Sparks discography

Last updated
Sparks discography
Studio albums27
EPs2
Soundtrack albums4
Live albums1
Compilation albums12
Singles79
Video albums4
Music videos44

The following is a comprehensive discography of Sparks , an American rock and pop music duo formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting, [1] Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics, [2] and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling. [3]

Contents

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
TitleAlbum detailsChart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[4]
AUS
[5]
CAN
[6]
FRA
[7]
GER
[8]
NLD
[9]
NOR
[10]
SCO
[11]
SWE
[12]
UK
[11]
Halfnelson (as Halfnelson)
Sparks (re-release as Sparks)
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
  • Released: January 1973 [14]
  • Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.
Kimono My House
  • Released: May 1974
  • Label: Island
1012258104
Propaganda
  • Released: November 1974
  • Label: Island
6375814916509
Indiscreet
  • Released: October 1975
  • Label: Island
169861918618
Big Beat
  • Released: October 1976
  • Labels: Island, Columbia
24
Introducing Sparks
  • Released: October 1977
  • Labels: Columbia, CBS
41
No. 1 in Heaven 634373
Terminal Jive
  • Released: 1980
  • Labels: Virgin, Carrere/Underdog, Ariola, Oasis
96
Whomp That Sucker
  • Released: 1981
  • Labels: Why-Fi, Carrere, Ariola, Oasis, RCA
182
Angst in My Pants
  • Released: May 1982
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere
173
In Outer Space
  • Released: April 1983
  • Labels: Atlantic, Carrere/Underdog, Oasis
88
Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
  • Released: 1984
  • Labels: Atlantic, Oasis
Music That You Can Dance To
Interior Design
  • Released: August 1988
  • Labels: Rhino/Fine Art, Carrere
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Logic
29
[16]
45150
[17]
Plagiarism
Balls 22
Lil' Beethoven
  • Released: November 26, 2002
  • Labels: Artful/Lil' Beethoven
13
Hello Young Lovers
  • Released: February 6, 2006
  • Labels: Gut, In the Red
284866
Exotic Creatures of the Deep
  • Released: May 19, 2008
  • Label: Lil' Beethoven
2854
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
  • Released: August 15, 2009
  • Labels: SR, Lil' Beethoven
17
FFS (as FFS)85
[19]
2722138
[20]
17
Hippopotamus
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: BMG
10888387457
A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
  • Released: May 15, 2020 [21]
  • Label: BMG
7532159248827
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
  • Released: May 26, 2023 [22]
  • Label: Island
481283727
Mad! 274812

Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details
TitleEP details
Dick Around
Madder!

Soundtrack albums

List of soundtrack albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsChart positions
BEL
(FL)

[24]
FRA
[7]
GER
[8]
SCO
[25]
Annette (Cannes Edition – Selections from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • Released: July 2, 2021
  • Labels: Sony
68907232
Annette (Unlimited Edition – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • Released: November 5, 2021
  • Labels: Sony
The Sparks Brothers
  • Released: March 2022
  • Label: Waxwork
Annette – An Opera by Sparks (The Original 2013 Recordings)
  • Released: November 14, 2024 [26]
  • Label: Lil' Beethoven

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected details
TitleAlbum details
Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe
  • Released: March 2013
  • Labels: Lil' Beethoven

Compilation albums

Singles

1970s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US AUS
[5]
BEL
(FL)

[24]
BEL
(WA)

[24]
GER
[28]
IRE
[29]
NLD
[30]
SWI
[31]
UK
[11] [17]
1972"Wonder Girl"112Sparks
1974"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"694312472Kimono My House
"Girl from Germany"51 [A] A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
"Amateur Hour"2236121967Kimono My House
"Talent Is an Asset" (US and New Zealand only)
"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"484013Propaganda
"Propaganda/At Home, at Work, at Play" (FR only)
1975"Something for the Girl with Everything"17
"Achoo" (US only)
"Get in the Swing"3827Indiscreet
"Looks, Looks, Looks"26
1976"I Want to Hold Your Hand"Non-album single
"Big Boy"Big Beat
"I Like Girls"
1977"Over the Summer" (US only)Introducing Sparks
"A Big Surprise"
1979"La Dolce Vita"No. 1 in Heaven
"The Number One Song in Heaven"85514
"Beat the Clock"101610
"Tryouts for the Human Race"45

