Vinyl Community - Sparks albums ranked

Here I list the albums of Sparks in order of preference.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

I was wrong about the Seduction album... review coming soon. :D

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi Larry, I've been watching your Sparks reviews (of course!) and was looking forward to your review of The Seduction album. You've just SPOILED it for me!!! LOL. Seriously, thanks for commenting!

[@comeonuirons]

Oh no the Irish canadian studmuffin.....

[@CookieMusic43]

I've read your comment and I have to give it 10 out of 10. It's a 10 out of 10!

[@jesuschambers]

So good to see another ranking of this unappreciated band that deserve more acclaim and respect. I'm a huge fan too, having seeing them live many times and they never disappoint. Your top 3 are definitely their best albums but I have a soft soft for Big Beat as it's possibly their heaviest album full of catchy tunes and loud guitars. Deserves a higher position on your ranking.

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately I have never seen them live. I would loved to have been able to go to some (if not all) of the full album shows they did in London back in around 2008.

[@jesuschambers]

@@CookieMusic43 I went to the Propaganda concert and of course for the Big Beat night too. Both gigs were amazing. I don't know any other band that could've done what they did. How original and brilliant!

[@CookieMusic43]

@@jesuschambers Fantastic!

[@MrEjw3]

Richard, love your taste in music and your impressive collection; especially the 45s. I've known of Sparks for decades but never heard much other than Moon over Kentuckey off a compilation album from Warner Bros. I found a copy of Indiscreet last year and started listening to their albums online, as most are really expensive. They were always in the cut out bins back in the day(70s), but I wasn't adventurous enough at that time to snag them. I'm glad I own your #1 choice and will have to give it another spin. Keep posting the great videos, always cool to see what you have. Maybe one on all the Sparks singles if you haven't done one already! Take care, Eric

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks Eric. One of the main reasons I rate Sparks so highly is that their albums are so diverse and there is nothing more diverse than Indiscreet. Songs like Hospitality On Parade and Under The Table With Her are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

[@CalicoSilver]

Richard, you should tell Larry about this video (if you haven't already), as I'm sure he'd like to see it!

[@CookieMusic43]

I'll maybe look out his ranking video and make a comment. Hope he gives me a 10 out of 10 lol

[@CalicoSilver]

@@CookieMusic43 Richard, maybe you can help me understand something that baffles me. For some reason, it is considered a "no-no" to make a comment on another person's video if that comment mentions one's own video..... I have found that on the very FEW occasions when I've dared to make this grievous infraction when commenting on another's video, the comment goes completely ignored, even when the video I am suggesting would surely be of interest to the KZbinr to whom I am posting the comment. So I no longer even bother doing it any more. It is a shame, I think. I realize that no one wants a buch of self-promoting crap on their comments section, but if it DIRECTLY relates, why the serious big-deal? Haha!

[@CookieMusic43]

@@CalicoSilver I know if you include a link to a video in a comment youtube will deem it as spam and the person will not even be able to see the comment.

[@CalicoSilver]

@@CookieMusic43 I know that you can't include an actual link, so I've never done that. I've, in two separate occasions, merely suggested to the two KZbinrs that they "check out" my video on the exact same topic. No acknowledgment of any kind resulted, whereas if I just praise the same two KZbinrs for their videos and keep it at that, they always acknowledge or respond at that. So I do think it is considered by many to be "in bad taste" to even mention a similar related video, for some reason. Again, I've only done this a few times when I first started making videos, but no more. Personally, I like it when people comment on my channel and direct me to another video. Maybe I will make a video about this topic! Haha!

[@CookieMusic43]

@@CalicoSilver That's actually a great idea for a video!

[@liveanadventure429]

I love interior design, I’m just getting into sparks and i think this album is my favourite so far

[@SteveWhitty1965]

Excellent video Richard. I could not argue with the top 3 though I would have probably chosen Kimono My House as my number 1. It's a reminder that I need to listen and purchase more Sparks for the collection. Have a great weekend. - Steve

[@CookieMusic43]

cheers, Steve

[@robwalkerletthemusicplay]

Hi Richard very impressive collection . I have 4 sparks albums you don’t see their albums out and about I’ll use this as a reference point . I remember sparks playing 22 nights A lot of the songs they’d never played live ! Like you I wish I’d been to a few of those gigs . Great video as usual... I have your top 3 albums ✔️

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi Rob, I'll guess that the 4th album you have is No. 1 in Heaven??

