Listen Now

Monte and Christian sit for a lengthy (and stimulating!) chat with Sparks superfan and author of the insightful blog One For the Ages (www.sparks-onefortheages.com)  Paul Barrett. We discuss some of his fascinating meta-analyses of Sparks' lyrics, as well as geek out as all proud Sparks fans do, and (checks watch) *just in time* for the release of new LP The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte. Can't wait to have you back, Paul! Don't forget Monte's excellent podcast So Important! Drop me a line if you wanna!

Christian and Monte wax philosophical about talking hippos, gastric distress and getting kicked in the bonbons. Plus! What is this salt discharge in my latte? We wrap up Whomp That Sucker, the first of the twin quasars of Reinhold Mack-produced Sparks rock albums, recorded yet again at Giorgio's Musicland Studios in Munich. Check us out on Larry Graves' YouTube channel discussing (gasp) Sparks! Don't forget Monte's podcast So Important! Drop me a line if you wanna!

He started out a middle class kid from Oregon who grumbled about taking his piano lessons. But by the time he was thirty, Jim Goodwin had worked with the likes of Sparks, John Cale, Simple Minds, Bono, Peter Gabriel and other luminaries. Jim was exceedingly generous with his time when chatting with myself and Monte Mallin. He's had a hell of a career, and I, for one, enjoyed geeking out with him over vintage synths. One-time keyboardist for Sparks, Gleaming Spires, The Call, and John Cale on tour, here's Jim Goodwin! --Christian sparkspodcast@podbean.com  

Ron and Russ were dying for some decent espresso and pastries. Voila, they found their newest muses at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. The Maels teamed up with a talented band by the name (at that time) of The Bates Motel, and with the assistance of uber-producer Reinhold Mack, they found a new lease on life. Here's the first half of Whomp That Sucker, as discussed by myself and Monte Mallin. Stay tuned! We have a wonderful interview with keyboardist Jim Goodwin coming up! podbean.com/sparkspodcast.com podcastsparks@gmail.com

Terminal Jive had the misfortune of following up No. 1 in Heaven, which enjoys legendary status today. It also had the misfortune of Ron and Russ's original slate of songs being defenestrated outright by Giorgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer. What we have instead is seven-and-a-half songs (you'll figure out what I mean) written by committee - the lead single being a crucial exception. Terminal Jive was written and recorded in a hurry, but it doesn't mean there isn't a lot to enjoy here. Faltermeyer, along with W. Snuffy Walden and a coterie of studio cats, work to fashion a sound that was new and vibrant and fresh. You know the gated drum sounds of the 80s? It's here already. The synths are a generation newer than the Moog on N1iH, and Walden's guitar is pure new wave angular punchiness. Oh - and several songs on here are actually damn good. I begin the episode eulogizing Marc Moulin of Telex, whom Ron called his "best friend since 1979." Then Monte and I begin our Jive to see if it truly is Terminal. You can email me (Christian) at podcastsparks@gmail.com important links: Marc Moulin - Official Website FanMael https://www.sparks-onefortheages.com

Hey, Sparkskateers. This episode is entirely about the Mael-produced album by Noel: Is There More to Life Than Dancing. I'm chatting with Monte Mallin on this one, and then another conversation with Jim Wellen. This is an interesting, and fun(!) Sparks-adjacent album (Jim asserts it's a true Sparks album)! Stick around for next time, when we get into Terminal Jive, from 1980! https://postpunkmonk.com/2021/07/20/record-review-noel-dancing-is-dangerous-us-7/ http://discodelivery.blogspot.com/2006/10/disco-delivery-27-noel-is-there-more.html https://cherryaudio.com/news/the-syndrum-saga

I wrap up discussion of side 2 of Number One in Heaven, with the help of my friend Monte Mallin in this ep. We also discussed the Sparks side project for Noël, but I'm saving that for the next episode. To paraphrase DJ Steve Dahl, this one's gonna blow up reeeeeal good. sources: https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-news-now/disco-demolition-night-how-an-anti-disco-baseball-night-led-to-a-riot-in-comiskey-park/ https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/07/12/disco-demolition-dahl-veeck-chicago-white-sox https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=paul+barrett+one+for+the+ages https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=7n515ucve20C&pg=GBS.PT214.w.2.0.0_205 https://www.amazon.com/No-1-Songs-Heaven-Sparks/dp/1901447464 https://www.fanmael.nl/ Also, check out Monte's podcast So Important!: https://soimportant.podbean.com/    

