Sparks discography explained

Artist:Sparks
Studio:26
Live:1
Soundtrack:2
Compilation:12
Video:4
Singles:76
Music Videos:42

The following is a comprehensive discography of Sparks, an American rock and pop music band formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting,[1] Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics,[2] and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.[3]

Albums

Studio albums

Title!rowspan="2"
Album detailsChart positionsCertifications
US
[4]
AUS
[5]
CAN
[6]
FRA
[7]
GER
[8]
NLD
[9]
NOR
[10]
SCOSWE
[11]
UK
[12]
Halfnelson
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
  • Released: January 1973[14]
  • Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
Kimono My House
  • Released: May 1974
  • Label: Island
1012258104

Gold[15]

Propaganda
  • Released: November 1974
  • Label: Island
6375814916509
  • BPI: Silver
Indiscreet
  • Released: October 1975
  • Label: Island
169861918618
Big Beat
  • Released: October 1976
  • Labels: Island, Columbia
24
Introducing Sparks
  • Released: October 1977
  • Labels: Columbia, CBS
41
No. 1 in Heaven 634373
Terminal Jive
  • Released: 1980
  • Labels: Virgin, Carrere/Underdog, Ariola, Oasis
96
Whomp That Sucker
  • Released: 1981
  • Labels: Why-Fi, Carrere, Ariola, Oasis
182
Angst in My Pants
  • Released: May 1982
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere
173
In Outer Space
  • Released: April 1983
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere/Underdog, Oasis
88
Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
  • Released: 1984
  • Labels: Atlantic, Oasis
Music That You Can Dance To
Interior Design
  • Released: August 1988
  • Labels: Rhino/Fine Art, Carrere
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Logic
29
[16]
45
[17]
150
[18]
Plagiarism
Balls 22
[19]
Lil' Beethoven
  • Released: November 26, 2002
  • Labels: Artful/Lil' Beethoven
13
Hello Young Lovers
  • Released: February 6, 2006
  • Labels: Gut, In the Red
49
4866
Exotic Creatures of the Deep
  • Released: May 19, 2008
  • Label: Lil' Beethoven
28
[20]
54
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
  • Released: August 15, 2009
  • Labels: SR, Lil' Beethoven
17
FFS (as FFS) 85
[22]
2722138
[23]
17
Hippopotamus
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Labels: BMG
10888387
[24]
457
A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
  • Released: May 15, 2020[25]
  • Label: BMG
753215924882
[26]
7
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
  • Released: May 26, 2023[27]
  • Label: Island
128
[28]
372
[29]
7

Live albums

Title! scope="col"
Album details
  • Released: March 2013
  • Labels: Lil' Beethoven

Soundtrack albums

Title!rowspan="2"
Album detailsChart positions
BEL
(FL)

[30]
FRA
GER
SCO
[31]
Annette
  • Released: July 3, 2021
  • Labels: Milan
68907232
The Sparks Brothers
  • Released: March 2022
  • Labels: Waxwork

Compilation albums

Singles

1970s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
USAUS
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

GER
[33]
IRE
[34]
NLD
[35]
SWI
[36]
UK
1972"Wonder Girl"112Sparks
1974"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"694312472Kimono My House
"Girl from Germany"51A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
"Amateur Hour"2236121967Kimono My House
"Talent Is An Asset"
"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"484013Propaganda
"Propaganda/At Home, At Work, At Play"
1975"Something for the Girl with Everything"17
"Achoo"
"Get in the Swing"3827Indiscreet
"Looks, Looks, Looks"26
1976"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
"Big Boy"Big Beat
"I Like Girls"
1977"Over the Summer" Introducing Sparks
"A Big Surprise"
1979"La Dolce Vita"No. 1 In Heaven
"The Number One Song in Heaven"85514
"Beat the Clock"101610
"Tryouts for the Human Race"45

1980s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US Hot 100
[37]
US D-P
[38]
US D-S
AUS
FRA
UK
1980"When I'm with You"171Terminal Jive
"Young Girls"
1981"Tips for Teens"Whomp That Sucker
"Funny Face"
1982"I Predict"60Angst in My Pants
"Angst in My Pants"
"Eaten by the Monster of Love"
"Modesty Plays"
1983"Get Crazy"/"Hot Shot" Get Crazy (OST)
"Cool Places" 4913In Outer Space
"All You Ever Think About is Sex"
"Please Baby, Please"
1984"With All My Might"10428Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
"Progress"
"Pretending to be Drunk"/"Kiss Me Quick"60
1985"Give It Up" /"Armies of the Night" Music That You Can Dance To
"Change"85
1986"Music That You Can Dance To"611
"Fingertips/The Scene" 38
1987"Rosebud"
1988"So Important"8Interior Design
1989"Madonna"
"Just Got Back from Heaven"724
"Singing in the Shower" 2437Marc & Robert

