| Whomp That Sucker | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 3, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980 | |||
| Studio | Musicland (Munich) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:38 | |||
| Label | RCA (US) Why-Fi (UK) | |||
| Producer | Mack for Giorgio Moroder Enterprises, Ltd | |||
| Sparks chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Whomp That Sucker | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [3] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
Whomp That Sucker is the tenth album by the American rock band Sparks, released in 1981.
Sparks had recorded No. 1 In Heaven and Terminal Jive with Giorgio Moroder. Both had been relatively successful, but the brothers had found the electronic equipment they had adopted for their new sound too cumbersome to tour with. Whomp That Sucker was consequently recorded without Giorgio Moroder at Musicland Studios, Munich but still in association with Giorgio Moroder Enterprises. The next four albums were recorded as part of the same partnership. The producer for the album was Mack, who had recently produced Queen's album The Game .
The album marked Sparks' return proper to a rock sound after their previous two disco efforts. [5] To complement the Mael Brothers the backing band Bates Motel was hired, consisting of guitarist Bob Haag, bassist Leslie Bohem, and drummer David Kendrick. Together this line-up would record the next four Sparks albums concluding with Music That You Can Dance To in 1986. Haag, Bohem and Kendrick also recorded on their own under the name Gleaming Spires. The group recorded three studio albums in the early eighties and had a minor novelty new wave hit, "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?", in 1981. Bohem later became a Hollywood screenwriter.
Whomp That Sucker was released by a number of different record labels; RCA in the US, Underdog in France, Ariola/Oasis in Germany and in the UK by the short-lived Why-Fi Records. The album was not a success in the UK but did fairly well in France coming as it did off the back of their 1980 French hit "When I'm with You". In the US the album reached #182 on the Billboard 200, becoming their first since Indiscreet to chart there. [6]
"Tips for Teens" and "Funny Face" were released as singles. In France "Funny Face" was the lead single, while in the UK "Tips for Teens" was. "Don't Shoot Me" was selected as the B-side for "Tips for Teens" in the UK.
All tracks are written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tips for Teens" | 3:33 |
| 2. | "Funny Face" | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Where's My Girl" | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Upstairs" | 3:40 |
| 5. | "I Married a Martian" | 5:12 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "The Willys" | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Don't Shoot Me" | 3:56 |
| 8. | "Suzie Safety" | 3:57 |
| 9. | "That's Not Nastassia" | 4:57 |
| 10. | "Wacky Women" | 2:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Love Can Conquer All" (Metallic Clang version) | 4:27 |
| 12. | "The Oblongs" | 0:59 |
| 13. | "Love Can Conquer All" (Smooth version) | 4:34 |
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.
A Love Trilogy is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer. It was released on March 5, 1976, just eight months after her international breakthrough with the single and album of the same name – "Love to Love You Baby". The bold, sexual nature of that particular song had earned Summer the title 'the first lady of love'. By now Summer's work was being distributed in the U.S. by Casablanca Records, and the label encouraged Summer, Moroder and team to continue in this vein. A Love Trilogy uses the first side for one long disco track in three distinct movements 'Try Me', 'I Know', 'We Can Make It', and coalescing into the "love trilogy" of the title – "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It". Side two contained three additional erotic disco songs, including a cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic". The album's artwork showed Summer floating light-heartedly through the clouds, again adding to the image of her as a fantasy figure.
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing is the second studio album by the American rock band Sparks. It was released in 1973 and includes the single "Girl from Germany". It was the last release by the original five-member incarnation of Sparks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reinhold Mack is a German record producer and engineer. He is best known for his collaborations with Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Sparks, Chinaski (CZ).
"Son of My Father" is a song popularised in 1972 by Chicory Tip.
Gleaming Spires was an American new wave pop group in the 1980s.
"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.
David Kendrick is an American musician who is currently a member of the experimental pop band Xiu Xiu. A former member of Gleaming Spires and Devo, he has recorded and toured with Sparks, Andy Prieboy and Revolushn. He is based in Los Angeles, California.
"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.
Songs of the Spires is the debut album by American new wave pop group Gleaming Spires. It features the single "Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?" and was produced by Stephen Hague.
Walk on Well Lighted Streets is the second studio album by American new wave pop group Gleaming Spires. Like their debut, Songs of the Spires, the album was produced by Stephen Hague.
Welcoming a New Ice Age is the third and final studio album by American new wave pop group Gleaming Spires. It was produced by Greg Penny.
