All You Ever Think About Is Sparks

Episode 32: The Paul Barrett Interview

Monte and Christian sit for a lengthy (and stimulating!) chat with Sparks superfan and author of the insightful blog One For the Ages (www.sparks-onefortheages.com)  Paul Barrett.
We discuss some of his fascinating meta-analyses of Sparks' lyrics, as well as geek out as all proud Sparks fans do, and (checks watch) *just in time* for the release of new LP The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. Can't wait to have you back, Paul!
Don't forget Monte's excellent podcast So Important!
Drop me a line if you wanna!

Episode 31: Whomp That Sucker part two (1981)

Christian and Monte wax philosophical about talking hippos, gastric distress and getting kicked in the bonbons. Plus! What is this salt discharge in my latte?
We wrap up Whomp That Sucker, the first of the twin quasars of Reinhold Mack-produced Sparks rock albums, recorded yet again at Giorgio's Musicland Studios in Munich.
Check us out on Larry Graves' YouTube channel discussing (gasp) Sparks!
Don't forget Monte's podcast So Important!
Drop me a line if you wanna!

Episode 30: Interview with Jim Goodwin

He started out a middle class kid from Oregon who grumbled about taking his piano lessons. But by the time he was thirty, Jim Goodwin had worked with the likes of Sparks, John Cale, Simple Minds, Bono, Peter Gabriel and other luminaries.
Jim was exceedingly generous with his time when chatting with myself and Monte Mallin. He's had a hell of a career, and I, for one, enjoyed geeking out with him over vintage synths.
One-time keyboardist for Sparks, Gleaming Spires, The Call, and John Cale on tour, here's Jim Goodwin!
--Christian
sparkspodcast@podbean.com
 

Episode 29: Whomp That Sucker part one (1980-1981)

Ron and Russ were dying for some decent espresso and pastries. Voila, they found their newest muses at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles.
The Maels teamed up with a talented band by the name (at that time) of The Bates Motel, and with the assistance of uber-producer Reinhold Mack, they found a new lease on life. Here's the first half of Whomp That Sucker, as discussed by myself and Monte Mallin.
Stay tuned! We have a wonderful interview with keyboardist Jim Goodwin coming up!
podbean.com/sparkspodcast.com
podcastsparks@gmail.com

Episode 28: Terminal Jive (1979-1980)

Terminal Jive had the misfortune of following up No. 1 in Heaven, which enjoys legendary status today. It also had the misfortune of Ron and Russ's original slate of songs being defenestrated outright by Giorgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer.
What we have instead is seven-and-a-half songs (you'll figure out what I mean) written by committee - the lead single being a crucial exception.
Terminal Jive was written and recorded in a hurry, but it doesn't mean there isn't a lot to enjoy here. Faltermeyer, along with W. Snuffy Walden and a coterie of studio cats, work to fashion a sound that was new and vibrant and fresh. You know the gated drum sounds of the 80s? It's here already. The synths are a generation newer than the Moog on N1iH, and Walden's guitar is pure new wave angular punchiness. Oh - and several songs on here are actually damn good.
I begin the episode eulogizing Marc Moulin of Telex, whom Ron called his "best friend since 1979." Then Monte and I begin our Jive to see if it truly is Terminal.
You can email me (Christian) at podcastsparks@gmail.com
important links: Marc Moulin - Official Website
FanMael https://www.sparks-onefortheages.com

Episode 27: Noel: Is There More to Life Than Dancing? (1979)

Hey, Sparkskateers. This episode is entirely about the Mael-produced album by Noel: Is There More to Life Than Dancing. I'm chatting with Monte Mallin on this one, and then another conversation with Jim Wellen.
This is an interesting, and fun(!) Sparks-adjacent album (Jim asserts it's a true Sparks album)!
Stick around for next time, when we get into Terminal Jive, from 1980!
https://postpunkmonk.com/2021/07/20/record-review-noel-dancing-is-dangerous-us-7/http://discodelivery.blogspot.com/2006/10/disco-delivery-27-noel-is-there-more.html
https://cherryaudio.com/news/the-syndrum-saga

Episode 26: Number One in Heaven part 2 (1979)

I wrap up discussion of side 2 of Number One in Heaven, with the help of my friend Monte Mallin in this ep. We also discussed the Sparks side project for Noël, but I'm saving that for the next episode. To paraphrase DJ Steve Dahl, this one's gonna blow up reeeeeal good.
sources:
https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-news-now/disco-demolition-night-how-an-anti-disco-baseball-night-led-to-a-riot-in-comiskey-park/
https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/07/12/disco-demolition-dahl-veeck-chicago-white-sox
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=paul+barrett+one+for+the+ages
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=7n515ucve20C&pg=GBS.PT214.w.2.0.0_205
https://www.amazon.com/No-1-Songs-Heaven-Sparks/dp/1901447464
https://www.fanmael.nl/
Also, check out Monte's podcast So Important!: https://soimportant.podbean.com/
 
 

Episode 25: Number One in Heaven part one (1978-1979)

It's been a while. What can I say? This is maybe *the best* if not just one of the best of the Mael brothers' albums.
I had a great conversation with Monte Mallin on the second half, and you'll be hearing more of Monte in the near future.
Giorgio Moroder helped Ron and Russ completely rethink their musical approach, and it shows here, in spades.
I do spend a good chunk of time near the beginning analyzing how modular synthesis works, so caveat auditor.
You can reach me (Christian) at podcastparks@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter (which I never use): @ChristianHuey
Monte Mallin's podcast is called "So Important!" Check it out!: https://soimportant.podbean.com/
Some sources for today's episode:
https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/sparks-no-1-in-heaven/https://www.vice.com/en/article/rz77j6/how-we-made-giorgio-moroder-on-i-feel-love
https://madelinex.com/2018/03/23/sparks-this-aint-no-disco/
https://cherryaudio.com/news/the-syndrum-saga
http://www.planetoftunes.com/synthesis/subtractive-synthesis.php
https://www.synthmuseum.com/moog/moomod.html
https://www.sparks-onefortheages.com