparks@gmail.com

Episode 41: Telex - Sex (1981) part one

I wasn't sure if I was ever going to really delve into this one, but here you go! This will be another two-parter. Telex was a Belgian technopop group active from 1978 to 1988. They made the acquaintance of Ron and Russell Mael in 1979, through a mutual collaborator, the 18-year-old French pop singer Lio. Ron and Marc Moulin, in particular, struck up a lifelong friendship. But where the 1981 album Sex (hilariously neutered with the title Birds and Bees in the UK one year later) enters the Sparks canon is in that album's lyrics. Telex wanted to crack the Anglophone market with their third album, and enlisted Ron Mael to write the words. Songs like "Brainwashed," "Drama Drama," and "Haven't We Met Somewhere Before," sparkle with crystalline synth lines and disco grooves. And they really could pass for Sparks songs of the era.
I'm joined by John Ashdown, zooming in from London, on this one, and I can't thank him enough for his time and for sharing his insights. John himself produces electronic dance music under the name Christ on a Bike, and I strongly encourage you to check it out here: christonabike.net
You can always drop me a line at: podcastsparks@gmail.com

Episode 40: Interview with Thom Chiki

Thom Chiki is SO DEVO. SO DEVO, that without Thom there would be no DEVOtional convention in Columbus, Ohio. Also a big Sparks fan, personal friend of DEVO and Sparks drummer David Kendrick, and an all-around awesome person. Check out Thom's videos here: Thom CD-ROM - YouTube
You can write to me (as always) at podcastsparks@gmail.com
 

Episode 39: Interview With Timothy Hall

Wrapping up 2023 (belatedly) with two great interviews from Sparks fans. This one is from Timothy Hall in Cardiff, Wales. He runs Daytrip Records in the UK! Go check it out!
Write to us at podcastsparks@gmail.com

Episode 38: Angst In My Pants part four (1982)

At long last! Monte and Christian wrap up their inexhaustible discussion about Sparks' 1982 landmark LP. Plus, a doff of the cap to Los Angeles' KROQ, the radio station that helped introduce a whole new generation of punk and new wave fans to Ron and Russell's 80s incarnation.
I've been cleaning house, in terms of shoring up unused material for this podcast so that it might see the light of day. That means I have a couple of episodes I'm working to get out by year's end. Ready to start 2024 afresh, and really looking forward to delving into Sparks' self-produced era, starting with 1983's Linn-drummy Sparks in Outer Space.
Don't sleep on Monte's Sparks-themed YouTube channel at: Monte Mallin - YouTube 
And Paul Barrett's MetaSparks at: MetaSparks - YouTube

Episode 37: Angst In My Pants part three (1982)

More from Monte and Christian about Spark's 1982 party-starter Angst In My Pants! Plus, a short history lesson on the man behind Ron's original "Ronald" synth.
Monte Mallin has a brand-spankin' new YouTube series about Sparks! Check it out! Link below.
Feel free to drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com or Facebook
Links:Ikutaro Kakehashi | NAMM.org
Sparks - Entertainment and Art! Episode One - YouTube
MetaSparks - YouTube
Sparks Talk (sparkstalkbypenny.blogspot.com)
Roland - JUPITER-8 | Software Synthesizer

Episode 36: Angst In My Pants part two (1982)

Monte Mallin and I continue our dive into the effervescent waters of Angst In My Pants and the E.T.-induced wonder of 1982. Here, we wrap up side one!
Email me if you want at podcastsparks@gmail.com
...and remember to check out Monte's podcast So Important, as well as his Sparks blog at: So Important: The Interview Podcast! | a podcast by Monte Mallin (podbean.com)
AND:Monte's One Stop Blog!: Revisiting Kimono My House! (Spoiler: It's Still Great) (montesnewblog.blogspot.com)

Episode 35: Angst in my Pants part one (1982)

Angst in my Pants is one of the greatest albums ever made!
Now that that's out of the way, on this, our 35th episode, Christian spends a conspicuous amount of time comparing classic TV comedy Taxi to Sparks and vice versa, by way of Danny DeVito (briefly) sharing a stage with the Mael Bros. and company on a 1982 episode of Saturday Night Live.
After that, Christian and Monte Mallin can barely contain their own angst over Sparks' 1982 release being just. that. good. It's a lot of great chatter, but alas, they only get to the first two songs on side one, after spending the lion's share of their time gushing like smitten schoolgirls, and in Monte's case, sharing some very cool personal Sparks stories.
But have no fear! There's a LOT more convo to share from that session, and it'll hit your eardrums soon enough!
Email me if you want at podcastsparks@gmail.com
and remember to check out Monte's podcast So Important, as well as his Sparks blog at: So Important: The Interview Podcast! | a podcast by Monte Mallin (podbean.com)
SOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE (in addition to the usual):
'Taxi's' Last Stand - The Washington Post
The Life of a Night Driver in the Dover Taxi Fleet -- New York Magazine - Nymag
SNL Transcripts: Danny DeVito: 05/15/82 - SNL Transcripts Tonight (jt.org)
Sparks | Concerts Wiki | Fandom
'TAXI,' DROPPED BY ABC, PICKED UP BY NBC - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Episode 34: ’Latte’ Listening Party part two

PART TWO OF TWO!
FOUR - count 'em - FOUR Sparks fans join me for a track-by-track look under the hood of Sparks' latest album The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte.
Monte Mallin returns, along with Paul Barrett, Penny Brown, and Jo Sieger! That's a lot of Sparks galaxy brain for a single sitting. So much, in fact, that we did what we often do: chop it in half and save the rest for later. And later is now!
You won't hear the songs in their entireties here, so if you really want to "play along" at home, GO BUY THE ALBUM!
OUR LINKS:
So Important: The Interview Podcast! | a podcast by Monte Mallin (podbean.com)
Home | One for the ages (sparks-onefortheages.com)
MetaSparks - YouTube
sparkstalkbypenny.blogspot.com

Episode 33: ’Latte’ Listening Party part one

FOUR - count 'em - FOUR Sparks fans join me for a track-by-track look under the hood of Sparks' latest album The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte.
Monte Mallin returns, along with Paul Barrett, Penny Brown, and Jo Sieger! That's a lot of Sparks galaxy brain for a single sitting. So much, in fact, that we did what we often do: chop it in half and save the rest for later.
You won't hear the songs in their entireties here, so if you really want to "play along" at home, GO BUY THE ALBUM!
OUR LINKS:
So Important: The Interview Podcast! | a podcast by Monte Mallin (podbean.com)
Home | One for the ages (sparks-onefortheages.com)
MetaSparks - YouTube
sparkstalkbypenny.blogspot.com