Sparks

1974 was a particularly prolific year for Sparks, with the Mael brothers releasing two LPs: Kimono My House and Propaganda.  Now, Edsel has reissued them both in a deluxe 3-CD set in 7-inch packaging.  Sparks made quite an impression on the U.K. audience, with "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" from Kimono reaching No. 2 on the Singles Chart and becoming the No. 30 hit of the year.  They would follow it up with "Amateur Hour" from the same LP and then "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" from Propaganda, both of which also achieved chart success.  The duo's punchy blend of theatrical vocals, melodic hooks gone awry, and offbeat lyrics were harnessed on both albums by producer Muff Winwood, who gave their art-rock sound just enough of a pop sheen to stand alongside the glam likes of Queen, Roxy Music, and T. Rex without sacrificing any of the Maels' abundant originality.  In addition to the original albums, the package contains a dozen bonus tracks including non-LP sides and demos.  The 12-page booklet contains liner notes by Jude Rogers plus photos and memorabilia images.  Rogers mentions a list of Sparks' influences including Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Van Dyke Parks, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks, and it's possible to hear strains of those artists - and others! - in this dizzyingly enjoyable package.  All of the material here has been previously released, but for those who don't already own it - or are looking to have it in one neatly-organized set - 1974​ more than delivers.