Talent Is an Asset - Sparks | The Midnight Special

[@angellacanfora]

Really one of the most clever and unique rock songs ever recorded, IMO. A song about Albert Einstein as told from the POV of his family. Not only are the lyrics clever but melodically and structurally it's so very interesting. Just genius.

[@kevinramsey417]

Sparks, your favorite band's favorite band.

[@greggower8899]

I’ve been pushing them for the R&R HOF for ten years or more. They’ve been active for over 50 years and more than 25 albums. They deserve it.

[@babettesfeast6347]

Ron’s deadpan scowling is hilarious, What I wouldn’t give to have Russell’s hair.

[@johnjones3714]

Happy to discover some folks who saw this from years ago.

[@regaltip8A]

Please tell me another band that has ever sounded like Sparks. Unique. There is no other. Awesome

[@rolfjosefspiegelhalter]

Word.👍👍👌👌😎😎

[@seminolefantodd4736]

The Quick. Their only album, Mondo Deco, produced by Sparks' original guitarist, Earle Mankey (when they were performing under their original moniker, Half Nelson.) Best example from the album? No No Girl.

[@GreenManalishiUSA]

Sparks on TV in the early 1970s left millions of American viewers (myself included) scratching our heads and wondering, "What the heck was *that*?" Fifty years later, we are just starting to get it. Talk about a band that is always ahead of its audience...

[@ladistar]

Bahahaha right so true

[@DaniRocksaurier]

Thank You very much . R.I.P. Dinkey Diamond🙏

[@michaelmcalister6477]

Best band in the world. Today and always.

[@stingylizard]

This performance blew a lot of minds back in 1974! Mine's still messed up... Thank you,Bros!

[@Merylstreep1949]

Thank you for more early Sparks!!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

You bet!

[@TheBoffomundoShow]

Continuing brilliance from Sparks. New 2023 tracks are as fresh and innovative as the early stuff.

[@mickgreen-tg1zp]

Just catching up with Sparks again after seeing them doing the do at Glastonbury....what a treasure they are...this track is just mind boggling....the lyrics,the voice and delivery...not to mention the great band they had at that time...Albert Einsteins moustache and beard would have surely twitched along to this.A genius song about a genius...

[@M_C79]

I remember watching this as a kid. So exciting to see one of my favorite bands (and the best iteration of Sparks) on TV!

[@tonystevenson26]

I know right ?! When I saw this, the next day I bought Indiscreet and KIMONO.....like Roxy Music...theyre just, Different ....

[@kathybest741]

I saw this way back when, didn't really know what to make of it but absolutely loved it. Still do, everything of theirs I've ever heard. Love the creativity! (And Ron has always been my favorite.)

[@CStack2Ci]

I remember this broadcast! Guitarist plays a Guild S-100, same as I play! Bravo!!

[@therealsoulproduct]

Ever since watching their documentary in 2021, they've become like a musical obsession to me.

[@gonnawatchsomevideos]

Found this channel because of Sparks, stayed because I saw the Focus 'Hocus Pocus' performance. Amazing stuff here and hope there's more from Sparks.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

still a couple more down the line, a few more from Focus also

[@michalvrajik]

@@themidnightspecialtvshow Thank you also for the magnificent King Crimson videos.

[@emcarn8187]

50 years later they are still touring sold out locations and music festivals, like Albert Hall and Glastonbury this year alone. Well done SPARKS!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Yep, they just played Chicago after hitting East Coast US cities.

[@slyasleep]

Albert Hall‘s an asset.

[@robertwalsha1320]

What a great band, with a super-tight performance. Stunning stuff! You can also hear why the band never had mainstream US success: too out there (but great for all the pop/rock connoisseurs) 😀

[@AlmostReady504]

This freaked me out when I was 11...THANK YOU

[@scottlucas9551]

Thank you. This was my introduction to what is still one of my all time favorite groups.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Our pleasure!

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

Loved this band since seeing this in 1974, and they are still going stronger than ever. Highly recommend their documentary by Edgar Wright, The Sparks Brothers.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

OK I went down a rabbit hole learning about this band - VERY FUN AND INTERESTING - they were very talented. Thanks, @themidnightspecialtvshow !

[@SOALNightLive]

I did too. What a fun rabbit hole to spend a few years on.

[@lynnwatson2140]

'Were'? Still are! They're playing at Glastonbury tonight...

