{"product_id":"sparks-past-tense-best-of-sparks-3xlp-new-vinyl-lp","title":"Sparks - Past Tense - Best Of Sparks [3XLP]  (New Vinyl LP)","description":"\u003cdiv id=\"aec-product-description\" class=\"col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"aec-desc-review collapse\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"aec-desc-label\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"aec-desc-review collapse\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTracklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA1    Sparks–    Wonder Girl\u003cbr\u003eA2    Sparks–    Girl From Germany\u003cbr\u003eA3    Sparks–    This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us\u003cbr\u003eA4    Sparks–    Amateur Hour\u003cbr\u003eA5    Sparks–    Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth\u003cbr\u003eA6    Sparks–    Something For The Girl With Everything\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eB1    Sparks–    Get In The Swing\u003cbr\u003eB2    Sparks–    Big Boy\u003cbr\u003eB3    Sparks–    Forever Young\u003cbr\u003eB4    Sparks–    The Number One Song In Heaven\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eC1    Sparks–    Tryouts For The Human Race\u003cbr\u003eC2    Sparks–    When I'm With You\u003cbr\u003eC3    Sparks–    Funny Face\u003cbr\u003eC4    Sparks–    I Predict\u003cbr\u003eC5    Sparks with Jane Wiedlin–    Cool Places\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eD1    Sparks–    With All My Might\u003cbr\u003eD2    Sparks–    Change\u003cbr\u003eD3    Sparks–    Music That You Can Dance To\u003cbr\u003eD4    Sparks–    So Important\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eE1    Sparks–    When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'\u003cbr\u003eE2    Sparks–    Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat\u003cbr\u003eE3    Sparks–    The Calm Before The Storm\u003cbr\u003eE4    Sparks–    The Rhythm Thief\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eF1    Sparks–    Dick Around\u003cbr\u003eF2    Sparks–    Good Morning\u003cbr\u003eF3    F·F·S*–    Johnny Delusional\u003cbr\u003eF4    Sparks–    Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"mysite","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57428624015704,"sku":null,"price":7.4,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0964\/8324\/6424\/files\/sparks-past-tense-best-of-sparks-3xlp-new-vinyl-lp-583294.jpg?v=1780465026","url":"https:\/\/ateliervinyls.com\/products\/sparks-past-tense-best-of-sparks-3xlp-new-vinyl-lp","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}