This long-overdue book charts the career of Sparks from 1969 to 1979. Every album and every song is examined, including some which are still officially unreleased, beginning with their early recordings as Halfnelson/Sparks and when they were a band of five. After that band split, Ron and Russell Mael retained the name and spent much of the seventies working with a succession of sidemen and collaborators, although this was not always evident to some! They ended the seventies on a high note with the collaboration with Gorgio Moroder for 'No. 1 In Heaven'.
Many who worked on their records have shared their thoughts in the book. The list includes Dean Detrick, Simon Draper, Harley Feinstein, Martin Gordon, Ian Hampton, Rupert Holmes, James Lowe, Sal Maida, James Mankey, John Mendelsohn, Adrian Munsey, Ralph Oswald, Peter Oxendale, Mike Piggott, Terry Rae, Thom Rotella, Suzi Ronson, Paul Rudolph, Richard Digby Smith, Karl Stoecker, David Swanson, Trevor White, Muff Winwood and Luke Zamperini.
But this book adds much new information for fans as well as lively opinions on the records. It's essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about how Sparks developed in the decade which saw them create much of their best work.
Chris Sutton has been a Sparks fan since their legendary debut on Top Of The Pops in 1974. His favourite album by them is their second, A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing. He manages Smethwick Heritage Centre museum, for whom he has written several publications and he has also written several plays. This is his fifth book on music, following on from books on Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and AC/DC. He also writes for Power Play magazine, and has contributed to a documentary on Alice Cooper.