[@robwalkerletthemusicplay]

Richard McCook hi Richard no it’s terminal jive I shoes it in one of my earl haul videos think I picked it up in February. I have the ffs album on cd .. my 23 year old son loves sparks he’s been well trained! He saw sparks and franz at Glastonbury a few years ago

[@johnwalsh128]

It was 21 albums in 21 nights, exotic creatures of the deep was the 21st, so it was all to promote that album.

[@marcbergeron8690]

1. Propaganda 2. Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins 3. Hello Young Lovers 4. FFS (Sparks is only one third of the band but it is so good) 5. Hippopotamus 6. A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (ex-aequo with Hippopotamus) 7. Indiscreet 8. Angst in My Pants 9. Kimono My House 10. Whomp That Sucker 11. A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing 12. No. 1 in Heaven 13. Lil' Beethoven 14. Interior Design (Underrated) 15. Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat (Very underrated The Song That Sings Itself is one of their best) 16. In Outer Space 17. Introducing Sparks 18. Big Beat 19. Exotic Creatures of the Deep 20. Balls 21. Sparks [Halfnelson] 22. Music That You Can Dance To 23. The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman 24. Terminal Jive (The only Sparks album that I consider bad)

[@CookieMusic43]

Really pleased to see Interior Design do quite well. I'm a bit surprised Kimon only made no. 9 though

[@marcbergeron8690]

@@CookieMusic43 It's low I acknowledge but it's because the others are so good. And I would even say that 9, 10, 11,12 ,13, 14 are about ex-aequo.

[@paddymitchell4995]

Great review Richard would love to know where you would place A steady drip drip drip in your rankings

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks Paddy, at the moment I would have it mid table. I find it very similar to Hippopotamus in sound but as yet all the tracks have not sunk in. A good album but a grower!

[@annabackman3028]

I can explain the rabbits on the 'Hello Young Lovers' album. Rabbits are known for one thing, to REPRODUCE from young age, and very often. I hope you get the joke in that.

[@DG-ez4bo]

Thanks, Rich. We agree on a lot, but that's what makes a market. Odd how you don't say where you are from...exactly. I'm from Chicago

[@CookieMusic43]

Thanks for the comment. Often I have people disagree with my rankings, which is fine, but it's even more special when some people agree. I'm from Northern Ireland. I'm sure the Irish accent would give it away

[@shadshowadradna]

This seems like a good ranking although I don't have _all_ the albums - I wish I did. I daresay I could do something about that... Exotic Creatures Of The Deep has been re-released on double vinyl fairly recently, btw, although I think they're all green vinyl. I have the FFS one on vinyl too. I also love the Interior Design cover; I don't think Larry did. Neither of you like the rabbits but I love that one too.

[@CookieMusic43]

I must look out for the vinyl of Exotic Creatures and I really must give the CD of FFS another spin!

[@johnbellamy3406]

Hi Richard, I would struggle to rank your top three here. They are the only three I play by Sparks. When I got into Muse a few years ago I couldn't help noticing just how much they must have listened to Sparks in their youth. Cheers

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi John, yea those three are probably the most popular of all their albums. I know very little about Muse apart from a couple of songs that appeared on the Twilight soundtracks which were forced on me.

[@johnbellamy3406]

I have a couple of CDs by Muse that I will send you if you can somehow get your address to me Richard. I think you would enjoy them and their Sparks-like charm.

[@babettesfeast6347]

Would you do an updated video to include there two new albums and the soundtrack album to Annette?

[@CookieMusic43]

I will do soon.

[@CREANER]

They are a band I’ve always meant to explore further and I’m surprised I haven’t because I bought Propaganda and Kimono My House on record and I played them to death they were that good. I have No 1 in Heaven in CD but it rarely gets a spin. Maybe it’s time to look up more. 👍

[@CookieMusic43]

I really recommend Indiscreet, Paul

[@user-ys3qq6rf6z]

good work greetings from poland

[@CookieMusic43]

thanks for commenting

[@dixielandfarm]

I'm a Sparks fan and have talked about them a bit in the past, but not a full video. I would also love to see them, but they hardly play in the States. There is a good book about Sparks that you can get a kindle version of that I recommend. I'm surprised you rated Introducing so high - I find it hard to get into, maybe I need to relisten again. I also pick Indiscreet as their best, as well as Kimono #2, Propaganda #3.

[@CookieMusic43]

Hi Kris or is it Chris), It's crazy that Sparks did not achieve success during the 1970's in the states but at least they found moderate success there in the early 80's. I do have a Sparks books which goes through the making of each of their albums. Great read!

[@dixielandfarm]

Kris with a K. My mom had a thing for Kris Kristofferson.

