| Spark Plug | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1971 | |||
| Recorded | March 1 and 8, 1971 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Prestige PR 10016 | |||
| Producer | Bob Porter | |||
| Melvin Sparks chronology | ||||
| ||||
Spark Plug is the second album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks which was recorded for the Prestige label in 1971. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
AllMusic awarded the album 3 stars stating "It's more relaxed, funky, occasionally bluesy jazz with guitar and organ to the fore, very much of a piece with the Prestige soul-jazz "house" sound circa 1970". [2]
Album was recently remastered by Jazz Dispensary and available from Vinyl Me, Please. Other musicians on this album include Idris Muhammad, Leon Spencer, and Grover Washtington, Jr.
All compositions by Melvin Sparks except where noted.
Idris Muhammad was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He had an extensive career performing jazz, funk, R&B, and soul music and recorded with musicians such as Ahmad Jamal, Lou Donaldson, Pharoah Sanders, Bob James, and Tete Montoliu.
Leon Spencer was an American jazz organist from Houston, Texas. He played piano with David Newman and organ with Melvin Sparks. Spencer recorded for Prestige in the early 1970s with Buddy Caldwell, Idris Muhammad, Melvin Sparks, and Grover Washington Jr.
Melvin Sparks was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musicians including Lou Donaldson, Sonny Stitt, Leon Spencer and Johnny Hammond Smith.
Everything I Play is Funky is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Lonnie Smith, Melvin Sparks, Jimmy Lewis and Idris Muhammad and two tracks with Eddie Williams and Charles Earland replacing Mitchell and Smith.
Pretty Things is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label featuring Donaldson with Blue Mitchell, Leon Spencer, Ted Dunbar, and Idris Muhammad and one track with Lonnie Smith and Melvin Sparks replacing Spencer & Dunbar and Jimmy Lewis added.
The Scorpion: Live at the Cadillac Club is a live album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded in Newark, New Jersey in 1970 for the Blue Note label featuring a performance by Donaldson with Fred Ballard, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, and Idris Muhammad.
Cosmos is an album by the jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label, featuring Donaldson with Ed Williams, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, Jerry Jemmott, Idris Muhammad and Ray Armando, with vocals by Mildred Brown, Rosalyn Brown and Naomi Thomas, arranged by Jimmy Briggs.
Turning Point is the second album by American organist Lonnie Smith recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label.
Turn It On! is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1971 and released on the Prestige label. The album features Stitt using the varitone, an electronic amplification device which altered the saxophone's sound.
Black Vibrations is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1971 and released on the Prestige label.
Soul Liberation is an album by jazz saxophonist Rusty Bryant recorded for the Prestige label in 1970.
Fire Eater is an album by jazz saxophonist Rusty Bryant recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.
Wild Fire is an album by jazz saxophonist Rusty Bryant recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.
Sparks! is the debut album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded for the Prestige label in 1970.
Akilah! is the third album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded for the Prestige label in 1972.
Peace and Rhythm is the second album led by jazz drummer Idris Muhammad which was recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.
Sneak Preview! is the debut album by jazz organist Leon Spencer, Jr. recorded for the Prestige label in 1970.
Louisiana Slim is the second album by jazz organist Leon Spencer recorded for the Prestige label in 1971.
Bad Walking Woman is the third album by jazz organist Leon Spencer recorded for the Prestige label in 1972.
Where I'm Coming From is the fourth and last album by jazz organist Leon Spencer recorded for the Prestige label in 1973.
