SPARKS • PROPAGANDA • Live at Carling Academy 20 May 2008-Complete Show, New Edit / Re-Construction

So in the spring / summer of 2008 the most adventurous and constantly intriguing band Sparks embarked upon the unthinkable: performing every single one of their (at the time) 20 albums live in their entirety to lead up to the premiere of their (at the time) new album ‘Exotic Creatures of the Deep.’ This all took place in England and I’m forever jealous of those who were lucky enough to attend. I myself had literally just graduated high school in the States and could in no feasible way be there; however, those of who weren’t lucky enough to be there in person were thankfully able to watch the shows via live stream. Most of us have still been holding out hope for an eventual “official” release of these shows, where several of the songs performed were surely done so for the first and only time, but 13 years later…it doesn’t look promising. I got a little tired of waiting myself and had been wondering recently if it would be at all possible to edit a complete show from the fan-shot videos and so forth we have available thus far, and so this crazy project began.
‘Propaganda’ is most definitely, and has been for quite some time, my absolute favorite album of all time, so I myself am absolutely overjoyed not only to finally have the full, complete live performance but also to have been gifted with such a clear and wonderful audience audio recording to serve as the basis of the audio mix you’ll hear here. Thanks again to another anonymous source for the full webcast (again with a few video freezes throughout, and an unfortunate skip near the beginning of “Who Don’t Like Kids” which has been covered here by a few photographs taken by fans at the show) and of course for the KZbin uploads from dcee73, Sparksfannr1, debaswas, Danny Box, and LillyCumming.
No copyright infringement intended, all rights belong to their respective owners. I make no money from this project and it is merely a new edit by a longtime fan FOR the fans. Please enjoy and let me know what you think! All my best xxtyler
PROPAGANDA
Originally released 1974
Performed live at Carling Academy 20 May 2008
SET LIST:
00:00:00 - (Introduction)
00:00:50 - Propaganda
00:01:12 - At Home, At Work, At Play
00:04:43 - Reinforcements
00:09:22 - B.C.
00:12:22 - Thanks But No Thanks
00:16:47 - Don’t Leave Me Alone With Her
00:20:13 - Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
00:23:14 - Something for the Girl With Everything
00:26:10 - Achoo
00:30:48 - Who Don’t Like Kids
00:35:59 - Bon Voyage
00:41:20 - (Band Intro / Intermission)
00:47:10 - Lost and Found
00:50:30 - (Exit)
BAND:
Russell Mael (vocals)
Ron Mael (keyboards)
Steve MacDonald (bass)
Steven Nistor (drums)
Jim Wilson (guitar & backing vocals)
Marcus Blake (guitar & backing vocals)

[@marcbergeron8690]

Always a real pleasure to listen to this old masterpiece. Never got tired of. I think it's Sparks' best album.

[@tomshaw6373]

I've leaned that way for a long time. It doesn't have a dead track. Then again, most of their albums don't have one.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

@@tomshaw6373 well, some of their albums have better and worse songs. These are almost on a consistent level, all equally catchy with single potential, you might find fans of each song who call it their favourite.

[@dennisschmieder7684]

I completely agree.

[@davehimlin2374]

Imagine having to remember all these lyrics , that alone is a difficult but then having to sing all these melodies. Imho , this album should be in the top 10 greatest selling albums of all time....its criminal that 99% of music fans never heard it.

[@bluestephenson3246]

I’m so jealous of every person that got to see this brilliance

[@chasbodaniels1744]

They played the UK this Spring, and completed their US Tour last Sunday night (15 July 2023) at the Hollywood Bowl. Still killing it!

[@bluestephenson3246]

@@chasbodaniels1744 saw them twice during the UK leg of the tour - amazing on both occasions. Was even fortunate enough to meet them backstage at one of them! Sparks are the gift that keeps on giving.

[@Teeb2023]

Same, I would have loved to see this live.

[@davehimlin2374]

This is utterly incredible...they sound just like the damn album and to be able to do that at their age, is insane...This whole album is as great as any Beatles Album IMHO..

