We were dimly aware of this happening about two months ago but with the frenzy of a big European trip looming, this got relegated to the sidelines…until now! But in any universe, Sparks hitting the tape archives to grant us expansive DLX RMs of their two 1979 albums, was surely a cause celebre? As of May 17th, the world has seen a 2xCD of both their much hosanna’d “No. 1 In Heaven” album, which they daringly recorded with Giorgio Moroder when it was the least likely teaming imaginable, but also their “Is There More To Life Than Dancing?” as written, produced, and recorded for the mysterious singer Noël. We’ve written about the former here, and the latter there. Let’s take a look at what awaits us with the Sparks mothership first.

Sparks: No. 1 Song In Heaven DLX RM – UK – 2xCD [2024]

CD1 – No. 1 In Heaven

1. Tryouts For The Human Race
2. Academy Award Performance
3. La Dolce Vita
4. Beat The Clock
5. My Other Voice
6. The Number One Song In Heaven

CD2 – Remixes + Rarities

1. Peter Cook’s Promo Spot For No. 1 In Heaven
2. Tryouts For The Human Race (Alternative Long Version)
3. Beat The Clock (Long Version)
4. The Number One Song In Heaven (Single Version)
5. Tryouts For The Human Race (Single Version )
6. Beat The Clock (Single Version)
7. La Dolce Vita (Single Version)
8. Beat The Clock (Alternative Version)
9. Tryouts for the Human Race (Alternative Short Version)
10. Peter Cook’s Promo Spot For Tryouts For The Human Race

We have the Repertoire single CD DLX RM from 2013 with what’s called a brickwalled mastering with the bonus tracks all mastered from vinyl. I’m guessing at the very least that the contents of disc two will be taken from the brothers’ master tape vaults, making the upgrade a must. I did note that owing to possible territorial rights, that two of the songs from the 2013 edition were missing here, making the Repertoire one to hold onto. The Canadian 7″ version of “Beat The Clock” @ 4:21 isn’t here. Nor is the “La Dolce Vita [Extended Version]” @ 5:57. That single was released in many countries, but not the UK.

Meanwhile, all of the UK single mixes were in this package, including three tracks not on the Repertoire disc:

• Peter Cook’s Promo spot for “Number One In Heaven” @ 2:37
• Peter Cook’s Promo Spot for “Tryouts For The Human Race” @ 2:51
• Beat The Clock [Alternative Version] @ 3:34

The two UK 12″ers has tracks that consisted of comedian Peter Cook [the funny one of Peter Cook/Dudley Moore fame] with advertising content that I’ve not heard to this day, so it’s not musical. Even so, Moore [r.i.p.] was a hilarious man, and I want to hear these cuts. The “Beat The Clock” version was the UK B-side to the single.

Noël: Is There More To Life Than Dancing? DLX RM – UK – 2xCD [2024]

CD1 – Is There More To Life Than Dancing?

1. Dancing Is Dangerous
2. Is There More To Life Than Dancing?
3. The Night They Invented Love
4. Au Revoir
5. I Want A Man

CD2 – Alternative Versions

1. I Just Want To Be Seen With You
2. My Night
3. I Never Want To Be A Mother
4. Dancing Is Dangerous (Part One)
5. Dancing Is Dangerous (Part Two)
6. The Night They Invented Love (Single Version)
7. I Want A Man (Single Version)
8. Dancing Is Dangerous (Instrumental)
9. I Just Want To Be Seen With You (Vocal Guide)
10. I Never Want To Be A Mother / Au Revoir (Vocal Guide)
11. Dancing Is Dangerous / Is There More To Life Than Dancing? (Vocal Guide)

The Noël album was on my want list ever since getting the 7″ of “Dancing Is Dangerous” and really enjoying it. The A-side was comparable to early Berlin, and the B-side, “The Night They Invented Love” was a Lost Sparks Classic™! Plus… design by Malcolm Garrett also trips my trigger. Having the more than full package as with this release was a no-brainer. We need this as soon as possible. The two single edits of the long, electrodisco album tracks was proper, but the brothers have added unreleased material that didn’t make the pick as well as…be still my beating heart, The Russel Mael guide vocal versions of many of these songs, giving us the phantom Sparks album that it was being manifest as the real thing. ironically, we don’t get to hear Russel sing “The Night They Invented Love” which I can vouch for as being a 100% Sparks classic. C’est la vie!

We get each of these in either LP as released [on color vinyl] or 2xCD with all the works. The CDs are priced to move at £12.00 but the LPs are a little different. One can only buy both LPs, with Sparks in white vinyl and Noël in green at £35.00 for the pair. There are bundles with both albums in CD/LP for £53.00 and also a double CD pack with both discs discounted at £22.00. I suspect that these may go out of print within the year, so I need to find the cash to indulge. There was also all manner of other Sparks/Noël tchotchkes in the Sparks store for this reissue program, but I’m here to deliver the bad news that the Sparks wall clock is sold out! But the music is all there for now, so DJ hit that button!

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