Sparks discography
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The following is a comprehensive discography of Sparks, an American rock and pop music duo formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting,[1] Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics,[2] and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.[3]
Studio albums26
EPs1
Soundtrack albums3
Live albums2
| Sparks discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 26 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Soundtrack albums | 3 |
| Live albums | 2 |
| Compilation albums | 12 |
| Singles | 80 |
| Video albums | 4 |
| Music videos | 44 |
| Collaborative albums | 1 |
| Compilation EPs | 3 |
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
AUS [5] |
CAN [6] |
FRA [7] |
GER [8] |
NLD [9] |
NOR [10] |
SCO [11] |
SWE [12] |
UK [11] | |||
| Halfnelson (as Halfnelson) Sparks (re-release as Sparks) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Kimono My House |
|
101 | 22 | 58 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | 4 | |
| Propaganda |
|
63 | 75 | 81 | — | 49 | — | 16 | — | 50 | 9 |
|
| Indiscreet |
|
169 | — | 86 | — | — | 19 | 18 | — | 6 | 18 | |
| Big Beat |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | |
| Introducing Sparks |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 | — | |
| No. 1 in Heaven | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 73 | ||
| Terminal Jive |
|
— | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Whomp That Sucker |
|
182 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Angst in My Pants |
|
173 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| In Outer Space |
|
88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Music That You Can Dance To |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Interior Design |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins |
|
— | — | — | — | 29 [16] |
— | — | 45 | — | 150 [17] |
|
| Plagiarism |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Balls |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | — | — | |
| Lil' Beethoven |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | |
| Hello Young Lovers |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | 48 | 66 | |
| Exotic Creatures of the Deep |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | 54 | |
| The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | |
| Hippopotamus |
|
— | — | — | 108 | 88 | 38 | — | 7 | 45 | 7 | |
| A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip |
|
— | — | — | 159 | 24 | 88 | — | 2 | — | 7 | |
| The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte |
|
— | — | — | 128 | 37 | — | — | 2 | — | 7 | |
| Mad! |
|
— | — | — | — | 48 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | |
Extended plays
Collaborative albums
Soundtrack albums
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (FL) [29] |
FRA [7] |
GER [8] |
SCO [30] | ||
| Annette |
|
68 | 90 | 72 | 32 |
| The Sparks Brothers |
|
— | — | — | — |
| Annette – An Opera by Sparks (The Original 2013 Recordings) |
|
— | — | — | — |
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe |
|
| Sparks Live on the Moon |
|
Compilation albums
- 2 Originals of Sparks (1975, Bearsville) – Double LP set consisting of Halfnelson and A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
- The Best of Sparks (1978, Island Records)
- The History of the Sparks (1981, Carrere)
- Mael Intuition (The Best of the Sparks 1974-76) (1990, Island)
- Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection (1991, Rhino)
- The Heaven Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
- The Hell Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
- In the Swing (1993, Spectrum/Karussell)
- The 12 Inch Mixes (1996, Kiosk)
- 12" Mixes (1999, Oglio Records)
- The Best of Sparks (2000, Repertoire Records)
- This Album's Big Enough… The Best of Sparks (2002, Music Club)
- Shortcuts – The 7inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire)
- Extended – The 12inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire)
- Real Extended: The 12 inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire) Improved and Corrected Version of above
- New Music for Amnesiacs: The Essential Collection (2013, Lil Beethoven Records)
- The Best & The Rest Of The Island Years 74-78 (2018, Island Records, 2 (Limited Edition, Remastered, Red Translucent) Vinyle LP)
- Past Tense – The Best of Sparks (2019, BMG Rights Management UK) SC #23,[33] UK #73[11]
Compilation EPs
- On Tour EP (1983, Atlantic)
- 4 Track EP (1983, Virgin)
- Dick Around (2006, In the Red)
- Past Tense, the best of (2019, BMG)
Singles
1970s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | AUS [5] |
BEL (FL) [29] |
BEL (WA) [29] |
GER [34] |
IRE [35] |
NLD [36] |
SWI [37] |
UK [11][17] | |||
| 1972 | "Wonder Girl" | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sparks |
| 1974 | "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" | — | 69 | 4 | 3 | 12 | — | 4 | 7 | 2 | Kimono My House |
| "Girl from Germany" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51[B] | A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing | |
| "Amateur Hour" | — | — | 22 | 36 | 12 | 19 | 6 | — | 7 | Kimono My House | |
| "Talent Is an Asset" (US and New Zealand only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" | — | — | — | 48 | 40 | — | — | — | 13 | Propaganda | |
| "Propaganda/At Home, at Work, at Play" (FR only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Something for the Girl with Everything" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | |
| "Achoo" (US only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Get in the Swing" | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | 27 | Indiscreet | |
| "Looks, Looks, Looks" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | ||
| 1976 | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Big Boy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Big Beat | |
| "I Like Girls" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "Over the Summer" (US only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Introducing Sparks |
| "A Big Surprise" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "La Dolce Vita" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | No. 1 in Heaven |
| "The Number One Song in Heaven" | — | 85 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 14 | ||
| "Beat the Clock" | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | 16 | — | 10 | ||
| "Tryouts for the Human Race" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 45 | ||
1980s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 [38] |
US D-P [38][39] |
US D-S [38] |
AUS [5] |
FRA [7] |
UK [11][17] | |||
| 1980 | "When I'm with You" | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | — | Terminal Jive |
| "Young Girls" | — | — | — | — | — | —[C] | ||
| 1981 | "Tips for Teens" | — | — | — | — | — | —[D] | Whomp That Sucker |
| "Funny Face" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "I Predict" | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | Angst in My Pants |
| "Angst in My Pants" (DE only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Eaten by the Monster of Love" (US only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Modesty Plays" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| 1983 | "Get Crazy/Hot Shot" (Malcolm McDowell) (Split single) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Get Crazy (OST) |
| "Cool Places" (with Jane Wiedlin) | 49 | 13 | — | — | — | — | In Outer Space | |
| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (US only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Please Baby, Please" (FR only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "With All My Might" | 104 | 28 | — | — | — | — | Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat |
| "Progress" (US 12" only) | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Pretending to Be Drunk/Kiss Me Quick" | — | 60 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "Give It Up" (Evelyn "Champagne" King)/"Armies of the Night" (Split single) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Music That You Can Dance To |
| "Change" | — | — | — | — | — | 85 | ||
| 1986 | "Music That You Can Dance To" | — | 6 | 11 | — | — | — | |
| "Fingertips/The Scene" (US 12" only) | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Rosebud" (UK only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1988 | "So Important" | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | Interior Design |
| 1989 | "Madonna" (FR only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Just Got Back from Heaven" | — | 7 | 24 | — | — | — | ||
| "Singing in the Shower" (Les Rita Mitsouko and Sparks) | — | 24 | — | — | 37 | — | Marc & Robert | |
1990s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US D-P [38] |
AUS [42] |
BEL (FL) [29] |
BEL (WA) [29] |
GER [34] |
NLD [36] |
SCO | SWI [37] |
UK [11][17] | |||
| 1993 | "National Crime Awareness Week" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| 1994 | "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" | 9 | — | 16 | 12 | 7 | 35 | 41 | 22 | 38 | Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins |
| 1995 | "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" | 24 | — | — | — | 61 | — | 38 | — | 36 | |
| "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" (UK re-issue) | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — | 32 | ||
| "Now That I Own the BBC" | — | — | — | — | 81 | — | 53 | — | 60 | ||
| 1997 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | — | 70 | Plagiarism |
| "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More) | — | 69 | — | — | — | — | 39 | — | 40 | ||
| 1999 | "More Than a Sex Machine" (DE only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Balls |
2000s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCO | UK [11][17] | |||
| 2000 | "The Calm Before the Storm" | — | — | Balls |
| "The Angels" (DE only) | — | — | ||
| 2003 | "Suburban Homeboy" (UK only) | — | 142 | Lil' Beethoven |
| 2006 | "Perfume" (UK only) | 46 | 80 | Hello Young Lovers |
| "Dick Around/Waterproof" | 67 | 139 | ||
| 2008 | "Good Morning" | — | 147 | Exotic Creatures of the Deep |
| 2009 | "Lighten Up, Morrissey" (UK only) | — | — | |
2010s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (FL) [29] | |||
| 2015 | "Johnny Delusional" | 90 | FFS |
| "Call Girl" | — | ||
| "Police Encounters" | — | ||
| "Christmas Without a Prayer" | — | Non-album single | |
| 2017 | "Hippopotamus" | — | Hippopotamus |
| "What the Hell Is It This Time?" | — | ||
| "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" | — | ||
| "I Wish You Were Fun" | — | ||
| "Check Out Time 11am" | — | Record Store Day exclusive single | |
| 2018 | "You Earned the Right to Be a Dick" (Hippopotamus shaped disc) | — | Record Store Day exclusive single |
| 2019 | "Please Don't Fuck Up My World" | — | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip |
2020s
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album/EP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE [43] |
NZ Hot [44] |
UK [11] | |||
| 2020 | "Self-Effacing" | — | — | — | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip |
| "I'm Toast" | — | — | — | ||
| "One for the Ages" | — | — | — | ||
| "Lawnmower" | — | — | — | ||
| 2021 | "Your Fandango" (with Todd Rundgren) | — | — | — | Space Force |
| 2023 | "The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte" | — | — | — | The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte |
| "Veronica Lake" | — | — | — | ||
| "Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is" | — | — | — | ||
| 2024 | "Don't Go Away" (with Max Richter) | — | — | — | Spaceman (OST) |
| 2025 | "Do Things My Own Way" | — | — | — | Mad! |
| "JanSport Backpack" | — | — | — | ||
| "Drowned in a Sea of Tears" | — | — | — | ||
| "My Devotion" | — | — | — | ||
| "A Little Bit of Light Banter" | — | — | — | ||
| "Porcupine" | — | — | — | Madder! | |
| "The Happy Dictator" (with Gorillaz) | 77 | 13 | 73 | The Mountain | |
| 2026 | "Whippings and Apologies" (live)[32] | TBA | Sparks Live on the Moon | ||
Collaborations and contributions
- 1979 – produced and wrote an album called Is There More to Life Than Dancing? for singer Noël.
- 1979 – produced the album Pas Dormir for a French band Bijou.
- 1979 – produced the single "C'est Sheep" by Adrian Munsey.
- 1981 – wrote the lyrics for the album Sex by Telex.
- 1981 – Russell Mael contributed backing vocals for the album Pleasant Dreams by Ramones.
- 1982 – worked with Lio on her album Suite Sixtine, which was a compilation of French rarities and English versions (translated by Sparks) of tracks from her first album.
- 1983 – "Minnie Mouse" for The Walt Disney Company from Splashdance.
- 1984 – co-wrote the song "Yes or No" for the Go-Go's album Talk Show.
- 1987 – Russell Mael provided backing vocals for Salon Music for This Is Salon Music.
- 1988 – "In My Life" and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" with Salon Music for O Boy.
- 1988 – "Singing in the Shower", "Live in Las Vegas" and "Hip Kit" with Les Rita Mitsouko from Marc & Robert.
- 1990 – Russell Mael contributed backing vocals to the song "You Drive, I'll Steer" for the album Busted by Cheap Trick.
- 2001 – "Kimono" with Pizzicato Five from Çà et là du Japon.
- 2001 – "La Nuit Est Là" and "Yo Quiero Màs Dinero" with Grand Popo Football Club from Shampoo Victims.
- 2003 – "We Are the Clash", a cover for Uncut magazine's the Clash tribute CD White Riot.
- 2004 – "Acid Pants" with Orbital from Blue Album.
- 2006 – remixed Morrissey's song, "Suedehead", for the compilation Future Retro.
- 2010 – remixed the song "Give Me Something" by Yoko Ono.
- 2010 – remixed the song "A Happy Place" by Katie Melua as Sparks Vs Katie Melua.
- 2012 – produced Gemma Ray's cover versions of Sparks songs "How Do I Get to Carnegie Hall" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love".
- 2019 – featured on Sebastian's 2019 song "Handcuffed to a Parking Meter" off his 2019 album Thirst
- 2025 – appeared on Étoile performing an orchestral version of "I Married Myself" for a ballet solo.
- 2025 – featured on Gorillaz' single "The Happy Dictator", off their 2026 album The Mountain.