[@harrymapex]

Sparks and Cardiacs........since the Beatles, have re-inspired my belief in music worth listening to.

[@L0REN0R2Z0RR0]

TMBG for me, but Sparks was recently added to my list

[@cdeccles]

Sparks, Cardiacs, Napalm Death covering Cardiacs

[@paddymitchell4995]

My favourite album of all time.

[@georgieramone]

I wish I was there

[@manmoth_1990]

The energy on "Don't Leave Me Alone With Her". They rocked the shit out of that one! One of my favorite songs by far, and they almost never played it live. That must be such a hard song vocally. It spans like at least 4 octaves I think. And they played "Lost And Found"! Another absolute gem of a deep cut. What a band...

[@darrellminx5459]

A sparks day is always a Good day.

[@genomizer2763]

Thank you so very much uploading this concert!!!I have loved SPARKS since 1974 as I was 10 years old and now that I´m 58 years young I still love Sparks. This is such a treat to me and my ears. I think that this album, ”PROPAGANDA” is Sparks´best album ever, Thank you so much!!!

[@pascalnuevayork]

Always thought '' Something for the girl.... '' was a masterpiece. The singing is incredibly difficult. How in the world does he manage it ?

[@cdeccles]

DOn't leave me alone with her: you can tell he loves singing it and still hits the high notes at 60!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

And he’s still doing it at age 74! Sparks just finished their US 2023 Tour, and flew to Japan for their next leg. (Ron is 77.)

[@zachjohnson637]

Love Ron dancing to that killer riff in Who Don't Like Kids. I wish they would release these shows in some kind of massive Blu-ray set.

[@3ld919]

Look at that, Steven McDonald,bass player of Redd Kross, The Melvins, Off & only God know what other bands. The guy is a legend playing with one of the most legendary bands of all time and I bet he is absolutely loving it.

[@dennisschmieder7684]

Tyler - This a gift to the world. Thank you so much! Probably my favorite Sparks album, but ask me tomorrow because it might change 😊

[@philbell2054]

I have been lucky enough to have seen them live three times now and all 3 performances where amazing, truly incedible what talent .... and to still be producing such music after all these years is a testiment to their genius......keep on going guys .

[@thomaslasch567]

Thank you Tyler. The chance to hear a couple of these live rarities is a real treat.

[@scousesonata]

Brilliant! Only saw Sparks live once in Liverpool, UK 1975. Thank you for the upload.

[@garrystubbs4891]

Me too, I was there at the Liverpool Empire...

[@ronaldcatullus]

How do you guys feel about that faux accent Russ puts on? I’m American and it makes me cringe (lovingly)

[@ezioauditore6038]

My 1st Sparks album. Holds a special place in my heart.

[@lennyl1978]

I saw Kimono My house which was brilliant, couldn't make it to see this unfortunately as Propaganda is my favourite Sparks album.

[@welcometocircuscamp6540]

Amazing

[@chrisbrac]

mille fois merci pour ces concerts inoubliables .21 albums joués a la suite chaque soir ,( il faut le savoir)unique au monde

[@robdavidson1876]

First album had of Sparks absolutely loved it!

[@tomallen5837]

likewise, my first. Kudos!

[@cupnoodle72]

An historic event…but still, people are talking through it! 🤬

[@andrewjsmith4585]

I was there. A magnificent night. Jim Wilson: guitar hero!

[@AquaMenTonyM]

Amazing! Thank you very much! This is gold! Blessings!

[@harrymapex]

"Thanks but no thanks" and "Bon voyage"............WOW!

[@todgordon6300]

Tyler - A zillion and one thanks for uploading this video for us early period Sparks fans. Propaganda is my fave of the bunch. Hearing Sparks perform with a full backing band is great!

