"Halfnelson (album)" redirects here. For the Willie Nelson album, see Half Nelson (album).
Sparks, originally titled Halfnelson, is the debut album by the Los Angelesrock band Sparks. The album was first released as Halfnelson, the band's original name, and reissued a year later under the group’s new name.
At this point in their career, Halfnelson was a three piece group comprising the Mael brothers and guitarist Earle Mankey. The demos that the trio had recorded in Mankey's home studio came to the attention of musician and producer Todd Rundgren, who signed them to the Bearsville label and produced their debut album in 1971. Interviewed in 2013, the duo recalled their collaboration with Rundgren as a very positive experience.
Ron Mael: "It was intimidating for us just to be in a studio, but he was really incredibly open to what we were doing, and I think we really felt like kindred spirits, even though some of his own music was kinda maybe more soul-based. But he was an Anglophile just the way we were Anglophiles. It all went incredibly well with him personally and musically."
Russell Mael: "To his credit, he didn't wanna change what we were doing, he just wanted the fidelity to be a little better. So we were going into an expensive recording studio with Todd, but still banging on cardboard boxes and all. He could see that the recording process was kind of a part of what we were. It wasn't that we needed to be changed into a traditional band. The way we were recording was a fair part of what we were and what made us interesting as a band to him.”
"Wonder Girl", the band's first single, exemplified both the Maels' unorthodox approach, and Rundgren's openness to it:
Russell Mael: "Todd really wanted to preserve the quality of the demo. It's not like a live band sound at all. The guitar parts are really deliberate. The recording has a real character to it.”
Ron Mael: "The keyboard on that was the Wurlitzer. It was always difficult for me to figure out how a keyboard really worked with a band. So in that particular song, it was kind of a two-note riff.”
Halfnelson was initially released on Bearsville Records in 1971. Shortly after the release of the album the group changed their name to 'Sparks'. The album was then re-released by Bearsville Records in 1972 as Sparks.[5] The new version of the album featured new artwork that was simpler, displaying the group in more of a classic pose superimposed against a red brick pattern. The single to this reissue "Wonder Girl", became a minor regional hit in certain parts of Alabama and California and also appeared on the lower end of the Cashbox chart at #92. The single also Bubbled Under the Hot 100 at No. 112. The tracks "Roger" and "Saccharin and the War" are re-recorded versions of songs from their untitled 1969 demo album, which is erroneously referred to as "The 'A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing' Demos".
Re-issue
Sparks has been re-released numerous times since 1972. It is often packaged with the follow-up album A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing. One such re-issue was released in 1975 to capitalize on the group's success in the UK. This version was titled 2 Originals of Sparks and was packaged as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve with a 14-page booklet.
The most recent cd re-issue was released in 2019 in The Netherlands on Music On Cd.
^"Sparks - Ron and Russell Mael: 45 Years in Showbiz". soundonsound.com. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^"Sparks Discography - Albums and 7" Singles". graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
External links
Sparks - The "Halfnelson/Sparks" album files
FanMael
March 10, 2023
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Halfnelson album redirects here For the Willie Nelson album see Half Nelson album Sparks originally titled Halfnelson is the debut album by the Los Angeles rock band Sparks The album was first released as Halfnelson the band s original name and reissued a year later under the group s new name SparksStudio album by SparksReleasedSeptember 1971 as Halfnelson July 1972 as Sparks Recorded1971GenreArt pop 1 pop rock 2 Length40 23LabelBearsvilleProducerTodd RundgrenSparks chronologySparks 1971 A Woofer in Tweeter s Clothing 1973 Alternative cover1971 releaseSingles from Halfnelson Sparks Wonder Girl b w No More Mr Nice Guys Released May 1972 US November 1972 UK November 10 1972 The Netherlands Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 3 Contents 1 Recording 2 Release 3 Re issue 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 References 7 External linksRecording EditAt this point in their career Halfnelson was a three piece group comprising the Mael brothers and guitarist Earle Mankey The demos that the trio had recorded in Mankey s home studio came to the attention of musician and producer Todd Rundgren who signed them to the Bearsville label and produced their debut album in 1971 Interviewed in 2013 the duo recalled their collaboration with Rundgren as a very positive experience Ron Mael It was intimidating for us just to be in a studio but he was really incredibly open to what we were doing and I think we really felt like kindred spirits even though some of his own music was kinda maybe more soul based But he was an Anglophile just the way we were Anglophiles It all went incredibly well with him personally and musically Russell Mael To his credit he didn t wanna change what we were doing he just wanted the fidelity to be a little better So we were going into an expensive recording studio with Todd but still banging on cardboard boxes and all He could see that the recording process was kind of a part of what we were It wasn t that we needed to be changed into a traditional band The way we were recording was a fair part of what we were and what made us interesting as a band to him Wonder Girl the band s first single exemplified both the Maels unorthodox approach and Rundgren s openness to it Russell Mael Todd really wanted to preserve the quality of the demo It s not like a live band sound at all The guitar parts are really deliberate The recording has a real character to it Ron Mael The keyboard on that was the Wurlitzer It was always difficult for me to figure out how a keyboard really worked with a band So in that particular song it was kind of a two note riff 4 Release EditHalfnelson was initially released on Bearsville Records in 1971 Shortly after the release of the album the group changed their name to Sparks The album was then re released by Bearsville Records in 1972 as Sparks 5 The new version of the album featured new artwork that was simpler displaying the group in more of a classic pose superimposed against a red brick pattern The single to this reissue Wonder Girl became a minor regional hit in certain parts of Alabama and California and also appeared on the lower end of the Cashbox chart at 92 The single also Bubbled Under the Hot 100 at No 112 The tracks Roger and Saccharin and the War are re recorded versions of songs from their untitled 1969 demo album which is erroneously referred to as The A Woofer In Tweeter s Clothing Demos Re issue EditSparks has been re released numerous times since 1972 It is often packaged with the follow up album A Woofer in Tweeter s Clothing One such re issue was released in 1975 to capitalize on the group s success in the UK This version was titled 2 Originals of Sparks and was packaged as a double LP in a gatefold sleeve with a 14 page booklet The most recent cd re issue was released in 2019 in The Netherlands on Music On Cd Track listing EditSide oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 Wonder Girl Ron Mael2 212 Fa La Fa Lee Ron Mael2 533 Roger Russell Mael2 374 High C Ron Mael3 135 Fletcher Honorama Ron Mael4 156 Simple Ballet Russell Mael Ron Mael3 53 Side twoNo TitleWriter s Length7 Slowboat Russell Mael Ron Mael3 548 Biology 2 Earle Mankey3 109 Saccharin and the War Russell Mael4 0210 Big Bands Ron Mael Russell Mael4 1611 No More Mr Nice Guys Jim Mankey Ron Mael5 49Personnel EditHalfnelsonRussell Mael vocals Ron Mael keyboards piano organ Earle Mankey guitar lead vocal on Biology 2 Jim Mankey bass guitar Harley Feinstein drumsTechnicalTodd Rundgren producer Thaddeus James Lowe engineer Ron Mael artwork Larry Dupont photographyReferences Edit Sparks Biography by Jason Ankeny AllMusic Retrieved 28 April 2019 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s S Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved March 13 2019 via robertchristgau com Allmusic review Sparks Ron and Russell Mael 45 Years in Showbiz soundonsound com Retrieved 16 May 2021 Sparks Discography Albums and 7 Singles graphikdesigns free fr Retrieved 28 April 2019 External links EditSparks The Halfnelson Sparks album files FanMael Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sparks Sparks album amp oldid 1133997352, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
