Sparks 1969 to 1979 On Track

This long-overdue book charts the career of Sparks from 1969 to 1979. Every album and every song is examined, including some which are still officially unreleased, beginning with their

early recordings as Halfnelson/Sparks and when they were a band of five. After that band split, Ron and Russell Mael retained the name and spent much of the seventies working with a succession of sidemen and collaborators, although that was not always evident to some! They ended the seventies on a high note with the collaboration with Gorgio Moroder for 'No.

1 In Heaven'. Many who worked on their records have shared their thoughts in the book. The list includes Dean Detrick, Simon Draper, Harley Feinstein, Martin Gordon, Ian Hampton, Rupert Holmes, James Lowe, Sal Maida, James Mankey, John Mendelsohn, Adrian Munsey, Ralph Oswald, Peter Oxendale, Mike Piggott, Terry Rae, Thom Rotella, Suzi Ronson,

Paul Rudolph, Richard Digby Smith, Karl Stoecker, David Swanson, Trevor White, Muff Winwood and Luke Zamperini.

But this book adds much new information for fans as well as lively opinions on the records. It's essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about how Sparks developed in the

decade which saw them create much of their best work.