1980s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US Hot 100
[32]
US D-P
[32] [33]
US D-S
[32]
AUS
[5]
FRA
[7]
UK
[11] [17]
1980"When I'm with You"171Terminal Jive
"Young Girls" [B]
1981"Tips for Teens" [C] Whomp That Sucker
"Funny Face"
1982"I Predict"60Angst in My Pants
"Angst in My Pants" (DE only)
"Eaten by the Monster of Love" (US only)
"Modesty Plays"Non-album single
1983"Get Crazy/Hot Shot" (Malcolm McDowell)(Split single)Get Crazy (OST)
"Cool Places" (with Jane Wiedlin)4913In Outer Space
"All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (US only)
"Please Baby, Please" (FR only)
1984"With All My Might"10428Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
"Progress" (US 12" only)
"Pretending to Be Drunk/Kiss Me Quick"60
1985"Give It Up" (Evelyn "Champagne" King)/"Armies of the Night" (Split single)Music That You Can Dance To
"Change"85
1986"Music That You Can Dance To"611
"Fingertips/The Scene" (US 12" only)38
1987"Rosebud" (UK only)
1988"So Important"8Interior Design
1989"Madonna" (FR only)
"Just Got Back from Heaven"724
"Singing in the Shower" (Les Rita Mitsouko and Sparks)2437 Marc & Robert

1990s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
US
D-P

[32]
AUS
[36]
BEL
(FL)

[24]
BEL
(WA)

[24]
GER
[28]
NLD
[30]
SCO SWI
[31]
UK
[11] [17]
1993"National Crime Awareness Week"Non-album single
1994"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"91612735412238Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
1995"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"24613836
"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"(UK re-issue)3532
"Now That I Own the BBC"815360
1997"The Number One Song in Heaven"285470Plagiarism
"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More)693940
1999"More Than a Sex Machine" (DE only)Balls

2000s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
SCO UK
[11] [17]
2000"The Calm Before the Storm"Balls
"The Angels" (DE only)
2003"Suburban Homeboy" (UK only)142Lil' Beethoven
2006"Perfume" (UK only)4680Hello Young Lovers
"Dick Around/Waterproof"67139
2008"Good Morning"147Exotic Creatures of the Deep
2009"Lighten Up, Morrissey" (UK only)

2010s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum
BEL
(FL)

[24]
2015"Johnny Delusional"90FFS
"Call Girl"
"Police Encounters"
"Christmas Without a Prayer"Non-album single
2017"Hippopotamus"Hippopotamus
"What the Hell Is It This Time?"
"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)"
"I Wish You Were Fun"
"Check Out Time 11am" Record Store Day exclusive single
2018"You Earned the Right to Be a Dick" (Hippopotamus shaped disc) Record Store Day exclusive single
2019"Please Don't Fuck Up My World"A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

2020s

YearSingleChart positionsAlbum/EP
IRE
[37]
NZ
Hot

[38]
UK
[11]
2020"Self-Effacing"A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
"I'm Toast"
"One for the Ages"
"Lawnmower"
2021"Your Fandango" (with Todd Rundgren) Space Force
2023"The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte"The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
"Veronica Lake"
"Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is"
2024"Don't Go Away" (with Max Richter) Spaceman (OST)
2025"Do Things My Own Way"Mad!
"JanSport Backpack"
"Drowned in a Sea of Tears"
"My Devotion"
"A Little Bit of Light Banter"
"Porcupine"Madder!
"The Happy Dictator" (with Gorillaz)771373 The Mountain

