Sparks "Indiscreet" - Classic or Dud?

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What a truly strange album. Incredibly ambitious. But does it work for you?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

"Dinner for twelve is now dinner for ten, 'cause I'm under the table with her"

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

It works for me beyond description. Incredibly ambitious, varied, brilliantly produced, etc. Gilbert and Sullivan as a pomp-rock band.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:12 (nineteen years ago)

Is there anything comparable from that era, or did it just land out of the blue? I suppose it can be seen as a cousin of Killer Queen, but, as you say, Ned, the variety on the record is staggering.

By the way, just how great is Get In The Swing?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

On the downside, Hospitality On Parade sets my teeth on edge.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

It's a fantastic album! Slightly better than Propaganda, if not quite as classic as Kimono My House. "Looks Looks Looks" is one of my fave Sparks singles ever. (It's Big Beat that I'd like to hear again, though - is it as good as I remember it?)

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

I suppose it can be seen as a cousin of Killer Queen

More like Queen transmutated after Sparks first hit. Which they did, essentially.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

OH CLASSIC

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 15:04 (nineteen years ago)

Actually, I like it a bit BETTER than Kimono, which would make it my favorite Sparks album of all. As much as I rocked Big Beat when it came out, I don't listen to it much these days. I guess I prefer the ornate Sparks to the stripped-down Sparks.

Thre record from that era I always push on anyone who loves Indiscreet (there aren't many of us) is Orchestra Luna; similarly diverse, pop-opera-vaudeville songwriting with orchestral arrangements aplenty.

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 15:10 (nineteen years ago)

While not quite the same caliber the early Deaf School stuff is a treat too.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

Hmm thanks for the tips. I mist confess I am not familiar with either Orchestra Luna or Deaf School. Keep em coming. Ta.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

Classic (but no not better than Propaganda or Kimono My House or No. 1 Song in Heaven). I kinda hated it on first listen cuz it defied my expectations so with all the big band arrangements when I was expecting more conventional glam-pop. had to untangle those prejudices to appreciate it - Happy Hunting Grounds is a great li'l tune, probably my favorite of all the tracks.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 16:55 (nineteen years ago)

Classic, of course.

― Marco Damiani (Marco D.), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

C++

― sleeve version 2.0 (sleeve testing), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 17:33 (nineteen years ago)

"Hospitality on Parade" alone could have a book written about it. Gilbert and Sullivan, to invoke them again, meets Suicide!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 17:35 (nineteen years ago)

A group called The Fleshies covered "Happy Hunting Ground" with a guest vocal by Jello Biafra. I know he's stated that Sparks were an influence on him.

I love Hospitality too! Great lyrical concept/great start to the LP: "Someday we'll have one extra coastline..."

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

Actually, might as well put it on here -- the next Weird Al single, "Virus Alert," is specifically an homage to Sparks (as the duo say here). See/hear for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzRxkxu5ZKc

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 17:49 (nineteen years ago)

Big, ambitious, beautiful, inspiring, hilarious, touching, glorious CLASSIC.

Mike T-Diva said : (It's Big Beat that I'd like to hear again, though - is it as good as I remember it?)

I always thought the core of Big Beat was typically strong songs from Ron, desperately hamstrung by the Kiss-a-like band and production. Haven't heard any of the "21st Century Edition" remasters yet, though. Saw all four of them for £20 the lot in a shop at the weekend, and was almost tempted. It's just a tough sell when it would be the third format I own for both Kimono and Indiscreet.

― Clumsy Colin in ACTION BIKER (coach_mcguirk), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

"Hospitality on Parade" is so very very classic.

"Pineapple", "Tits", "Without Using Hands", "This Ain't 1918"...many great songs on this album.

― Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 23:44 (nineteen years ago)

classic.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 14 November 2006 23:48 (nineteen years ago)

Playing now, total classic.

Big Beat, on the other hand...

― Jouster (Jouster), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 00:31 (nineteen years ago)

yes! but i especially love the Telex album "Sex" where Sparks writes the lyrics. really funny, and actually fairly similar and complementary to Telex's own dry, Belgian humor.

― Cameron Octigan (Cameron Octigan), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 00:39 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah "Big Beat"'s boring, sadly. I think I'd take "Propaganda" over this one, tho

― 808 the Bassking (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 01:22 (nineteen years ago)

Just listened to it again last night. The way it goes from [the unbelievably ahead of its time] In The Future into Looks Looks Looks is astonishing. So bold.

The cover of I Wanna Hold Your Hand as a slow soul works amazingly well listening to it now. Imagine how it must've sounded back in the day. Eeesh talk about wrong-footing your audience.

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 08:18 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, except they got wrong footed themselves, found themselves competing against the whole sale reissue of all the Beatles singles, and withdrew it. So, basically, few go to hear it!