1990s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US D-P
AUS
[39]
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

GER
NLD
SCOSWI
UK
1993"National Crime Awareness Week"
1994"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"91612735412238Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
1995"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"24613836
"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" 3532
"Now That I Own the BBC"815360
1997"The Number One Song in Heaven"285470Plagiarism
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" 693940
1999"More Than a Sex Machine" Balls

2000s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US D-P
AUS
[40]
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

GER
NLD
SCOSWI
UK
2000"The Calm Before the Storm"Balls
"The Angels"
2003"Suburban Homeboy" 142Lil' Beethoven
2006"Perfume" 4680Hello Young Lovers
"Dick Around/Waterproof"67139
2008"Good Morning"147Exotic Creatures of the Deep
2009"Lighten Up, Morrissey"

2010s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US D-P
AUS
[41]
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

GER
NLD
SCOSWI
UK
2015"Johnny Delusional"90FFS
"Call Girl"
"Police Encounters"
"Christmas Without a Prayer"Non-album single
2017"Hippopotamus"Hippopotamus
"What The Hell Is It This Time?"
"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)"
"I Wish You Were Fun"
2018"You Earned The Right To Be A Dick" ------------------Record Store Day exclusive single
2019"Please Don't Fuck Up My World"A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

2020s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US D-P
AUS
[42]
BEL
(FL)

BEL
(WA)

GER
NLD
SCOSWI
UK
2020"Self-Effacing"A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
"I'm Toast"
"One for the Ages"
"Lawnmower"
2021"Your Fandango" ------------------Space Force
2023"The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte"------------------The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
"Veronica Lake"------------------
"Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is"------------------
2024"Don't Go Away" (with Max Richter)Spaceman (OST)

Collaborations and contributions

Soundtrack appearances

Video

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
1974"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
1977"Occupation"
1979"The Number One Song in Heaven"Bruce Gowers[43]
"Beat the Clock"Brian Grant
"La Dolce Vita"Bruce Gowers
"Tryouts for the Human Race"Brian Grant
1980"When I'm with You"Brian Grant
"Stereo"Brian Grant
1981"Tips for Teens"
"Funny Face"Sam Peckinpah
1982"I Predict"Steve and Doug Martin
1983"Minnie Mouse"The Walt Disney Company
"Cool Places"Graeme Whifler[44]
"All You Ever Think About Is Sex"Pat Warner
1984"With All My Might"Graeme Whifler
1986"Music That You Can Dance To"Ron & Russell Mael
1988"So Important"Ron & Russell Mael
1989"Singing in the Shower"
1993"National Crime Awareness Week"Finitribe
1994"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"Sophie Muller
1995"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"Sophie Muller
"Now That I Own the BBC"Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
1997"No. 1 Song In Heaven (Plagiarism) "Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2000"The Calm Before the Storm"Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2003"The Rhythm Thief"Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
"I Married Myself"Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2004"My Baby's Taking Me Home"Shaw Petronio
2006"Perfume"Shaw Petronio
"Dick Around"Shaw Petronio
2009"Lighten Up Morrissey"Shaw Petronio
2015"Christmas Without A Prayer"
2017"Hippopotamus"Scott Peters
"WHat The Hell Is It This Time?"Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson
"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)"Joseph Wallace
2020"One For The Ages"Chintis Lundgren
"Lawnmower"Ron & Russell Mael
"The Existential Threat"Cyriak Harris
"iPhone"
2021"Left Out In The Cold"
"Your Fandango"Liisa Vääriskoski
"So May We Start"Leos Carax
2023"The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte"Richie Starzec, Ron & Russell Mael
"Escalator"Paul Trewartha, Ron & Russell Mael

