MEDUSA-RULES wrote:
brENsKi wrote: no chance. freddie had a vision - since he was about 12
Any detail on this- do you know of any literal vision? or just general ambition?
Hi Medusa Rules
Apparently Freddie used to tell everyone he was going to be a star before he was one. So it seems to have been a complete belief in it that continued to motivate him to become a star.
PS Why Medusa? I know a song called that or is it some other reason?
[QUOTE] [b]Heavenite wrote:[/b]
MEDUSA-RULES wrote:
brENsKi wrote: no chance. freddie had a vision - since he was about 12
Any detail on this- do you know of any literal vision? or just general ambition?
Hi Medusa Rules
Apparently Freddie used to tell everyone he was going to be a star before he was one. So it seems to have been a complete belief in it that continued to motivate him to become a star.
PS Why Medusa? I know a song called that or is it some other reason?[/QUOTE]
Nothin really, i have the same belief in regards to the movie
@Heavenite - true about the range of emotions. Do you have Indiscreet? A fabulous album (over long perhaps) perhaps showing that Sparks did 'comedy' a bit more than 'melancholy'. Great thread.
Hi again Dysan
Thanks! I think its great having threads that discuss different bands like this. Do you get many of those on here?
I don't have Indiscreet at this point but your comments on the strength of that album are noted. My interest in Sparks is sort of back to front in the sense that the first album I got was their last, when I got Bergman as a gift for a friend who is a Sparks nut. I got myself a copy as well and found it to be a really gorgeous album. I was sold.
Since then I've got into Pulling Rabbits out of a Hat, Sax and Violins, a Japanese copy of "Introducing", Exotic Creatures, Hello Young Lovers and most recently Kimono My House.
Am still really only getting into it, but the tunes are becomiong clearer and clearer. Faves at this point are This Town, Talent is an Asset and Equator. I'm now thinking of getting a copy of the Japanese pressing to see if it improves the sound.
I do enjoy Sparks and find them interesting and well worth the money. I don't like them the way I like Queen, but its great to enjoy different bands and the last thing I heard they are not making any more of those unfortunately. :-(
Am looking forward to those concerts when you get the time. And do you know if the Sparks 1969 "Woofer" demos (ie not the album) are available from anywhere? I have just bought their first album and given it a couple of spins and would like to hear a pre-nascent Sparks too if that stuff is also available somewhere.
david galashiels wrote:
do you think,sparks,were heavy enough for brian.
must confess apart from singles i dont know much sparks songs.
was,kimono my house? a heavy ish album.
and is it worth a listen.
Hi David
Personally I don't think that Brian would have been a good fit with Sparks. The music wasn't heavy enough for his tastes as you suggest and the Sparks I've heard is predominantly about supporting the singer's interpretation of the song rather than having bits of playing going on for its own sake such as Procession and Father to Son.
I actually have a friend who is a Sparks fan who would like to hear a solo album from the older brother Ron who plays keyboards. But playing for its own sake doesn't seem to be a priority for him as he has been the one that has been responsible for most of the songwriting over the years.
That doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile music of course, it just means its different. Its horses for courses I guess.
Pim Derks wrote:
Going to see Sparks in two weeks. Can't wait.
Good luck Pim. I think its tomorrow night. Will be interested to hear your feedback on how it all goes. Sparks fans are lucky in that they still have the brothers still intact and functioning. Sadly Queen fans have only half their original band intact. Think I'll need to move to an alternate universe where Freddie is still alive and the band is still together and putting out great music.
RE Woofer demos - only on bootleg. you should be able to find them no problem with a bit of googling or youtubing. They are excellent!
Thanks Dysan.
I've had a bit of a go already, but I'll keep trying. Hopefully someone is selling a good quality CD-R with inserts. I am thinking that CD Universe is probably the best place for me to look.
I remember I got a CD-R of Brian May tracks from CD Universe that rounded up bits of his solo stuff that are not on one of his albums. It was really helpful in that respect, although the music quality wasn't the absolute best.
I think artists like Sparks should rerelease these sorts of things, as I would much rather pay the artists for a qood quality cleaned up (even remastered) copy of songs like the Woofer demos from the band themselves, rather than poorer quality product from alternative sources. Especially if the product is really significant and worth buying like the Woofer demos would appear to be. They could rename it "Pre-Woofer Woofer"....lol.
[QUOTE] [b]Heavenite wrote:[/b]
Since then I've got into Pulling Rabbits out of a Hat, Sax and Violins, a Japanese copy of "Introducing", Exotic Creatures, Hello Young Lovers and most recently Kimono My House.
[/QUOTE]
Grat Sax, Exotic Creates, Lovers & Kimono are amazing albums. Introducing has it's moments too, but Pulling Rabbits IMO is one of their lesser albums.
Check out Number One In Heaven and the first two albums. Some amazing stuff: Tryouts for the Human Race, The Louvre, Sacharrin And The War.
Oh and don't forget their masterpiece Lil' Beethoven. The Rhythm Thief may well be one of my favorite pieces of music of all time!
Hi there Pim
But what do you think of Bergman? It was my first Sparks album and is still my favourite. And funnily enough I really like Introducing despite its somewhat negative reputation. Its probably my second favourite album, although Kimono is closing in as I get more familiar with it. I found Exotic to be a difficult album to get into, but its now very good (except for that Strange Animal track!!, not sure what happened there). Sax is very professional and seems to be more of a dance album I think while Lovers is pretty crazy (like Exotic Creatures in that respect) with lots ot good bits on it too. I agree that Rabbits is definitely the weakest album of those I own at present.
Queen still rules as far as I'm concerned but Sparks are cool too. More for the fans who enjoy Queen's music hall/keyboard side as opposed to their rock stuff I would think.
Have fun at the Sparks concert tonight and let us know how it all goes. Reckon we might want a copy of the concert on here too if you can get hold of one.....lol.
I'll upload the demos here if you like. Not ideal, but will keep you going.
Here we are:
http://www.mediafire.com/?9yxcy224qx4m4dk
Enjoy!
Hi Dysan
The Woofer Demos! Wow! Thanks!! Will get these tonight using my offpeak download allocation. I'm pretty sure my Sparksian friend has never heard these either, so you will have made two people happy. In fact I think thrilled would be a better word to describe how my friend is going to react. :-))
Couldn't find it on CD Universe either. But I will do up a couple of CD-Rs, as we are dinosaurs that still like the old technology.
Genesis tried to get Roger before Phil Collins joined, what if he had accepted?
Nice one! Needs a topic of its own though as its another interesting question. Me, I'd say things would go on in a similar vein. Although no I'm In Love With My Car would be a complete downer.
