The Number One Song in Heaven explained

The Number One Song in Heaven
Cover:	Sparks - The Number One Song in Heaven.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Sparks
Album:	No. 1 in Heaven
Released:	March 23, 1979
Recorded:	1979
Genre:	Disco synth-pop hi-NRG
Length:	7:26
Label:	Virgin (1979) Roadrunner (1997)
Producer:	Giorgio Moroder
Prev Title:	La Dolce Vita
Prev Year:	1979
Next Title:	Tryouts for the Human Race
Next Year:	1979

"The Number One Song in Heaven" is a disco song by the American rock duo Sparks. Released as a single in 1979, the song was produced and co-written by electro-disco producer Giorgio Moroder. It became a top 20 hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 14. In addition to the standard black vinyl, both the 7" and 12" versions of the single were issued in a variety of coloured vinyl releases (red, blue, and green).

Sparks re-recorded the song in 1997, one version of which featured vocals by Jimmy Somerville and orchestrations by Tony Visconti. This version peaked at number 70 in the UK, but was slightly more successful on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart where it became a top 30 hit.

Music videos

The video for the 1997 version involves an angel singing with Satan trying to stop a ferris wheel, which pays homage to The Third Man.^[1]

Track listing

1979 release

• 7 inch Virgin VS 244

1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" – 3:48
2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (long version) – 6:56

• 12 inch Virgin VS 244-12

1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" – 4:02
2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (long version) – 7:27

1997 release

• CD single 1

1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Sparks radio edit) – 3:28
2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (extended version with Jimmy Somerville) – 5:16
3. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (part two) – 4:05

• CD single 2

1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Sparks radio edit) – 3:28
2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Tin Tin Out mix) – 8:15
3. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Heavenly dub) – 8:15
4. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Tin Tin Out instrumental) – 9:14

Personnel

• Ron Mael – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
• Russell Mael – vocals
• Chris Bennett – backing vocals
• Keith Forsey – drums
• Jack Moran – backing vocals
• Giorgio Moroder – synthesizer, vocoder
• Dan Wyman – synthesizer programming
• Dennis Young – backing vocals

Charts

1979 original release

Chart	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[2]	85
UK Singles (OCC)^[3]	14
Ireland (IRMA)^[4]	5

1997 re-recording

Chart	Peak position
Scotland (OCC)^[5]	54
UK Singles (OCC)	70
US Dance Play (Billboard)	28

External links

• Audio only video with extended lyrics and Short version each on the band's official YouTube channel

Notes and References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro5iI-RhKxM Sparks - "No. 1 Song In Heaven" (Plagiarism) official video on YouTube
2. 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.
3. Web site: Sparks - Full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 20 January 2016.
4. Web site: The Irish Charts - Sparks search. irishcharts.ie. 2008-07-22.
5. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 19 October 1997 - 25 October 1997. Official Charts Company. 2021-10-13.