http://mp3.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, 2 Dec 2009 22:52:03 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314925&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314925 tra.18314925 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 Eaten By The Monster Of Love tra.18314925 179000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314925&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314925&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281366&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1999 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281366 tra.1281366 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 Cool Places tra.1281366 280000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281366&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281366&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314915&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314915 tra.18314915 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 Angst In My Pants tra.18314915 207000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314915&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314915&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177474&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177475&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2177475 tra.2177475 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 Amateur Hour tra.2177475 217000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177475&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177475&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314920&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314920 tra.18314920 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 Mickey Mouse tra.18314920 199000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314920&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314920&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314916&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314916 tra.18314916 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 I Predict tra.18314916 173000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314916&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314916&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1987903&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Mon, 1 Jan 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1987903 tra.1987903 Sparks art.68618 0.99 The Best Of Sparks alb.132114 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/3/8/0/390832_170x170.jpg 1990-07-30 00:00:00.0 1979-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Music That You Can Dance To tra.1987903 263000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1987903&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1987903&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553385&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281637&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 1281637 tra.1281637 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 Thank God It's Not Christmas tra.1281637 307000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281637&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281637&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281364&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23956407&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Wed, 1 Jan 1975 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 23956407 tra.23956407 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Indiscreet alb.23949951 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/5/5/1/1451555_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 1975-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Hospitality On Parade tra.23956407 239000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23956407&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23956407&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759583&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Mon, 1 Jan 1979 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2759583 tra.2759583 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Terminal Jive alb.234400 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/2/2/1282243_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1979-01-01 00:00:00.0 true When I'm With You tra.2759583 348000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759583&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759583&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314921&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281635&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314924&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177477&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2177477 tra.2177477 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 Talent Is An Asset tra.2177477 201000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177477&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177477&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314917&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Fri, 1 Jan 1982 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 18314917 tra.18314917 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 Sextown U.S.A. tra.18314917 179000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314917&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.18314917&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759589&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Wed, 1 Jan 1997 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 2759589 tra.2759589 Sparks art.68618 0.99 Plagiarism alb.234399 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/8/4/2/1282484_170x170.jpg 2004-08-31 00:00:00.0 1997-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Angst In My Pants tra.2759589 319000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759589&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2759589&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2177476&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.1281636&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984768&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss New Wave Tue, 1 Jan 1974 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Sparks on Rhapsody Online 23984768 tra.23984768 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 Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth tra.23984768 147000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984768&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984768&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984774&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.23984766&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&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://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28553386&variant=data&rws=%2Fsparks-2%2Ftop-tracks.rss