[@rsmith7912]

It was the best month of my life & Tyler, you've done a great job in producing the full concert as it was. So well done & thank you. I can hear all my wooohs too which is kinda wild. Being a Sparks fan from back in '74/'75 it was amazing just how much of a deluge of real good music there was coming out from the band. 'Kimono' is my best ever album but 'Propaganda' is my 2nd & so this was a very special night. It's a shame I didn't get to see myself in the audience at the end as we're all leaving. I must have been nearer the front having a blast. I think I'm the luckiest Sparks fan tho as I only live 5 minutes from the venue. For the Spectacular to happen on my front doorstep almost was the ultimate gift. I must have been a good boy to deserve all that fun!!

[@gdmcv343]

Thanks for posting. This was the first album I bought. Got it in Dunoon.

[@osakajane]

Thank you very much again for sharing this precious footage !!

[@neilvincent5524]

Love it Tyler! Thanks so much for posting this. I was lucky enough to attend the Indiscreet show a day or so later - my own favourite Sparks album - and then the one at the end where they debuted the new album. Such a feat for the brothers and this amazing band to learn or re-learn hundreds of songs, some of which had never been performed live before

[@kramkalisthenics]

Unbelievably great!

[@tomshaw6373]

Might be my favorite of their albums. So hard to choose just one though.

[@mizfontia]

Again, GREAT job with this labor of love! With this show I am re-living such happy memories. Back then I was the only SPARKS fan I knew, and now I am loving seeing so many around the world!

[@pa609]

Sparks at their best.

[@karitoivonen93]

Thank you!

[@rafaa151]

Great job!!!

[@annabackman3028]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! 💓😍 This is the closest we who missed this unbelievable event ever will come, and yet that's much more than I could dream of.👍👌🤩😁😄 'Propaganda' was the first I heard of Sparks, will always have a special place in my heart 💖

[@robdavidson1876]

First album Sparks I bought Emma wanted them all after that!

[@andreylarex188]

Кто -нибудь из русскоязычных слушает,или я один такой повернутый,любимый альбом молодости....

[@сергейжидов-д7ф]

я слушаю Пропаганду с 1974 года,а сейчас в течении года слушаю a Steady Drip.Drip.Drip ,вышедший в мае 2020 года и тогда свежайших два клипа про All That и Lownmower

[@АлександрПлотников-р4ц]

И мой тоже.

[@tomallen5837]

I feel so liberated knowing that these two have now been exonerated in 2021. I am one of perhaps 10 people on Long Island in the '70s, who worshipped this band. Looking forward to the movie, and haven't seen the documentary yet, but the tickets here in Los Angeles to see the band next year are upwards of $500. Yikes!!! I think I'll need some financial reinforcements. Love you Sparks, but can you just go back to being unpopular again... for one night?

[@hauntinloves04]

Exonerated? Did something happen?

[@andreacorol7531]

Great Tyler, a fantastic job ! I had wanted to do it myself for years but it wouldn't come out as good as yours. I see that you call it a "new edit" which I think is an improvement of the previous one. In case you need it I have some of the pieces you seem to miss from the show (those video freezes). And also from the "Kimono" night. Let me know if you need them.

[@rafaa151]

Have these widescreen footage filmed by you? Really an excellent job!!!

[@rafaa151]

Is sadly only that these great Widescreen footage seems in lower resolution.

[@davidames1746]

just graduated high school...

[@dominiquemontgomery403]

Thanks But No Thanks!!!!!

[@wendythomson2542]

As a disabled fan I have a huge problem with the words to "Achoo". "When the invalids sing" is an appalling lyric, not big, not clever and hugely disappointed in them for including it on their Best of album of 2019. You'd think by then they'd know better than that. Apart from that the rest of it is okay but they have done far better before and since,

[@barenjuden3911]

This is going in my hall of fame of people being shamelessly pathetic. Screencapped.

[@bluestephenson3246]

@@barenjuden3911mine too 😂 Im going to go out on a limb here as I have never met wendythomson2542, but something tells me that you might want to think twice before inviting her to a party… Why comment that on this video? Let alone at all!

[@barenjuden3911]

Thanks!!