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dye, David . 2006 . Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical . npr.org . 2006-09-24.
  2. News: Shooting Off Sparks . LA Weekly . Alfvegren, Skylaire . 1998-11-04 . 2006-04-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061207233516/http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/shooting-off-sparks/12237/ . 2006-12-07 .
  3. News: McNair, James . Sparks: Creating mischief again with their latest album . 2006 . Independent Newspapers (UK) . Enjoyment . 2006-04-18 . London . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070124130940/http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article347014.ece/ . January 24, 2007 .
  4. Web site: Billboard 200 - Sparks. Billboard. 2022-02-04. 2022-02-28. https://archive.today/20220228075929/https://www.billboard.com/artist/sparks/chart-history/tlp/. bot: unknown.
  5. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 286.
  6. Web site: Search - RPM - Library and Archives Canada. collectionscanada.gc.ca. 2013-03-07.
  7. Web site: Discographie Sparks. lescharts.com. fr. October 17, 2022.
  8. Web site: Discographie von Sparks. GfK Entertainment. July 8, 2020.
  9. Web site: Discografie Sparks. dutchcharts.nl. nl. October 17, 2022.
  10. Web site: Discography Sparks. norwegiancharts.com. October 17, 2022.
  11. Web site: swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks. Hung Medien. 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
  12. Web site: Sparks full Official Chart History . . 2023-06-03.
  13. Web site: Xavier Lorente-Darracq . SPARKS first LP album on Bearsville Records . Graphikdesigns.free.fr . 2011-12-02.
  14. Web site: Xavier Lorente-Darracq . SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second LP album on Bearsville Records . Graphikdesigns.free.fr . 2011-12-02.
  15. Web site: Album artist 970 - Sparks. © 2007-9, Steve Hawtin et al. 2009-11-03 .
  16. Web site: Chartverfolgung / Sparks / Longplay. MusicLine.de. 2010-01-16.
  17. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 22 November 2019 - 28 November 2019 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . June 24, 2022.
  18. Web site: Chart Log UK: DJ S - The System Of Life . Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz, 1994–2009 . 2010-02-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150322040621/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM . 2015-03-22 .
  19. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 06 May 2022 - 12 May 2022 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . May 12, 2022.
  20. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 3 June 2022 - 9 June 2022 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . June 14, 2022.
  21. Web site: FFS by FFS. iTunes. 5 June 2015.
  22. Web site: ARIA Albums: Muse Debuts At No 1. Noise11. Ryan. Gavin. 13 June 2015. 13 June 2015.
  23. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 14 June 2015 - 20 June 2015 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . May 12, 2022.
  24. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 15 September 2017 - 21 September 2017 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . May 12, 2022.
  25. Web site: Sparks Announce New Album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip . Pitchfork . 28 January 2020 . 4 April 2020 . en.
  26. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 10 July 2020 - 16 July 2020 . Official Charts Company . May 12, 2022.
  27. Web site: S P A R K S on Instagram: "BREAKING NEWS! Sparks signs with #IslandRecords! New album coming May 2023! #TheGirlIsCryingInHerLatte ☕️" . 2023-01-24 . Instagram . en.
  28. Web site: Top Albums (Week 22, 2023). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. June 5, 2023.
  29. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 2 June 2023 – 8 June 2023 . Official Charts Company . June 3, 2023.
  30. Web site: Discography Sparks. Ultratop. May 12, 2022.
  31. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 23 July 2021 - 29 July 2021 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . June 14, 2022.
  32. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 15 November 2019 - 21 November 2019 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . May 12, 2022.
  33. Web site: Charts Surfer - UK, German and French charts. charts-surfer.de. 2008-07-22.
  34. Web site: The Irish Charts - Sparks search. irishcharts.ie. 2008-07-22.
  35. Web site: dutchcharts.nl - Discography Sparks. © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.. 2010-07-04.
  36. Web site: chitparade.ch - Discography Sparks. © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.. 2010-07-04.
  37. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5494/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic - Billboard Singles - Sparks]. Billboard. 2010-07-04.
  38. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=sparks|chart=all}} Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Sparks]. Billboard. 2008-07-22.
  39. 262.
  40. 262.
  41. 262.
  42. 262.
  43. Web site: Sparks Videography - Music Video Database - The Base Of Music Videos . © 2006 onlinemusikvideos.com . 10 July 2010 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174004/http://onlinemusikvideos.com/videos/sparks . dead .
  44. Web site: Dave Thompson . Cool Places - Sparks,Jane Wiedlin | Listen, Appearances, Song Review . AllMusic . 2014-05-10.