I remember watching this live, and thinking how awesome Ron Mael was. I think they also did "Mickey Mouse" as their other song. I had the "Angst in My Pants" album, it was pretty fun (+1 to "Eaten By The Monster Of Love"). Anyone in L.A. remember KIQQ? They played this song a lot.

What's the deal with Hitler Gilligan?

staplermofo: Hitler Gilligan

Perfect.

There's a big part down at the alle1e pool tonight.

I have a mustache so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

Live - 1974 (new window)

One of their better known tunes starts at approx 3:20

This should explain the moustache. (new window)

"I tried a handlebar design
My Fu Manchu was real fine
My Ronald Colman made 'em blink
My Pancho Villa made 'em think
But when I trimmed 'em real small
My Jewish friends would never call."

Tips for Teens (new window) is another classic.

Didn't watch the video, but I read the headline as "Danny InVitro."

I remember listening to a record of theirs "Indiscreet" and I thought that the lead singer had a french [or other european] accent at first... lolz
I thought the record was ok... poppy and catchy in places but also a little boring and a little weird too...

[this is coming from a guy who listens to Devo and Talking Heads and XTC]

maybe i'll get into them thru another record...

this clip was pretty good, too
looks like the lead singer is having a lot of fun,
and Ron isn't having any.... lolz so serious

I tend to agree with Third Uncle Eno on the whole, but I still have a soft spot for Sparks. Their records are really spotty, but there's at least one or two real gems on any given album. You could make one really kick-ass compilation spanning their 35-year-plus career.

I've now seen/heard Sparks twice in my life; the night this was originally broadcast and right now. My reaction was the same each time and sounded like this: *click*

I liked that. I'm not too familiar with a lot of their muzak (aside from a couple of dance tracks and that horrid duet w/ Jane Weidlin (sp)). I think I'll have to dig up this album and check it out!!!

Oh - and I like how one of the keyboardists re-arranged the letters on his "Roland" synth to "Ronald".

Man, Sparks is a such an acquired taste ..... and AWESOME acquired taste! Took me years to get into them, but when I finally did I was totally pissed at myself for missing out on how f*cking great they are all those years.

Better late than never.

well Walt_Jizzney beat me to it [shakes fist]

but what makes it even more clever is that Ronald is his name!
[him and the lead singer are brothers, if i'm not mistaken]

carmody
Their records are really spotty, but there's at least one or two real gems on any given album.

THIS.
you hit the nail on the head.

Had friends who were big fans of theirs... I had one album -- the only song I remember is this one. Sounds like an Eric Carmen song...


DrBenway neither condones nor participates in the practice of rickrolling.

"Whomp That Sucker" & "Angst In My Pants" are near-perfect albums...shouldn't be obscure

My sister-in-law ended up seeing the original release of "The Empire Strikes Back" in 70MM @ the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood with their backing band, Gleaming Spires(yeah, the song from "The Revenge of The Nerds") she said they cracked jokes the whole time that actually improved the moviegoing experience

A link for the non-haters;
Link (new window)

Walt_Jizzney: Oh - and I like how one of the keyboardists re-arranged the letters on his "Roland" synth to "Ronald".

That's because YAMAHA was a SNL sponsor.

Walt_Jizzney: Oh - and I like how one of the keyboardists re-arranged the letters on his "Roland" synth to "Ronald".

il Dottore: That's because YAMAHA was a SNL sponsor.


That sort of thing's not that unusual -- scrambling up the letters, that is. People do it all the time for a giggle, unless the manufacturer is one of their equipment sponsors.

You know who else had a mustache like that ?....

berniex: You know who else had a mustache like that ?....

Holy fark. Is that the first time this joke is in context? And which one of the seven signs is that?

carmody: there's at least one or two real gems on any given album

I have an "only listened to once" copy of Big Beat. I didn't like anything on it. I lost interest and never really listened to anything that came after it.

berniex: You know who else had a mustache like that ?....

Charlie Chaplin?

Dick Around

I've always considered it Hitlers most devastating effect on society as a whole... the fact that No-One can wear one of those mustaches now.. he ruined it for all of us.

Boy, the pixelation in that video is really distracting...
(What is this rhine-stone you speak of?)

The new Dirtbombs record has a great cover of Sparks' Sherlock Holmes.

My wife and I had a few of their albums back in their heyday. She liked them more than I did but they always did have a few tunes that I enjoyed on each record.

/Achoo always cracked me up

OMG I still love Sparks, my husband still just doesn't get them...

Now ya made me go get out those big round vinyl things, this is gonna be an all nighter.

Angst In My Pants was the first album I ever bought based solely on the name. I mean, come on. There it was, "ANGST IN MY PANTS", just sitting there. How could I not buy it?

If you want some Sparks fun, go rent yourself a copy of Helen Hunt's first movie. They were a blast in it....