[@bartwaggoner2000]

@@lynnwatson2140 Amazing!

[@annabackman3028]

​@@lynnwatson2140 Sold out two nights at Albert Hall too. They had to book a second night, the first was sold out within just a few hours. The second almost that fast. They could probably have sold out a third if the schedule had let them. Playing at the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney's Opera House and The Hollywood Bowl the same tour, I don't think they had never dreamed about that!!

[@Merylstreep1949]

To think, Sparks was B52s type new wave before it was new wave❤cooool I love Sparks!

[@SOALNightLive]

indeed! They were a lot of things before they were cool.

[@rockingirl_82]

THANK YOU, Midnight Special, for uploading this second clip of Sparks 😍❤️😭🙏, highly appreciated! 😊

[@snpok524]

Looking forward to the next Sparks songs.

[@jeffsimmons4686]

Now THAT is a Marshall sound, IMO. I remember seeing this when it aired and that sound is what hooked me. And Ron's antics of course.

[@tonystevenson26]

I love, and also use this guitar tone alot...Great crunchy punky tone...if only this was used on BIG BEAT !! wow

[@chasbodaniels1744]

BB was very different wasn’t it? A lot cleaner and less crunchy, thanks to new producer Rupert Holmes (the Pina Colada Song).

[@annabackman3028]

Big Beat has a pinch a harder rock in it. I'm NOT saying it is touching metal, but it's like when you put a pinch of salt in chocolate, or hot cacao for that matter. It takes you to an other level, whether you like it or not. As a 15 years old, not knowing English enough to get the lyrics or the context of irony for that matter, I HATED BB. After hearing only 'Kimono My House' and 'Propaganda', which I loved, BB felt like a betrayal 😂, and unfortunately I stopped following them, BUT I never stopped listening to the two other albums I had heard (missed 'Indiscreet' totally 😢) I had just rediscovered them when they released 'Hippopotamus', and I decided to listen to the title track first 😂😂😂! I had the same experience as when I heard 'Propaganda', the first one I was introduced to, for the first time. "What the heck is this!?" My second thought this time was "Is this for children??" But I couldn't connect it to something like that, and when ".. a painting by Hieronymus Bosch", I laughed right out, and it stood clear to me, this was, not a joke, but a clever way to describe what kind of stuff you could find in your brain, a day when you have a "aha" moment about yourself. Hieronymus Bosch was a domesday painter in Holland during the fourteenth century. His paintings aren't for sensitive people 😂, and impossibly something kids would relate to. In that moment I realized that I still loved this band, and listened to the album from the beginning to the end, and continued to search for everything I had missed during the years. It turned out to be WAY more than I could ever have dreamed about 😅. It was a great journey to find the treasure of albums, singles and everything else they had created! I still wasn't a fan of BB, but I bought the CD they had re-issued in 2006, with a bunch of bonus songs. I loved them. So much that I could listen to the full album. Maybe it wasn't too bad, after all? There were a couple of really good songs..? Took a look at the lyrics, and suddenly it made sense. Music and lyrics together, yes👍! It's now one of the albums I don't want to lose. Russell's 'Gone with the wind' 💖💖💖💖💖, it makes my day, when the sky is gray and the rain poors 😂❤, also 'Tearing the place apart' has a special place in my heart. From the original album 'Throw her away' and 'I bought the Mississippi River' stand out. 💖 I'm from 🇸🇪 btw.

[@that70sgirl90]

That keyboard player is spooky! Happy Father's Day! ❤️💜💙 Happy Sunday 🕊 Thank you for sharing! 💖

[@kennixox262]

They are still at it in 2023. Both brothers well into their 70's. A lot of Americans have never heard of them and think that they are from the UK, rather than the Southern California natives that they are. Very talented and rather underrated unfortunately. There is a recent documentary on Sparks.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Thanks for watching

[@that70sgirl90]

@kennixox262 That's fantastic! When I went to see ELO in 2019, Jeff Lynne was 72. Still sounded great and looked good. Thank you for sharing! 💖

[@Paul-s1u6d]

I had never heard of them until I seen an episode of "Top of the Pop". Their music is catchy. I really like it.

[@michael0.770]

I remember thinking what the heck is this? A catchy song about Albert Einstein? I was hooked.

