SPARKS – INDISCREET LP – Nr MINT 1975 US ORIG ISLAND

Sparks – Indiscreet
 (Island Records  1975  ILPS9345  US Press)

Gatefold Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

Sparks are an American pop band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), renamed from Halfnelson, formed in 1968. Known for their quirky approach to songwriting, Sparks’ music is often accompanied by intelligent, sophisticated, and acerbic lyrics, and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell’s animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron’s deadpan scowling. They are also noted for Russell Mael’s falsetto voice and Ron Mael’s keyboard style.

While achieving chart success in various countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the United States, they have enjoyed a cult following since their first releases. During the late 1970s, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder (and Telex subsequently), Sparks reinvented themselves as a new wave/synthpop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music.

The 2002 release of Lil’ Beethoven, their “genre-defying opus”, as well as the more recent albums Hello Young Lovers (2006, their 20th studio album), Exotic Creatures of the Deep (2008), and their latest fantasy musical The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman (2009–2010) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to “steer clear of pop conventions.” The band also released an album with Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, as the supergroup FFS, titled FFS, released on June 8, 2015.

Sparks are best known for the songs “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us”, which reached number 2 in the British charts in 1974; the electronic hit “The Number One Song in Heaven” in 1979; “When I’m With You” which topped the French Charts in 1980; the single “I Predict”, which provided Sparks’ first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 60 in May 1982; the 1983 single “Cool Places” with Go-Go Jane Wiedlin, and “When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way'” which topped the German and European charts in 1994/95 and was the top airplay record in Germany for 1994.

Indiscreet is the fifth album of music produced by Sparks. It was released in 1975. The album was produced by Tony Visconti, with whom the group reunited in 1997 to produce several tracks for their retrospective album Plagiarism. The song “How Are You Getting Home?” was used in Leos Carax’s film Holy Motors.

Track listing

All songs are written and composed by Ron Mael; except where indicated.

Personnel

• Russell Mael – vocals
• Ron Mael – keyboards
• Ian Hampton – bass
• Trevor White – guitar
• Norman “Dinky” Diamond – drums

with

• Mike Piggott – fiddle on “It Ain’t 1918”
• Tony Visconti – orchestral arrangements