Spark Plug (album) explained

Spark Plug
Type:	Album
Artist:	Melvin Sparks
Cover:	Spark Plug (album).jpg
Released:	1971
Recorded:	March 1 and 8, 1971
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Prestige
Producer:	Bob Porter
Chronology:	Melvin Sparks
Prev Title:	Sparks!
Prev Year:	1970
Next Title:	Akilah!
Next Year:	1972

Spark Plug is the second album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks which was recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.^[1]

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars stating "It's more relaxed, funky, occasionally bluesy jazz with guitar and organ to the fore, very much of a piece with the Prestige soul-jazz "house" sound circa 1970".^[2]

Album was recently remastered by Jazz Dispensary and available from Vinyl Me, Please. Other musicians on this album include Idris Muhammad, Leon Spencer, and Grover Washtington, Jr.

Track listing

All compositions by Melvin Sparks except where noted.

1. "Who's Gonna Take the Weight" (Ronald Bell, George Brown, Robert Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas, Richard Westfield) – 9:20
2. "Spark Plug" – 8:50
3. "Conjunction Mars" – 8:11
4. "Alone Together" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 4:14
5. "Dig Dis" – 6:45

• Recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewwod Cliffs New Jersey on March 1 (track 1) and March 8 (tracks 2-5), 1971

Personnel

• Melvin Sparks – guitar
• Virgil Jones – trumpet
• Grover Washington, Jr. – tenor saxophone
• Reggie Roberts (tracks 2-5), Leon Spencer (track 1) – organ
• Idris Muhammad – drums
• Bob Porter – producer
• Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/prestige-records/catalog-10000-series/#pr-10016 Prestige Records discography
2. Unterberger, R. AllMusic listing accessed May 22, 2013.