It's been a while. What can I say? This is maybe *the best* if not just one of the best of the Mael brothers' albums. I had a great conversation with Monte Mallin on the second half, and you'll be hearing more of Monte in the near future. Giorgio Moroder helped Ron and Russ completely rethink their musical approach, and it shows here, in spades. I do spend a good chunk of time near the beginning analyzing how modular synthesis works, so caveat auditor. You can reach me (Christian) at podcastparks@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter (which I never use): @ChristianHuey Monte Mallin's podcast is called "So Important!" Check it out!: https://soimportant.podbean.com/ Some sources for today's episode: https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/sparks-no-1-in-heaven/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/rz77j6/how-we-made-giorgio-moroder-on-i-feel-love https://madelinex.com/2018/03/23/sparks-this-aint-no-disco/ https://cherryaudio.com/news/the-syndrum-saga http://www.planetoftunes.com/synthesis/subtractive-synthesis.php https://www.synthmuseum.com/moog/moomod.html https://www.sparks-onefortheages.com

He brought that crashy, nearly out of control funhouse sound to early 80s albums Whomp that Sucker and Angst in my Pants. Later he worked with two different sets of brothers when he joined DEVO as their first corporeal drummer in years. His own band, The Gleaming Spires is getting a long-deserved second look with brand new remasters out. Of course, I'm talking about legendary drummer David Kendrick. He's one of the reasons I love new wave, and he's a great guy to boot. David was super generous with his time, and I plan to have him back on again to talk Spires. Drop me a line anytime at podcastsparks@gmail.com or check out the FB page. --Christian

In which I wrap up a discussion of Sparks' until-recently maligned 1977 album. Ron and Russell shared a studio with a revolving door of play-for-pay studio cats, and the end result was a record that sounded good, but didn't sell. Oh, BTW, yes I know Ron Popeil was famous for saying "but wait, there's more," not "but that's not all." You can write me at podcastsparks@gmail.com or visit the pod's page on Facebook at facebook.com/podcastsparks --Christian

I'm so lucky to have gotten to speak with both halves of Big Beat's rhythm section! As you'll hear from the interview, Sal's been everywhere, man. Sal's been everywhere. Another Sparks player who favors a Rick as his weapon of choice (see: Gordon, Martin), he and Hilly Michaels locked down that bone-crushing groove heard all throughout that aforementioned album. He toured with Roxy Music, Cracker, played on at least one Runaways LP, and don't get me started on all of the 1960s-70s legends he rubbed elbows with (no spoilers). Check out his 2017 autobiography/massive review compendium of classic 45s: Four Strings, Fake Proof, and 300 45s. And he's got a new book in the works. He's the real deal, and I thank him for his time. Here's my time with Sal Maida. You can contact me (Christian) via sparkspodcast@gmail.com or find this podcast's FB page. Next up it's Introducing Sparks, part 2.

Ron and Russell ditch the whole notion of having a standing army - er, band, and rely on studio cats hired by the hour on Columbia Records' dime. Introducing was out of print for over 30 years, until it finally got a new lease on life on CD format in 2009. A badly underexplored chapter in Sparks' history, find out more about that mysterious album that came and went in a flash in 1977.

While my first episode on Introducing keeps cookin', I've had a couple of great opportunities to interview former Sparks players, including a chap who's been on the show before, and I'm thankful to have him back on again. If you're not yet privy, Martin was the bassist on Kimono My House, and was part of that seminal, yet short-lived lineup (in more ways than one, sad to say). He has a new album out, the politically pointed song suite Another Words. He also had some thoughts about the new Edgar Wright documentary The Sparks Brothers, and the level of his involvement with the project. Martin is always a pleasure to talk to, and I hope to do it again. Check out his website at Homepage (martingordon.de). You can find his music on Spotify as well as on CD. It's great stuff. You can write me at: podcastsparks@gmail.com or follow All You Ever Think About Is Sparks on Facebook.

