I am not that sure it is so incredible, they have always been ahead of their time. But you are right "Steady Steady Drip" is a dreadfully good album, not to forget that they are still very charming gentlemen in a different way, but definitively very charming musically and physically. I hope I will be able to see their concert in Paris next year as scheduled.
Ah, Sparks violated the two cardinal rules of pop music: Don't be too smart, and for God' s sake DON'T BE FUNNY!!! And the Mael brothers are just too damn smart and too damned funny to be the multibazillionaires they so deserve to be...
Pathetically and consistently under rated and overlooked in their own country, they have gone through numerous incarnations; glam-rock, hard rock, disco, New Wave, now a mixture of whatever comes to their minds. Some great songs regardless of whichever idiom they choose to operate in. Very inventive and innovative. What sdovas says below still holds true 4 years later.
One of the songs that I prefer from the Sparks, not only because I recognize my Paris (the boulevards, the bistros, the Seine) ...and it was not so common for the pop bands of the time to tell the story of a man who is alone in Paris and is glad it isn't Christmas. But also because of that electric guitar solo at the start, which I think must have been learnt by many guitar-playing-learners. And of course because of Russell so bewitching with his almost feminine voice, who not only sings but also lives his songs ... Without forgetting his big brother , Ron who looks like an ordinary bank-employee and is in fact the creator, without whom most of beautiful Sparks' songs and lyrics would not exist. Thank God with the Mael brothers of the Sparks' band, musically speaking it's always been Christmas for more than fifty years now!!!!! I just love them.
Played them to death in the mid/late 1970's . Then pretty much forgot about them as I went on a journey in life and music. Recently went back and played KMH all the way through again. Still brilliant. This is so great- as is most of the album.
I will never not be in love with all things Ron and Russell Mael. They took residence in my head as Halfnelson and never left. Also am crazy about the current band, who (IMHO) are the best Sparks Band yet.
Christian Huey's eloquent and insightful analysis of the song's composition and lyrics on his "All You Ever Think About Is Sparks" podcast resulted in me mentally re-categorizing this song from "very good" to "astonishing near perfect masterpiece". The series is well worth a listen if you're looking to deepen your appreciation of the band's back catalogue. Even better, just listen to the song another ten times.
I bought all their albums until I was about 16, and then went in a different musical direction, only to come firmly back to them in later years. This is in my all time top 10 songs to be played at my funeral...... whenever that may be.
Ron Mael-keyboard Russell Mael-vocal Dinky Diamond- drums Adrian Fisher-lead guitar Trevor White-guitar Ian Hampton- bass This band rocked,look for other 'live' video's for proof.
Please let's not forget Martin Gordon's amazing bass parts he wrote and performed on the LP, that's what we're hearing here. Apparently fell out with the brothers over money (surprise!) and was dismissed. Dinky Diamond was a fine drummer, I've never seen 2 guitarists with Sparks, wow!
Isn't that Martin Gordon on bass? Agree that his bass lines were an important ingredient. Was let go with no explanation very soon after KMH became a hit. Perhaps he wanted too much involvement in the writing. It was always the Maels' band. He was in Radio Stars in the post punk era.
@@NickDuvet If you watch this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a9GvUA0ahDA.html you'll see that it's Ian Hampton, same bass, almost same clothes. I think Martin had 'left' the band by the time the Thank God It's Not Christmas video was recorded.
Magazine (who formed in 1977) were and still are one of my favourite bands and it is only now i have discovered a track that points to (some of) their influences! I can almost imagine Howard Devoto doing a version of this classic! I heard Sparks singles when they were first a big name in '74 but only now i am listening to their LP's from that time! Superb!
I hope you have discovered the rest of their works, including the latest 'A Steady Drip Drip Drip' released in May 2020. Their 24th studio album since 1971.
