http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68618&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rssSparks were doomed to obscurity from the beginning in their native U.S. Like Oscar Wilde and the turn-of-the-century decadents and dandies who inspired the Mael brothers, scandal both brought them fame and prevented the public from taking them seriously. Vocalist Russell Mael played the rock star with all the flamboyance of a peacock, while songwriter and keyboardist Ron Mael contrasted his brother's excesses with his ascetic scowl and Hitler mustache. The latter's favorite ploy has always been exposing people squirming in insecurity behind screens of wealth, vanity, professionalism and mediocrity. <p> Sparks enjoyed its first commercial success in the U.K. with 1974's <i>Kimono My House</i>, an album of neo-romanticism meets prog. rock, which reached number four in the U.K. In 1979, after a brief decline in popularity in Europe (and still little notoriety in their native U.S.), the duo called on the production talent of legendary producer Giorgio Moroder for <i>No. 1 In Heaven</i>, a celestial stairway of rapturous melodies heavily greased with irony and black humor, and which would later influence the synth pop of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys. Though in the 1980s and beyond the Maels tended to settle for synth-driven chintz over rock 'n' roll substance, their music still retains the stinging wit that gives it savor. In 2006, the Mael brothers returned with <i>Hello Young Lovers</i>, an album of cheeky operatic prog. rock melodrama. - Chad DriscollNew Waveen720Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:38:08 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68618&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss Sparks were doomed to obscurity from the beginning in their native U.S. Like Oscar Wilde and the turn-of-the-century decadents and dandies who inspired the Mael brothers, scandal both brought them fame and prevented the public from taking them seriously. Vocalist Russell Mael played the rock star with all the flamboyance of a peacock, while songwriter and keyboardist Ron Mael contrasted his brother's excesses with his ascetic scowl and Hitler mustache. The latter's favorite ploy has always been exposing people squirming in insecurity behind screens of wealth, vanity, professionalism and mediocrity. <p> Sparks enjoyed its first commercial success in the U.K. with 1974's <i>Kimono My House</i>, an album of neo-romanticism meets prog. rock, which reached number four in the U.K. In 1979, after a brief decline in popularity in Europe (and still little notoriety in their native U.S.), the duo called on the production talent of legendary producer Giorgio Moroder for <i>No. 1 In Heaven</i>, a celestial stairway of rapturous melodies heavily greased with irony and black humor, and which would later influence the synth pop of Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys. Though in the 1980s and beyond the Maels tended to settle for synth-driven chintz over rock 'n' roll substance, their music still retains the stinging wit that gives it savor. In 2006, the Mael brothers returned with <i>Hello Young Lovers</i>, an album of cheeky operatic prog. rock melodrama. - Chad Driscoll http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553391&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553391 tra.28553391 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true I Wish I Looked A Little Better tra.28553391 178000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553391&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553391&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 23984774 tra.23984774 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Propaganda alb.23975451 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/0/3/1453039_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true At Home At Work At Play tra.23984774 185000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553388&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553388 tra.28553388 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true All You Ever Think About Is Sex tra.28553388 249000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553388&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553388&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553385 tra.28553385 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Cool Places (Sparks and Jane Wiedlin) tra.28553385 205000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553392&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553392 tra.28553392 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Prayin' For A Party tra.28553392 183000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553392&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553392&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553390&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553390 tra.28553390 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Rockin' Girls tra.28553390 287000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553390&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553390&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553389&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553389 tra.28553389 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Please, Baby, Please tra.28553389 222000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553389&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553389&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553386 tra.28553386 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Popularity tra.28553386 233000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553384&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553384 tra.28553384 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Dance Godammit tra.28553384 202000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553384&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553384&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553383&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553383 tra.28553383 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true A Fun Bunch Of Guys From Outer Space tra.28553383 242000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553383&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553383&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553387&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Nov 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 28553387 tra.28553387 Sparks art.68618 0.99 In Outer Space alb.28540260 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/5/2/1692544_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Lucky Me, Lucky You tra.28553387 218000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553387&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553387&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1999 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281364 tra.1281364 Sparks art.68618 0.99 12" Mixes alb.234397 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/7/8/1278767_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1999-01-01 00:00:00.0 true All You Ever Think About Is Sex tra.1281364 307000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281635 tra.1281635 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Kimono My House alb.109101 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/6/1/1451687_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Falling In Love With Myself Again tra.1281635 182000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314921 tra.18314921 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Angst In My Pants alb.18311868 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/5/2/1692539_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Moustache tra.18314921 212000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314924 tra.18314924 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Angst In My Pants alb.18311868 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/5/2/1692539_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 true The Decline And The Fall Of Me tra.18314924 179000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2845616&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2845616 tra.2845616 Sparks art.68618 0.0 In Outer Space (Atlantic) alb.98316 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/6/0/4/664065_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1983-01-01 00:00:00.0 false Cool Places tra.2845616 205000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2845616&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2845616&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759588&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2759588 tra.2759588 Sparks art.68618 0.0 Angst In My Pants (Atlantic) alb.233919 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/6/0/4/664064_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1982-01-01 00:00:00.0 false Angst In My Pants tra.2759588 207000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759588&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759588&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18318534&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Sat, 1 Jan 1983 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18318534 tra.18318534 Sparks art.68618 0.0 In Outer Space alb.18312152 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/7/7/1187796_170x170.jpg 2007-05-15 00:00:00.0 1983-01-01 00:00:00.0 false All You Ever Think About Is Sex tra.18318534 248000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18318534&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18318534&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281636 tra.1281636 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Kimono My House alb.109101 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/6/1/1451687_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Here In Heaven tra.1281636 167000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2177474 tra.2177474 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Kimono My House alb.109101 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/6/1/1451687_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true This Town Ain't Be Enough For Both Of Us tra.2177474 184000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 23984766 tra.23984766 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Propaganda alb.23975451 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/0/3/1453039_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Reinforcements tra.23984766 233000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984773&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 23984773 tra.23984773 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Propaganda alb.23975451 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/3/0/3/1453039_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Achoo tra.23984773 212000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984773&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984773&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2177476 tra.2177476 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Kimono My House alb.109101 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/6/1/1451687_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Hasta Manana Monsieur tra.2177476 231000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281639&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281639 tra.1281639 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Kimono My House alb.109101 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/8/6/1/1451687_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1974-01-01 00:00:00.0 true In My Family tra.1281639 227000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281639&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281639&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9482041&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 7 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 9482041 tra.9482041 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Hello Young Lovers alb.9480744 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/6/4/3/1323467_170x170.jpg 2006-03-07 00:00:00.0 2006-03-07 00:00:00.0 true Metaphor tra.9482041 243000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9482041&variant=play&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.9482041&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss