Sparks

Ex-child actors and veterans of Los Angeles' Urban Renewal Project, vocalist Russell Mael and his elder brother Ron (keyboards) led Halfnelson in 1968 (with renowned rock critic John Mendelssohn on drums). By 1971, this had evolved into Sparks in which the Maels were joined by Earle Mankay (guitar), Jim Mankay (bass) and Harley Fernstein (drums). At the urging of Todd Rundgren—their eventual producer—Albert Grossman signed them to Bearsville. While it emitted a regional US hit in Wonder Girl, Sparks' debut album sold poorly—as did the subsequent A WOOFER IN TWEETER'S CLOTHING. A stressful club tour of Europe—during which they were often heckled—amassed, nonetheless, a cult following in glam-rock England where the Maels emigrated in 1973 to gain an Island recording contract and enlist a new Sparks from native players. Drummer Dinky Diamond from Aldershot's Sound Of Time was a mainstay during this period but among many others passing through the ranks were guitarist Adrian Fisher from Toby and Jook's bass player Ian Hampton. Overseen by Muff Winwood, this Anglo-American edition of Sparks notched up eight UK chart entries, starting with 1974's unprecedented and startling This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us from KIMONO MY HOUSE. With eccentric arrangements in the Roxy Music vein, Amateur Hour and later singles were also notable for Ron's lyrical idiosyncracies as well as wide stereo separation between the bass guitar section and Russell's twittering falsetto. Their appeal hinged visually on the disparity between creepy Ron's conservative garb and Hitler moustache, and Russell's bubbly androgyny. PROPAGANDA was a stylistic departure but the basic formula was unaltered. Sparks' over-dependence on this combined with an unsteady stage act to provoke fading interest in further merchandise—despite strategies like hiring Tony Visconti to supervise 1975's INDISCREET, and the Maels' return to California to make BIG BEAT with expensive LA session musicians.
Sparks engineered a transient comeback to the British Top 20 in 1977 with two singles from NUMBER ONE IN HEAVEN, produced by Giorgio Moroder—and 1981's When I'm With You (from TERMINAL JIVE) sold well in France. Later, the brothers succeeded in the US Hot 100—particularly with 1983's Cool Places, a tie-up with the Go-Go's' guitarist Jane Wiedlin—which intimates that their future may hold more surprises.