I have been a sparks fan since 1974 first group seen live same year I would love to see their TV appearance on the old grey whistle test this would be the ultimate have seen German TV footage of do ri mi and wonder girl happy sparking new year
awww so reminds me of lonely nights with a Xmas telescope with green filter looking at the moon circa 74 75 , sparks constantly replying on the old player in the darkened bedroom. it's ok,I'm not a psychotic, but probably should be! first band I ever seen live,indescreet tour 13 year-old
... Popular days, the popular ways Are for the chosen few Not meant for me and you Obviously...We have only music "archive", for those "chosen few" Sparks has their best number, Here in Heaven without you, shame if you were one of them
Fantastic piece!Sparks are really underrated they underate themselves as well but the sound the voice Russel unique as well as the style!Not similar these early albums which I bought as a young boy to anything else intrigued me good to know they still alive and kicking and making music which I STILL buy!
What’s the difference between Queen and Sparks? Queen sing Thank God It’s Christmas and Sparks sing Thank God It’s Not Christmas - and that’s why Sparks are always the better band. The best track from the best album. No argument. You have to be smart to appreciate Sparks.
La musica degli SPARKS prende MOLTO dalle sonorità diciamo RETRÒ decadenti degli anni 20/30 mescolandole col ROCK e POP , conferendo al loro SOUND anche qualcosa di strano sperimentale a tratti!!!!!!!!!! Cantare i Loro brani, NON è semplice per NIENTE!!!!!! Provatevi a interpretare THIS TOWN IS ENOUGH.... oppure GET IN THE SWING o AMATEUR HOUR o altre ancora del LORO repertorio...... Ripeto Non sono brani facilmente interpretabili!!!!!!!!! Quindi il loro è GLAM ROCK??? Si è una sorta di ART ROCKPOP GLAM!!!!!!!! ASSAI di NICCHIA!!!!!!!!! I FRATELLI...MAEL..RON e RUSSELL si sono distinti per la LORO insolita originalità!!!!!!!!!!!!!
very touching this is the real créative era of sparks the rest is so strange compare to kimono my house well i forgot propaganda also wich is fantastic -
Adrian Fisher on the Flying V or is that Martin Gordon? I know Fisher and White were both on the roster for a very brief time simultaneously. In fact White had to re-record Fisher's guitar parts on Propaganda.
Bit late, but... What do I hear, what do I hear? Chit-chat, and clinking glass Cheap talk, a lady's laugh After hour What do I see, what do I see? Some sunken hideaway Where people go to play After hour There I'll spend the night Meeting fancy thins At bistros and old haunts Trying very hard to sin Then it is day end in a way The pattern's much the same In-spots, a matinee Every day Blend with the crowd, blend with the loud Hypnotic ebb and flow Until the day goes slowly Into night See the same old crowd At bistros and old haunts 'Til the lights grow dim, The not-so-subtle hint to be gone [Chorus:] Thank God it's not Christmas When there is only you And nothing else to do Thank God it's not Christmas Where there's just you to do The rest is closed to public view Caroling kids, caroling kids A trifle premature, in tones so rich and pure and crystaline Call for the day, the popular day It's fast approaching now But will the mood allow One dissent If this were the Seine We'd be very suave But it's just the rain Washing down the boulevard [Chorus] Popular days, the popular ways Are for the chosen few Not meant for me and you Obviously Popular nights, poplar rites Great things to say and do Aren't said or done by you Obviously If this were Seine We'd be very suave But it's just the rain Washing down the boulevard...
Love the song, but the band is obviously not too happy to be lip-sync-ing once again to their own tune! Russell doesn't even try to look like he's singing into the mike, and I have seen shows where he just stopped 'singing' entirely and let the recorded singing go on without him. This must be around the same time as the Don Kirshner concert in the US tho, because Russell has the same outfit, and the band actually performs (live) this song and a few more on Kirshner! Very fine. It was more work for the studio to record a live performance, but eventually audiences did demand it.
I remember someone (possibly EMF?) being made to mime at a live show once, awards ceremony or something, and their guitarist played with boxing gloves on.