Soundtrack appearances
- Rollercoaster (1977) – "Big Boy" and "Fill 'Er Up"
- Valley Girl (1983) – "Angst in My Pants" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
- Get Crazy (1983) – "Get Crazy"
- Where the Boys Are '84 (1984) – "Mini-Skirted"
- Heavenly Bodies (1984) – "Breaking Out of Prison"
- Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains) (1984) – "Growing Pains", "Motorcycle Midget", "What You're Wearing" (with Laurie Bell) and "Growing Pains (Reprise)"
- Fright Night (1985) – "The Armies of the Night"
- Rad (1986) – "Music That You Can Dance To"
- Black Rain (1989) – "Singing in the Shower"
- Unlawful Entry (1992) – "National Crime Awareness Week"
- Knock Off (1998) – Original Musical Score and "It's a Knockoff"
- Boarding Gate (2007) – "The Number One Song in Heaven"
- Rendition (2007) – "Camel Jam" and "Nous-Nous"
- Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009) – "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
- Kick Ass (2010) – "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
- Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) – "The Number One Song in Heaven"
- The Overnight (2015) – "Tryouts for the Human Race"
- Master of None (2015) – "Tryouts for the Human Race"
- The Forbidden Room (2015) – Original song "The Final Derriere"
- A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018) – "Beat the Clock"
- Justified: City Primeval (2023) – "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
- Yellowjackets (2023) – "Angst In My Pants"
- Spaceman (2024) – "Don't Go Away" with Max Richter
- Sign Here (Firma aquí) (2024) – "All That"
- The Decameron (2024) – "All You Ever Think About Is Sex"
- Mr. Bigstuff (2025) – "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
Video
- Amateur Hour (V-CD, 1995)
- Live in London (2003)
- Lil' Beethoven – Live In Stockholm (2004)
- DEE VEE DEE – Live at the London Forum (2007)
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" | ||
| 1977 | "Occupation" | ||
| 1979 | "The Number One Song in Heaven" | Bruce Gowers | [45] |
| "Beat the Clock" | Brian Grant | ||
| "La Dolce Vita" | Bruce Gowers | ||
| "Tryouts for the Human Race" | Brian Grant | ||
| 1980 | "When I'm with You" | ||
| "Stereo" | |||
| 1981 | "Tips for Teens" | ||
| "Funny Face" | |||
| 1982 | "I Predict" | Steve and Doug Martin | |
| 1983 | "Minnie Mouse" | The Walt Disney Company | |
| "Cool Places" | Graeme Whifler | [46] | |
| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" | Pat Warner | ||
| 1984 | "With All My Might" | Graeme Whifler | |
| 1986 | "Music That You Can Dance To" | Ron & Russell Mael | |
| 1988 | "So Important" | ||
| 1989 | "Singing in the Shower" | ||
| 1993 | "National Crime Awareness Week" | Finitribe | |
| 1994 | "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" | Sophie Muller | [45] |
| 1995 | "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)" | ||
| "Now That I Own the BBC" | Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas | ||
| 1997 | "No. 1 Song in Heaven (Plagiarism)" | ||
| 2000 | "The Calm Before the Storm" | ||
| 2003 | "The Rhythm Thief" | ||
| "I Married Myself" | |||
| 2004 | "My Baby's Taking Me Home" | Shaw Petronio | [45] |
| 2006 | "Perfume" | ||
| "Dick Around" | |||
| 2009 | "Lighten Up Morrissey" | ||
| 2015 | "Christmas Without a Prayer" | ||
| 2017 | "Hippopotamus" | Scott Peters | |
| "What the Hell Is It This Time?" | Galen and Evan Johnson | ||
| "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" | Joseph Wallace | ||
| 2020 | "One for the Ages" | Chintis Lundgren | |
| "Lawnmower" | Ron & Russell Mael | ||
| "The Existential Threat" | Cyriak Harris | ||
| "iPhone" | |||
| 2021 | "Left Out in the Cold" | ||
| "Your Fandango" | Liisa Vääriskoski | ||
| "So May We Start" | Leos Carax | ||
| 2023 | "The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte" | Richie Starzec, Ron & Russell Mael | |
| "Escalator" | Paul Trewartha, Ron & Russell Mael | ||
| 2025 | "Do Things My Own Way" | Ambar Navarro | |
| "Drowned in a Sea of Tears" | |||
| "Porcupine" | Fred Rowson |
Notes
- On the Official Charts Company website, Madder! was credited as its opening track "Porcupine" on the Vinyl Singles Chart. The given catalog number[11] matches the standard vinyl release of the EP.[21]
- Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
- This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Chart.[40]
- This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Top 100 chart.[41]