| In Outer Space | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1983 | |||
| Studio | Synsound Studios (Brussels) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:37 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Sparks chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In Outer Space | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
In Outer Space is the twelfth studio album by American pop band Sparks, released in April 1983 by Atlantic Records. Brothers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks self-produced the album.
In Outer Space became one of Sparks' most successful albums in the U.S. It peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, [2] and built upon the success of the band's previous two studio albums, Angst in My Pants (1982) and Whomp That Sucker (1981). In France, the non-album single "Modesty Plays" (originally conceived for the TV series Modesty Blaise ) was added and included as the final track.
"Cool Places" was released as the first single from the album and it reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. [1] The song was a duet with the Go-Go's rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Jane Wiedlin. Wiedlin's band was very popular, and her input gave exposure to the single, which led it to become Sparks' biggest hit in the US. "Cool Places" was extended for 12", and both formats were backed with the non-album track "Sports". The single also became the first of many entries for the band on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart; where it peaked at No. 13.
"All You Ever Think About Is Sex" was remixed and released as the follow-up single, but it did not chart. An extended mix was also produced and it was backed with a remixed version of the album track; "Dance Godammit" on both 7" and 12" formats.
Neither the album or the accompanying singles were successful in the UK.
All tracks are written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cool Places" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Popularity" | 3:52 |
| 3. | "Prayin' for a Party" | 2:59 |
| 4. | "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Please Baby Please" | 3:42 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Rockin' Girls" | 4:42 |
| 7. | "I Wish I Looked a Little Better" | 2:58 |
| 8. | "Lucky Me, Lucky You" | 3:26 |
| 9. | "A Fun Bunch of Guys from Outer Space" | 4:00 |
| 10. | "Dance Godammit" | 3:26 |
| 11. | "Modesty Plays" (French editions only) | 3:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Miniskirted" | 3:47 |
| 12. | "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (Unreleased Alternate Version) | 4:06 |
| 13. | "Sports" | 3:23 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (Single version – Remixed by Brian Reeves) | 3:32 |
| 12. | "Sports" | 3:23 |
| 13. | "Cool Places" (12" mix) | 4:40 |
| 14. | "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (12" club version – Remixed by Brian Reeves) | 5:06 |
| 15. | "Dance Godammit" (12" club version – Remixed by Brian Reeves) | 3:59 |
Credits are adapted from the In Outer Space liner notes. [3]
Sparks
Additional musicians
Production and artwork
Russell Craig Mael is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the band Sparks which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching falsetto. He has a flamboyant and hyperactive stage presence which contrasts sharply with Ron Mael's inexpressive demeanour. The band released an album with British rock band Franz Ferdinand, as the supergroup FFS, titled FFS, released in 2015. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records.
Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—often about women, and sometimes containing literary or cinematic references—and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music.
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" is a song by American pop band Sparks. Written by Ron Mael, it is the opening track on their third studio album Kimono My House (1974), and was the lead single from the album. Although it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" achieved major success in Europe, peaking within the top ten of the charts in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for two consecutive weeks. The song has become the highest-charting for Sparks on the UK Singles Chart, held off from the top spot by The Rubettes' bubblegum pop song "Sugar Baby Love".
Propaganda is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on November 11, 1974. Following up their previous year's commercial breakthrough, Kimono My House, it was a moderate success in the United States and peaked at No. 9 in the U.K. in 1975. The album cover features an image of a tied-up and gagged Mael brothers, titled "Welcome on Board," which was taken by photographer Monty Coles.
Nº 1 in Heaven is the eighth studio album by American rock band Sparks. Recorded with Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder, the album marked a change of musical direction for the group and became influential on later synth-pop bands.
Terminal Jive is the ninth album by the American rock band Sparks and the second recorded with Giorgio Moroder. The album has a disco-vibe like its predecessor but featured fewer synthesizers, opting instead for more electric rock guitar, resulting in a new wave sound. The album was produced by Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer, the latter of whom is claimed to have produced the majority of the album.
Whomp That Sucker is the tenth album by the American rock band Sparks, released in 1981.
Angst in My Pants is the eleventh studio album by American pop and rock band Sparks. The album was released in 1982 by Atlantic Records in both the US and UK, and this was the 6th overall label that the band was signed to in the US, and, for the first time since the mid-1970s, the band would be signed the same label in both the US and UK for 3 consecutive albums.
Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat is the thirteenth studio album by American pop and rock band Sparks, released in June 1984 by Atlantic Records. It was not very well received and failed to capitalise on the commercial success of their previous studio album In Outer Space (1983). The album developed the light synth-pop sound of In Outer Space but with slightly darker lyrics revolving around Ron Mael's favourite subject matter: relationships.
Music That You Can Dance To is the fourteenth studio album by American pop band Sparks, released in September 1986 by MCA Records in the US and Consolidated Allied Records in the UK, two years after their previous studio album, Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat (1984).
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins is the 16th album by American rock band Sparks. It was released in 1994, after an absence from the music industry of 6 years, and marked the duo's transition into a more techno/Eurobeat-influenced sound, which earned them popularity in Germany.
Plagiarism is the 17th album by American rock band Sparks. It is a tribute album of sorts featuring new alternate versions of some of their best known songs.
Lil' Beethoven is the 19th album by the American rock band Sparks, released on November 26, 2002. The album was a radical musical departure compared to their previous works. The band only used strings, piano, and voices but sporadic drums: the result was both classical and pop music.
Hello Young Lovers is the 20th album by Sparks. A continuation of the repetitious, orchestral sound of their previous album Lil' Beethoven, though with a much greater emphasis on guitar and drums, It is a concept album which addresses aspects of modern love.
Belinda is the debut studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle. It was released on May 19, 1986 by I.R.S. Records. Carlisle began work on the album in 1985 following the breakup of the Go-Go's, for whom she was the lead singer. The album was supported by four singles, with lead single "Mad About You" peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in Canada.
"Cool Places" is a 1983 new wave song recorded by American pop band Sparks in collaboration with the Go-Go's rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Jane Wiedlin. It was their second single to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
"Beat the Clock" is a disco single by the American rock duo Sparks, which was released in 1979. It is named after the game show, Beat the Clock.
"I Predict" is a song by the Los Angeles new wave band Sparks. It was released in 1982 as the first single from Angst in My Pants, although an effort was made to release "Eaten by the Monster of Love" as a second single. The group promoted the single with an eclectic performance on Saturday Night Live. They also performed "Mickey Mouse", another Angst in My Pants track. It was their first single to ever enter the Billboard Hot 100 charts in America.
"Yes or No" is a song by the American rock band the Go-Go's, from their 1984 album Talk Show. The song was co-written by the Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wiedlin and Ron and Russell Mael of the Los Angeles band Sparks.
"With All My Might" is a song by American pop and rock duo Sparks, which was released in 1984 as the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat (1984). The song was written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael, and produced by Ian Little. "With All My Might" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 but reached No. 4 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.
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