[@girlfromgermany]

This year their new album "A Steay Drip, Drip, Drip" was released. What do you think about that? How would you rank it?

[@CookieMusic43]

I've listened to it a few times and it's starting to grow on me. At the moment I'd rank it mid table

[@davidheafield1436]

That was a treat for me to come home , switch on the iPad and find you reviewing Sparks , before I clicked “start” I went and got a Magnum out of the freezer so I could settle down and enjoy..... Only 2 “WTF!” disagreement moments were you putting “Plagiarism” so low down and “Interial Design” so high up , I’ve tried so hard over the years to make that album try and click with me but nope , I’m with the rest of the world on this one ...it’s crap and I hate that it is....I want to like it..... My two favourite American bands are Ramones and Sparks and neither gleaned any support from their own home country in their life times despite what Americans may claim now. I’ve always admired Ron Mael’s and Steve Harley’s command of the English language and ability to write great “wordery” lyrics out of it and I’ve always regarded both of them to be our generations Bob Dylan , well certainly mine anyway. I think I may have mentioned this before to you but I had the fortunate opportunity to interview Russell Mael in Cambridge for an hour or so before a gig and it remains a highlite of my life.

[@CookieMusic43]

I know I'm in the minority with Interior Design, Dai. Interviewing Russell Mael. How cool and nerve wracking is that!

[@davidheafield1436]

Richard McCook ....... my mate was a good wanna-be photographer and got a page writing for the local rag every week , there was a mutual benefit agreement between his page in the paper and the major Cambridge venues he would get free entrance and a photographer pass in return for advertising upcoming gigs and a review afterwards. He was a customer of mine when I had my second hand record shop and knew I loved Sparks , so on the day of the gig he asked me to come along and do the interview on his behalf as he knew I knew my onions about Sparks and wasn’t going to just re-hash the old “ This town ain’t big enough” tropes they must be sick of talking about. The interview itself was only with Russell as Ron cried off due to having a cold but he was very friendly and put you at your ease. The only minor disagreement came from it being a last minute thing was that I didn’t have a tape recorder to record the interview only a cam-corder which I was going to set up for visuals and audio to transcribe at home but he was dead against me recording visuals of him so I had to put the camera away and sneakily turn it on just to capture the audio between us...it was that or nothing. My mate took a load of photos onstage and backstage with me and Russell and printed them off for me in return for doing the interview so I’ve got some nice photos of the both of us , I’ve even still got the audio interview somewhere ? ...but it’s very muffled and lo-fi due to the recording conditions He autographed my white vinyl copy of “Hello Young Lovers” that I took along , once on the glossy sleeve that smeared quite badly so he re-signed again on the label. ......it was a smashing day out for me

[@CookieMusic43]

@@davidheafield1436 How cool is that? Do you remember what album they were promoting or was it in the middle of that marathon of all their albums?

[@davidheafield1436]

Richard McCook .....it would have been whatever tour or limited date “tour” that was nearest to the release of “Hello Young Lovers”. Like you I wish I had gone to at least a few of the 22 albums in 22 days residency , but didn’t .... I was fortunate enough to get someone to buy the Vinyl version of Lil’ Beethoven from the concert they did in London , in fact they bought me 4 copies of it and it’s remained a very scarce album to get on vinyl. I don’t know why it legally had to have such a limited UK only release. By the way , if you ever get chance to buy the white vinyl version of “Hello Young Lovers” tread carefully , as it has a reputation of being a bad pressing and indeed my copy of it “skips” on one track

[@iconicshrubbery]

Lifelong Sparks fan here.Adding my grain of salt.Thanks for your ranking, an impossible task for me. 1970s.First two albums great especially Woofer. Subsequent three British phase albums superb.Return to US albums, Big Beat and Introducing.. uninspired,just biding their time before the "love explosion comes" of Tryouts for the Human Race on No 1 in Heaven , 1979,sent them into a fantastic world of Moroder- inspired Ronald/Roland electronics( + live drummers).Love all of their 1980s stuff, why not? dancey, pulsating synthesiser work, fun songs,my fav.being Interior Design (melodic pop), BUT then they disappeared from sight.. Until 1994,inauspicious Gratuitous return , then into 2000s with the rollicking Balls, amazing Hello Young Lovers and wonderful Bergman 'mini-opera', for me their last great ouvre. The latest stuff (and I mean the last 10 years)"Just doesn't Cut it for me"( to quote Frankly Scarlett..) It's the Maels' final bows. But I am getting on a bit.. Favourite- Propaganda Worst- Big Beat/the overrated Lil Beethoven experiment. Sorry😖