[@mariaaguadoball3407]

I vividly remember watching this on its original broadcast. I was 11 & it freaked me right out.

[@kajuiceboi3592]

I could Imagine how surreal it would be finding this on KZbin and watching this for the first time in years!

[@mariaaguadoball3407]

@kajuiceboi3592 YES!!

[@johnwalsh128]

Thanks for uploading this, I can't wait to see any others you have.

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

The other two songs they performed are "Amatuer Hour" and "Here In Heaven". 🙂

[@BIZARBIES]

Guild through a Marshall. Great sounds!

[@tonystevenson26]

CRUNCH !

[@janetsampson1779]

Sparks,a rocked up Edith Piaf,if it works it works,happy Fathers day Larry. Bob

[@robhanhart2730]

Brilliant, love the first albums!!

[@KevinWBrown-cm6fr]

These guys are 👍🏾 awesome. Music is unique and bright. Incredible

[@w.urlitzer1869]

love this

[@333wheeler]

Ron should of kept the old early Halfnelson hairstyle , Was even more scary then IMO.

[@weneedcriticalthinking]

Sparks influenced many bands / artist from Queen to Faith No More and more.

[@ladistar]

Damn for real dude

[@AdrianDunevein]

Theres more scientific terms in that vocal outro than one of Einsteins lectures!

[@squishmallowfan025]

THANK YOU! Moment of truth - I can see why some of the current generation wouldn't like them - it's strident and uncompromising. It's what a real band actually sounds like - I doubt much was done on the recording other than level matching and some slap-back echo. It's sort of like when I first heard early XTC - I just wasn't attuned to it. Attitude is missing a lot these days and appealing to an audience before you even start is a death knell for bands - you won't last.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Nice analysis! XTC is a good example of a band not meant for every ear. It’s impossible for unique artists to make it really big, unless they sell out and make themselves bland enough for the masses.

[@squishmallowfan025]

@@chasbodaniels1744 still...listen to the applause though - there was clearly an appreciative audience here (and on every other Midnight Special performance that's been posted recently). There is still TONS of material out there that will floor an audience - it's the marketers who have no idea what to do with it and who can't (or won't) steer an audience. It's just a shame that those who promote often hinder.

[@Laurasiana]

I brought a recording of this into school when it was new (I was 10) to play for the class. My teacher wouldn’t let me because she couldn’t catch the words Russell Mael was singing! And Ron Mael - mysteriously, the only person appearing in the video for “Coming Up” other than Paul & Linda McCartney.

[@caryheuchert]

It was Paul playing Ron in that video. John Lennon also was a Sparks fan.

[@M_C79]

The album's liner notes had the lyrics!

[@leesyrjanen3947]

Ron Mael has the best stage presence I've ever seen. Charlie Chaplain on keyboards.

[@RuudVandenAkker]

miss the background vocals

[@Paul-s1u6d]

Exactly fifty(50) years ago today.

[@stanleythomas8457]

more please how about Amateur Hour

[@LarryGravesCanadianStudmuffin]

...and Here In Heaven. 😃

[@asac159]

Kimono My House - one of my top 5 albums of the 70s.

[@שאולנקר]

STRANGE. ALMOST DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THIS BAND. REMINDING ME ABIT OF QUEEN, AND THE DARKNESS.

[@friendlier]

One of the best pop songs ever written about Einstein. Er, sorry, I mean the only pop song ever written about Einstein. Someday he will reassess the world And he'll still have time for lots of girls

[@russellbriggs9644]

What about "Einstein A Go Go" by Landscape? Not as good as this though, obviously!

[@seltaeb3302]

Sparks played Glastonbury just, 2023, A much underappreciated act, loved this. Cate Blanchett a big fan came on for one song too. They are identical twins.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

They are not twins... Ron is 3 years older than Russell.

[@_RZ____]

Must have been a big influence on Kate Bush. 1930s Berlin is big in both this and her first two albums.

[@M_C79]

They were hugely influential. Queen would never have become Queen without Sparks breathing down their necks.

[@_RZ____]

@@M_C79 I remember watching the SNL show that night that Joe Cocker was on and John Belushi came out to be him right next to him. Everyone was wearing SPARKS shirts. Maybe 77?

[@M_C79]

@@_RZ____ The glory years of SNL!

[@JClaus1221]

The closest I can get to another band in the sphere of this band is They Might Be Giants. They influenced everything but sounded like nothing else.