Collaborations and contributions

Soundtrack appearances

Video

Music videos

YearVideoDirectorRef.
1974"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
1977"Occupation"
1979"The Number One Song in Heaven"Bruce Gowers [39]
"Beat the Clock"Brian Grant
"La Dolce Vita"Bruce Gowers
"Tryouts for the Human Race"Brian Grant
1980"When I'm with You"
"Stereo"
1981"Tips for Teens"
"Funny Face"
1982"I Predict"Steve and Doug Martin
1983"Minnie Mouse" The Walt Disney Company
"Cool Places"Graeme Whifler [40]
"All You Ever Think About Is Sex"Pat Warner
1984"With All My Might"Graeme Whifler
1986"Music That You Can Dance To"Ron & Russell Mael
1988"So Important"
1989"Singing in the Shower"
1993"National Crime Awareness Week" Finitribe
1994"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" Sophie Muller [39]
1995"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"
"Now That I Own the BBC"Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
1997"No. 1 Song in Heaven (Plagiarism)"
2000"The Calm Before the Storm"
2003"The Rhythm Thief"
"I Married Myself"
2004"My Baby's Taking Me Home"Shaw Petronio [39]
2006"Perfume"
"Dick Around"
2009"Lighten Up Morrissey"
2015"Christmas Without a Prayer"
2017"Hippopotamus"Scott Peters
"What the Hell Is It This Time?"Galen and Evan Johnson
"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" Joseph Wallace
2020"One for the Ages"Chintis Lundgren
"Lawnmower"Ron & Russell Mael
"The Existential Threat" Cyriak Harris
"iPhone"
2021"Left Out in the Cold"
"Your Fandango"Liisa Vääriskoski
"So May We Start"Leos Carax
2023"The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte"Richie Starzec, Ron & Russell Mael
"Escalator"Paul Trewartha, Ron & Russell Mael
2025"Do Things My Own Way"Ambar Navarro
"Drowned in a Sea of Tears"
"Porcupine"Fred Rowson

Notes

  1. Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  2. This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Chart. [34]
  3. This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Top 100 chart. [35]

References

  1. Dye, David (2006). "Sparks: Elegantly Whimsical". npr.org. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  2. Alfvegren, Skylaire (1998-11-04). "Shooting Off Sparks". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
  3. McNair, James (2006). "Sparks: Creating mischief again with their latest album". Independent Newspapers (UK). Enjoyment. London. Archived from the original on January 24, 2007. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
  4. "Billboard 200 – Sparks". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 286. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Search – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  7. 1 2 3 "Discographie Sparks". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Discographie von Sparks". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. "Discografie Sparks". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  10. "Discography Sparks". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sparks | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  12. "swedishcharts.com – Discography Sparks". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 to 2005
  13. Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS first LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  14. Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second LP album on Bearsville Records". Graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  15. 1 2 "Album artist 970 – Sparks". © 2007-9, Steve Hawtin et al. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  16. "Chartverfolgung / Sparks / Longplay". MusicLine.de. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz, 1994–2009. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  18. "FFS by FFS". iTunes . 5 June 2015.
  19. Ryan, Gavin (13 June 2015). "ARIA Albums: Muse Debuts At No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  20. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 14 June 2015 – 20 June 2015". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  21. "Sparks Announce New Album A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip". Pitchfork. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  22. "S P A R K S on Instagram: "BREAKING NEWS! Sparks signs with #IslandRecords! New album coming May 2023! #TheGirlIsCryingInHerLatte ☕️"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  23. Strauss, Matthew (September 2, 2025). "Sparks Announce Madder! EP, Share New Song 'Porcupine': Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Discography Sparks". Ultratop . Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  25. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 23 July 2021 – 29 July 2021". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  26. "S P A R K S on Instagram: "'ANNETTE: An Opera By Sparks (The Original 2013 Recordings)' is out now!"". Instagram.
  27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 15 November 2019 – 21 November 2019". The Official UK Charts Company 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  28. 1 2 "Charts Surfer – UK, German and French charts". charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  29. "The Irish Charts – Sparks search". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  30. 1 2 "dutchcharts.nl – Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  31. 1 2 "chitparade.ch – Discography Sparks". © 2006-2010 Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "Allmusic – Billboard Singles – Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  33. "Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  34. "The Singles Chart 61-100". Record Business . Vol. 3, no. 8. May 12, 1980. p. 7. ISSN   0144-0691.
  35. "Singles Top 100". Record Business . Vol. 4, no. 10. May 25, 1981. p. 7. ISSN   0144-0691.
  36. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 262.
  37. "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 38, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  38. "Official Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  39. 1 2 3 "Sparks Videography – Music Video Database – The Base Of Music Videos". © 2006 onlinemusikvideos.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  40. Dave Thompson. "Cool Places – Sparks,Jane Wiedlin | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.