Sparks are set to re-issue their groundbreaking 1979 album 'No.1 In Heaven'.
The Mael brothers were determined to move into a fresh creative space when sessions opened, marking their first full length foray into electronic music.
Rooted in emerging strains of disco but linked more generally to developments in technology, the resulting sessions would see Sparks explode notions of the pop group.
Working with Giorgio Moroder the band crafting some of their most special and enduring material, which will now be re-issued on March 1st.
Formats include a double CD and double heavyweight coloured vinyl with sleeve notes written by Ron and Russell Mael themselves, available through Sparks' own imprint, Lil Beethoven Records.
Ron Mael comments: “The most thrilling albums to make are those where you go in not having much of a clue what you’re doing or where you’re going, and where, at least once every thirty minutes, you ask yourself, ‘Is this what it means to commit both artistic and commercial suicide?’ That was the case with the 'No.1 In Heaven' album.”
Amongst the treats on the new re-issue are rare promo spots recorded for the band by British comedian Peter Cook. Russell Mael explains:
“Virgin Records had the wonderful idea to enlist British comic Peter Cook to do two promo spots for the No.1 In Heaven album. They stood him in front of a mic and let him riff away at the meaning of the syndrum bleeps in ‘Tryouts For The Human Race’”.
'No. 1 In Heaven' will be re-issued on March 1st. Tracklisting:
Tryouts For The Human Race
Academy Award Performance
La Dolce Vita
Beat The Clock
My Other Voice
The Number One Song In Heaven
*BONUS TRACKS*
Tryouts For The Human Race (Alternative Long Version)
Peter Cook’s Promo Spot For No.1 In Heaven
The Number One Song In Heaven (Single Version)
Beat The Clock (Long Version)
Peter Cook’s Promo Spot For Tryouts For The Human Race
Tryouts For The Human Race (Single Version)
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