[@RoadieShow]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻😀

[@marceloaraujo8728]

☮ 1974 ☮

[@StormLaker]

The funny part is that every new band that has music that's come out in the last 15 years or so has sounded like Sparks- and they try to push themselves off as "indie" or the latest thing in music, haha. Nice try kids- these boys invented it, haha.

[@lauriegiemza4570]

spare those superlatives!

[@whym1014]

Anyone else hearing a high pitched sine wave tone throughout?

[@impalaSS65]

What frequency? The ride cymbal rings at around 2000Hz. Most of the the, though not truly continuous. Quiet during the frequent breaks of course.

[@stuartfishman1044]

Still sad that American ears weren't attuned to Sparks. They were obviously brilliant, but they just weren't heavy enough or masculine enough. They didn't fit neatly into Prog, Hard Rock or Metal. Maybe I'm wrong?

[@impalaSS65]

It is sad that the "gimmicks" you list, might really matter in such extent. I am a hard core metal fan since a toddler. Tattoos to prove it since early teens. I would not deny myself good music just because it doesn't come off like Motörhead in every aspect.

[@ethanblackhurst8593]

A lot longer than the album version.

[@kingofallwhites]

What’s wrong with the keyboard player?

[@mrjimi]

It's part of the act...

[@johnegli1308]

Not a thing. He’s great in persona

[@brucegwynn47]

I swear I was born in 1967 and I love music and all kinds from bowie to skynyrd and lots throughout the 80s , I've never heard of this band sparks, so I see why, I think they suck

[@publicanimal]

It would appear that performing in a live setting was not really where Sparks excelled.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

I didn't know Hitler was in a band. I thought he died in Germany in 1945.

[@alanphair7094]

This was recorded before he died

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Oh, that clears that up. You learn something new everyday.

[@alanphair7094]

@@gregoryduncan3067 every day’s a school day Greg

[@gregoryduncan3067]

That's the truth.

[@parasite674]

😂😂. This reminds me of when I saw a man who looks like Santa Claus play bass guitar in a video.

[@brad6268]

This is why I never heard of them 🙂

[@Rich-iz3jf]

I never understand why people post comments bragging about how ignorant they are.

[@mariaaguadoball3407]

Says more about your lack of popular music knowledge than it does about the band. They've been having success for 50 years now.

[@brad6268]

"Sparks: The greatest band you've never heard of" That would explain it.

[@garydavis9361]

It's a little out in left field, sure, and not for everyone's taste, but that's what made The Midnight Special what it was. It had something for almost everybody.

[@unabhangigkeitfurschottlan1370]

Go back to listening to David Cassidy then.

[@richardmcginnis5344]

when i subscribed it was because there were full hour long videos of the show i remember watching from under the covers as a kid on my older brothers tv not some single song from a band that never had a top 40 hit. so i'm unsubscribing

[@canadianstudmuffin]

They've had a few top 40 songs, and just played 2 sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall...

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

We released a full episode on Friday and have released 9 so far ( 1 every week ). Here is the playlist. Have a blessed day. kzbin.info/aero/PLdQ3g_i8Nrs48a4TcCDU01Zw-7Qh4kukm

[@johnwalsh128]

They've had plenty of top 40 singles, and their last 3 albums have all been top 10 here in the UK. As Larry said, they've just played 2 sold out shows at the royal Albert hall, and they're playing the Hollywood bowl next month. Plus they're one of the most influential and innovative bands of all time.

[@janicetrimmell6897]

@@themidnightspecialtvshow We appreciate all the work you have put in. The full episodes and clips are both treasures. Friday night watch parties are great fun.

[@Rich-iz3jf]

The exits are clearly marked. Thought you should know.

[@williamj1813]

Thanks for sharing but wow! that was an awful song!

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Not as awful as your comment. This band has been making great albums for over 50 years. You're loss...

[@williamj1813]

@@canadianstudmuffinTo each their own, the lady said as she kissed the cow.

[@tonystevenson26]

Just keep right on walking, just keep right on walking 🚶‍♀️ 🎶 🎵....

[@tonystevenson26]

@@williamj1813 Don't leave me alone with HER !

[@williamj1813]

@@tonystevenson26 Sorry Tony, It's too late...she left the farm about a half hour ago and should be at your house in a few minutes.