SPARKS

Ruud · Groupie Joined: 22 Jan 2002 Posts: 141 Location: Holland

For those interested, I've published a new chapter on the FanMael's website section The Albums Project. It concerns a prequel to the first official recordings, 1966-1971.

https://www.fanmael.nl/the-albums-project-1/prequel-1966-1971

Been there already for a couple of months but forgot to mention it here.

Cheers,
Ruud

Oscar · Power Groupie Joined: 10 Oct 2002 Posts: 413

Great read! Thanks for posting.

leslie hanagan · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 1:19 pm Post subject:

Excellent work Ruud.
In the photo of Russell and Earle in between the notes on 'Johnny's Adventure' and 'Roger', is that Ron in the background?

Oscar · Power Groupie Joined: 10 Oct 2002 Posts: 413

Think that's gotta be Ron

Oscar · Power Groupie Joined: 10 Oct 2002 Posts: 413

Really hope to hear those other three Urban Renewal Project songs one day!

aussie · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 5:06 am Post subject:

Enjoyed reading about the very early days
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bryan_davey · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:19 pm Post subject:

brilliant !!!

MrMonte · Power Groupie Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 409

That was a great read - I really enjoyed the history and the great photos. Thanks for the great work you're doing on this project!
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Check out my new YouTube show all about Sparks and their fans! It's at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QvkUP_P9O0&ab_channel=MonteMallin - thanks!

alsospy · Newbie Joined: 09 Jan 2024 Posts: 4

I thought it was interesting to learn about the beginning.
doodle jump

Crabby · Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 2:16 pm Post subject:

I didn't know where to post this so sorry if it's in the wrong place but l was reading an interview from 1975 where Ron and Russell were asked if they'd ever record a double album.....Ron was quite dismissive of the whole double album concept but Russell added, in defence of their first 2 albums that foundered somewhat.

"Bearsville will have a double album one day..... they really will. They'll release both L. Ps repackaged in one package" Russell Mael

That's quite prophetic from Russell in 1975......as l'm now looking at my double CD (OK, so it's not an album but it's close enough .. 😊)

Ruud · Groupie Joined: 22 Jan 2002 Posts: 141 Location: Holland

The two Bearsville albums were released as "Two Originals of Sparks" in March 1976, both in the UK and Germany, long before they appeared on cd.

Kermit! · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2024 4:14 am Post subject:

Very interesting read & thorough account of the early days is much appreciated & thank you for the link. I think I probably had to wait a similar length of time to you before I heard the demo album. The first two albums are musical masterpieces though & it's a shame they never received the attention they truly deserved. When they played both albums live on the first 2 nights of the Sparks Spectacular in 2008 they really came alive with a packed audience singing along to every tune.
Thank the lord they were sent here to the UK for the next stage of their career with album no 3. They knew that every artist needs a gimmick & the introduction of the staring eyes Ron on keyboards with no curly hairdo was pure genius. It was Russell's job to have the full mane of black hair echoing back to the look of the highly successful Marc Bolan. The rest is history of course but hats off to their dedication to keep on going.
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The Future! The Future!