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 08:37 (nineteen years ago)

Seldom in history has a "rock" guitar sounded more surrounded in quotations marks than when the "rock' guitar starts in "Hospitality".

Don't like the over-flanging on the guiatrs, and the slapback on the drums is distracting, but otherwise, the most utterly weird record you can get almost anyone to enjoy.

― Grey, Ian (IanBrooklyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 06:59 (nineteen years ago)

Oh wow, beyond classic. May I at least mention the cover art as well? HOLY S.

I love Tits, Without Using Hands & Pinapple the most, but I love them all. Every one.

My introduction & sole knowledge up until this summer of Sparks was Whomp That Sucker. I'd put off diving in because I knew I'd become obsessed, and become I have.

― derekerdman (Derek Erdmany), Friday, 17 November 2006 08:31 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, where do you go after Kimono & Indiscreet? I have Propaganda on my birthday list & I can't get into the first two.

I also have Introducing, #1 In Heaven, Terminal Jive & Outer Space - I just haven't listened to them much yet.

― derekerdman (Derek Erdmany), Friday, 17 November 2006 08:37 (nineteen years ago)

Ned - Queen transmutated after Sparks first hit

Were Sparks that big an influence on Queen?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Friday, 17 November 2006 09:30 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think so. You could arguably retro-fit a Sparks influence onto "Fairy Feller's Master Stroke" on Queen II, except that the timeline is wrong... and the first post-Sparks release, Sheer Heart Attack, is generally hard-rockier than its predecessor.

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Friday, 17 November 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Is this where I say "I met the Mael Bros, they were on the quiz show I was on" ?

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 17 November 2006 10:59 (nineteen years ago)

Do tell...

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Friday, 17 November 2006 11:19 (nineteen years ago)

a fantastic album. hell, even the cover is fantastic.

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Friday, 17 November 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

Quiz show, "Pop Quest" 1975, they were promoting "Propaganda", and we all got signed copies as prizes, chatted to them afterwards, what about I don't remember.

Steve Merike, the DJ type presenter couldn't keep a straight face against their dry wit.

Around our team, "Smart" was the 'catchword' used to irritating (to others) frequency. I did wonder if Ron heard it and used it on "Looks Looks Looks"

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 17 November 2006 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

The smart grow smarter, eh Mark?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1GL9_vb3o

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Friday, 17 November 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

Indeed!

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 17 November 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

Okay, now that's swank. I love the way Russell is swanning around.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 17 November 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

I'm trying to think which 80s TV personality he looks like in that white jumpsuit. Judith Hann? Jill Gascoigne?

― Daniel Giraffe (Daniel Giraffe), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

Never mind the jumpsuit - cop a load of the teeny-tiny shorts that Russell dons for "Get In The Swing":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avypBDJ68AQ

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Saturday, 18 November 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

The glazed look on Russell's face as he says "I don't have the time to fill out questionnaires..." and the sudden manic focus that follows it = best thing ever

― Mickey Neuman Snr (Ferg), Saturday, 18 November 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

Classic. I want the Sparks t-shirt Ron is wearing.

― Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Sunday, 19 November 2006 12:23 (nineteen years ago)

Finally breaking this out again for a full listen. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 November 2006 05:09 (nineteen years ago)

six years pass...

Never really listened too much to this album before. Fave tracks: "Tits" amd "It Ain't 1918". The 2nd side is esp. good.

― Tommy McTommy (Tom D.), Monday, 9 September 2013 14:04 (twelve years ago)

Yeah the combination of them and Visconti was genius. Wished they did more than one album together but glad they did at least this one!

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 September 2013 14:16 (twelve years ago)

Today, I have been listening to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaC1U3LOI-o

I sugest you do, also.

― Mark G, Monday, 9 September 2013 14:20 (twelve years ago)

I'm going to mention my sister for the second time today, she was a big Sparks fan, so I grew up listening to Kimono + Propaganda, but she (like a lot of other people it seems!) never bought Indiscreet, (tho later on she did buy No. 1 Song in Heaven). A guy I shared a flat with had the 1st two albums, but I'd never heard anything beyond those 1st 5 albums + No. 1 in Heaven, I'm just starting out on listening to some of their others.

― Tommy McTommy (Tom D.), Monday, 9 September 2013 14:31 (twelve years ago)

Wow at Clinic's borrowing!

― Same old bland-as-sand mood mouthings (Dan Peterson), Monday, 9 September 2013 16:51 (twelve years ago)

I liked one of the youtube comments 'hey, that's the bass line from European Son, halfway through' um, yeh but...

― Mark G, Monday, 9 September 2013 17:42 (twelve years ago)

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