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Elly Roberts reviews
UM3/Island
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 10/10+
1974 was big year for the Mael brothers aka Sparks.
Containing two hit singles This Town Aint Big Enough andAmateur Hour, their 1974 groundbreaking third album Kimono MyHouse gets a dust-down, with bonus material, memorabilia, lyricsand sleevenotes.
Androgynous older Russell and poker-faced younger Ron Mael made a phenomenalimpact with their single and album. John Lennon quipped at the time, “Looktheres Hitler on the telly.”. As the ’70s rolled on, they lost theirappeal, though theyve resurfaced in recent years.
Formed in LA in 1971, the eccentric brothers, whose birthdates are opento question, began their careers using (Rons) witty lyrics and eclectic popstyles, fascinating both fans and critics alike. They continue to do so,found on 2006’s Hello Young Lovers and single Dick Around,recently premiered on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.
Early on, Sparks were having more success in the UK than back home in theStates, so they relocated here. With producer Muff Winwood (brother of Steve),Kimono featured Russells quavering falsetto with Rons odd lyrics pooledinto idiosyncratic avante garde pop, setting new standards in the process.
In the sleevenotes by Uncut deputy editor Paul Lester, Russell is quotedsaying, “We just wanted to make music that was challenging, fresh and new.”They certainly did that. All tracks are gems: total grand gestures to theirincredibly forward looking philosophy.
Best of a great bunch This Town, Equator and Talent Is An Asset.
Still a timeless classic.
Also re-mastered under 21st Century Classics are Sparks Propaganda,Indiscreet and Big Beat.
Weblink:allsparks.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. This Town Aint Big Enough For both Of Us
2. Amateur Hour
3. Falling In Love With Myself Again
4. Here In Heaven
5. Thank God Its Not Christmas
6. Hasta Manana, Monsieur
7. Talent Is An Asset
8. Complaints
9. In My Family
10. Equator
BONUS TRACKS.
11. Barbecutie
12. Lost And Found
13. Amateur Hour (At Fairfield Halls 9.11.75)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.