{"product_id":"sparks-past-tense-best-of-lp-405053850717","title":"Sparks - Past Tense - The Best of Sparks [LP]","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrothers Ron and Russell Mael grew up in Los Angeles in the `60s, and were obsessed with rock and roll and pop culture. In 1968 the pair decided to form a band. They originally called themselves Halfnelson and signed with Bearsville Records and got Todd Rundgren to produce their debut album which flopped. A name change was agreed and their label suggested Sparks Brothers. From there it was a short edit to arrive at Sparks. Their debut was repackaged and re-released and sold roughly the same, though the single \"Wonder Girl\" did get airplay in Los Angeles. A second album followed causing even more subdued enthusiasm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt this point Ron and Russell packed their bags and moved to England. Hooking up with producer Muff Winwood, they were signed to Island Records and formed a new version of the band with British players. The change was just what was needed. From 1974 through 1975, Sparks released the three key albums that most fans still consider a holy trinity of sorts. The single \"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us\" was released in 1974 and shot to No. 2 on the U.K. charts. The unlikely hit struck a chord with its glam-affected guitars, triumphant rhythm and far from average vocal style of Russell. This was the first of eight Top 40 U.K. hits in a row for the band.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSparks moved with the times travelling from glam to pop via big band and hard rock before crashing into both New Wave and disco along the way. By the early `80s, the Maels had moved back home to L.A. and formed yet another version of the band. This time around, they would find some success Stateside with songs like \"I Predict\" and \"Cool Places\" (which featured Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs time moved on, Ron and Russell became more interested in, and reliant upon, electronics, making a series of more synth-pop albums. Though the music had changed, their sense of humor and wit remained intact. In 1997, they released the album `Plagiarism', which featured re-workings of old songs with help from such varied sources as Faith No More and Erasure. Some of the songs used full orchestration, which would in part signal their next move. The ground breaking album Lil' Beethoven was released in 2002 to much fanfare. Most fans and critics hailed it their best work since the mid-'70s.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts success led to a renaissance of sorts which included another strong run of albums culminating in the 2008 series of concerts in London where the band performed every one of their albums in their entirety for a total of 21 nights, leading up to the release of their 21st album, `Exotic Creatures of the Deep.'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePast Tense - Best Of Sparks\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cdiv data-bt-autogen\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComputer Girl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWonder Girl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(No More) Mr. Nice Guys\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGirl from Germany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeaver O'Lindy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmateur Hour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHere in Heaven\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNever Turn Your Back on Mother Earth 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomething for the Girl with Everything 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAchoo 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGet in the Swing 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Future 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLooks, Looks, Looks 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Want to Hold Your Hand 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBig Boy 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Bought the Mississippi River 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOccupation 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThose Mysteries 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTryouts for the Human Race 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeat the Clock 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Number One Song in Heaven 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen I'm with You 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTips for Teens 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFunny Face 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAngst in My Pants 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Predict 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSherlock Holmes 2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCool Places (With Jane Wiedlin) 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePopularity 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Wish I Looked a Little Better 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWith All My Might 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChange 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMusic That You Can Dance to 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSo Important 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSinging in the Shower (With Les Rita Mitsouko) 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNational Crime Awareness Week (Psycho Cut) 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen Do I Get to Sing 'My Way' 3\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing - Radio Edit 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLet's Go Surfing 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePulling Rabbits Out of a Hat 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Calm Before the Storm 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt's a Knockoff 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Rhythm Thief 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMy Baby's Taking Me Home 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuburban Homeboy 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDick Around 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfume 4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIslington N1 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood Morning 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLighten Up, Morrissey 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo Hands, One Mouth 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePiss Off (Sparks Original Demo) 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJohnny Delusional (FFS) 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMissionary Position 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEdith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me) 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI Wish You Were Fun 5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck Out Time 11Am\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"103","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":50569109864744,"sku":"405053850717","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0933\/3833\/7576\/files\/3731344-2521044.jpg?v=1763988266","url":"https:\/\/waterloorecords.com\/products\/sparks-past-tense-best-of-lp-405053850717","provider":"Waterloo Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}