No, it isn't Sparks-related, but I'm not a rich enough man for TWO podcast feeds! Instead this is my side project "What We Do Is What We Do," where I basically publish stuff I've recorded that I felt was interesting enough to share with other humans. This ep is my interview with playwright Peter Gordon from June 2020. He wrote (among other things) "Murdered by Death," a genuinely funny farce posing as an Agatha Christie murder mystery. For me, it's the show that never was, because of some dumb ol' pandemic. I played a two-bit British thief playing a French art dealer, but I made him look a bit like Ron Mael. Welp, enjoy! --Christian podcastsparks@gmail.com christianchuey@gmail.com

Here's Hilly! From starstruck Sparks fan, to fully-fledged member, Hilly was responsible for the Big Beat in Big Beat. He's had a hell of a career post-Sparks, and enjoyed an early MTV smash with Calling All Girls. This interview is stupid long, but I ain't apologizing. Listen to it on a transatlantic flight or something. Have as many cuba libres as I probably did during the proceedings. Next up is Introducing Sparks, part 1! I've already recorded some of it! OH! Thanks to Tom Ferranti for arranging the interview and to Mark Gilbert for the new (personalized) theme song! Email me at podcastparks@gmail.com or visit our FB page. --Christian

Back from extended hiatus. Finally, I take to the waters of Lake Sparks once more. I finish off the story of Big Beat and delve into the last several songs on side 2, as well as the bonus tracks. Next episode should be my long-anticipated interview with Big Beat drummer Hilly Michaels. It's so easy tearing the place apart, eh? You can email the pod here, or check us out on our Facebook page of the same name. Thanks! - Christian

It's been a minute since I rapped at ya, Sparks fans. Hope all is well. At long last, here's the next chapter in the Sparks saga: the story of Big Beat. Recorded in NYC with an all-new, all-American band, and with Rupert Holmes at the helm (yes, THAT Rupert Holmes), Big Beat was released by Columbia Records in October 1976. Inspired in part by the emerging punk/new wave scene of the moment, Big Beat eschews the baroque pop stylings of the Island records, and opts for a bare bones rock and roll attack. This episode covers the making of the album and the first half of the songs found on modern CD rereleases of Big Beat. You can always reach Christian (me) here, or via our Facebook page here. UPDATE: Incredibly, I've already gotten word that my Mr. Bill song at the end suffered volume issues. No doubt that was thanks to Levelator. You can hear a better version here.

We're back! Finally I get down to the nitty gritty of Indiscreet side 2, plus a bevy of bonus tracks. That wraps it up for Sparks in England! Next we head to NYC for Big Beat. Check us out on Facebook or drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com.

Christian interviews preeminent (he probably hates that term) rock journalist Dave Thompson in this free-wheeling interview that occasionally even has us discussing Sparks! Dave is the author of the 2009 biography about Sparks, No. 1 Songs in Heaven, a tome that practically stands as this podcast's bible in terms of getting the story of Sparks right. You can check out his author homepage here, just in case you want to feel hopelessly underproductive and undistinguished. Write me if you like at podcastsparks@gmail.com or check out our page on Facebook. Next episode (I promise) is Indiscreet, Part 2. It's gonna be a doozy. One more thing: not that I have to tell you this, but Sparks' new album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip is out! You can purchase a digital copy from Amazon, or other, less-evil online outlets. And yes, it's on Spotify, too. Enjoy! It's incredible.

CAVEAT DOWNLOAD-OR: NOT SPARKS-RELATED! Doing some logrolling today. After months of idle threats, I have finally assembled the first episode of my new podcast What We Do Is What We Do. No, it's not about the DEVO song. It's about hobbies, pastimes, and passion projects! Starring maybe you one day! The new show will have its own feed, but it's going to play nice here with the Sparks feed for now. Mr. Dario Western (an avid Sparks fan himself, natch) joins me on my maiden voyage, giving me the naked truth on naturism and how he's merged it with his music career. Check out the music of Dario's band Laissez-Fayre here. What's YOUR passion project? What makes YOU tick? What kind of thing do you make time in your life to pursue even though it doesn't pay the bills? Let me know, and I'll interview you too! christianchuey@gmail.com is my email, https://twitter.com/ChristianHuey is my Twitter, and you can reach me on Facebook as well (I'm Christian Exquisitely Huey).