Pet_Sounds

Interesting, I had the same experience with Russell's voice, even as a huge Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan. It just shows that no two falsettos sound quite the same.

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Everybody's dying just to get the disease

ladyislingering

Russell's speaking voice is a bit higher pitched than you'd imagine. He speaks so gently, it'll kill you.

This is my favorite interview because Russell seems really cranky the whole time. (He tells Ron to shut up at some point, doesn't sound like he's joking.) Circa 1986.



Here's a recent capture.



Ron's voice is a lot deeper than Russell's, and his shyness shines through with every nuance. He really is a gentle, anxious, beautiful person - don't ever let the glare of doom throw you off from understanding this.

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Oriphiel

It's really weird hearing them talk! I loved it when they picked up the fake television screen, and the upbeat music started playing and everyone was laughing and having a good time, while Ron just angrily glared at the camera like he was trying to make it explode with his mind.

Chula Vista

Is that downtown Julie Brown?

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“The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well,
on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away
and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.”

ladyislingering

Ron has this way about him that makes one think that his central focus in life is homicide. But he's really the sweetest man in the world. Really.











That's correct.

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ladyislingering

This is the album that everyone gets really excited about when talking about Sparks. Even if it's not your absolute favorite, you'll always be delighted to mention "Kimono My House".

Ron and Russell relocated to London in 1973, hoping to get on the glam scene. Besides, their mother and stepfather were already there. They hired some major beauties for their new band:

Martin Gordon (bass guitar), who would later form the band Jet with John's Children's Andy Ellison (who previously worked with Marc Bolan, who was kind enough to invite Jet's latest incarnation, Radio Stars, to his television show in 1977) and remain one of glam rock's most bitter (yet brilliant) dudes.

Adrian Fisher (guitar), who was discovered after answering Sparks' ad in Melody Maker. Adrian passed away (to my memory he had lung cancer, but I could be mistaken) in 2000.

Dinky Diamond (drums), who I don't have much information on at the moment, I'll get back to you - his name was Norman. He passed away in 2003 from an apparent suicide.


John Hewlett, former producer of John's Children, became Sparks' new manager. He introduced them to Island producer Muff Winwood. Ron and Russell stayed with Mr. Hewlett for some time while they were getting the hang of London life. Sparks were considered a huge leap of faith, and what a leap it was. Sparks practically exploded overnight.

"Kimono My House" is a nod to Rosemary Clooney's "Come On'a My House". The album was released in May of 1974 and climbed all the way to #4 on the UK's album chart for the year.



Track listing:

Side A

This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
Amateur Hour
Falling in Love With Myself Again
Here in Heaven
Thank God it's Not Christmas

Side B


Hasta Mañana, Monsieur
Talent is An Asset
Complaints
In My Family
Equator

lesser-known bonus tracks we're gonna touch on:

Barbecutie
Lost and Found


"Kimono" opens with Sparks' best known song. Seriously, like ever. This is what everyone thinks of when someone mentions Sparks.

"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (often shortened to "This Town" by fans) reached #2 on the UK singles chart, beaten out (somehow, and tragically) by the Rubettes' "Sugar Baby Love". I know, I don't know how that happened either.

I've heard from many people who were young and aware in 1974 that Ron scared the shit out of them when they saw him on Top of the Pops:



And here's a live version from 1975ish, with the "new" band (we'll get into that later, though).



"This Town" was also covered by Justin Hawkins' (of the Darkness) band British Whale. Ron and Russell appear in the promo video.



...and it's also been loved up by Siouxsie Sioux.



Shit, even the Maels covered "This Town", in 1997. With Faith No More.



This song is kind of a big fuckin' deal. It's not the only hit on the album, but it's (almost) been loved to death by everyone who's been touched by the wonder of Sparks.

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ladyislingering

"Amateur Hour" is, naturally, an ode to the young and (sexually) inexperienced, cleverly described by the masterful lyrical genius of Ron Mael.

You'll notice that the vibrant energy you heard in "This Town" carries through to the next track (and throughout the entire album, really).





"Amateur Hour" shot all the way up to #7 on the UK singles chart for the year of 1974.

While we're at it, the B-side of "Amateur Hour" ...

"Lost and Found", a song about a man who's just found a wallet belonging to Mr. Jones, who could be anybody!

Too bad, too bad, too bad!





Speaking of B-sides, I just realized that I'd forgotten to mention the B-side of "This Town" - a fabulously bizarre track called "Barbecutie". I haven't yet figured out what I think the lyrics might mean, but it's either a song about cannibalism or a man who's very skilled with a grill and it turns all the neighborhood ladies into mush.

You can decide for yourself. Also, check Martin Gordon's heavy bass in the intro.







And here's an adorable bonus. Russell asks for "a little restraint in the hall, ok?" as the girls were absolutely insane during the Fairfield Hall performance in 1975 (with the "new band").

Poor Russell, how miserable it must have been to be attacked by hordes of rabid fangirls.

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ladyislingering

"Falling in Love With Myself Again" is the ultimate tune for anyone who has come to enjoy their own company to a state of complete self-reliance.

In the words of Ron Mael (regarding this song): "The song is about the tendency of people to fall in love with people to whom they look like a lot themselves. An idealistic form of what they would have wanted to have been themselves. How many times have I fallen in love with myself ? Quite honestly, I never liked myself. I'm not my type."

You'll find this one to have a waltz-like quality and a peculiar delivery of the lyrics. (As you've probably already come to expect.)





Our next delight is possibly my favorite song on "Kimono My House". I remember singing this one in the car with my sister, just because the falsetto is incredibly fun.

What would have happened if Romeo would have killed himself and Juliet said "fuck that shit"?





Here's a couple of photos from '74.





From left to right: Adrian Fisher, Russell Mael, Dinky Diamond, Martin Gordon, and Ron Mael.

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ladyislingering

Sorry for my long absence; stuff's been crazy, I'm crazy, so on and so forth.

I think we can all agree on one thing, though.

Check Martin's killer bassline in this track.

"Thank God It's Not Christmas"





"Christmas" wraps up side 1 of "Kimono My House"; flip that pretty bitch over and uncover this little gem about communicational errors:

"Hasta Mañana, Monsieur"



The lyrics are especially clever in this rollicking hit delivered by a doomed romantic, unable to speak with the object of his affection.

"You mentioned Kant and I was shocked, so shocked - where I come from, none of the girls have such foul tongues!"



However, Russell, being a bit of a francophile, is fluent in French:



As a further apology (with extended affections) for my absence, have this:

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