All You Ever Think About Is Sparks

Christian Huey
  • 4.9 (7)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

Home of the unofficial podcast devoted to the music of Ron and Russell Mael, written and produced by Christian Huey.

  1. JAN 4

    Episode 51: Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat part one

    Welcome to the rise of the machines! Ron and Russell Mael are at a bit of a crossroads with this 1984 LP, and briefly offer the reigns to producer Ian Little (Duran Duran's Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Roxy Music's Avalon), who in turn puts in the driver's seat that omnipresent mid-80s behemoth, the CMI Fairlight. It was the first time computerized, visual, grid-based composing was possible, and reduced the amount of friction between idea to product. Monte Mallin is riding shotgun again, and Mr. Christ-on-a-Bike John Ashdown returns to offer a fresh perspective on one of Sparks' lesser-loved albums.

    1h 20m

  2. 08/23/2025

    Episode 50: Interview with Chris Sutton

    Chris Sutton has appeared on this podcast before, and likewise Monte Mallin's YouTube channel Sparks: Entertainment and Art. This time, Chris and Christian go mano a mano in an interview about his (Chris') latest book On Track... Sparks 1969-1979 We chat about what it's like being a rock music journalist, and just how he managed to track down so many Sparks luminaries for his project. Also, if you happen to be in the neighborhood of Smethwick, just a bit west of Birmingham, stop by the Smethwick Heritage Center and say hello to the museum's Manager-cum-Editor of the museum's magazine! He just may look (or sound) a tad familiar!

    1h 45m

  3. 06/06/2025

    Episode 49: Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains) soundtrack (1984)

    Tally ho! We're going deep into the vaults today for this one, with an in-depth look at the never-officially-released soundtrack to the obscure 1984 teen gross-out film Bad Manners... Or is that Growing Pains? It seems Sparks didn't even know, so they recorded two theme songs, using both titles! After we flap our yaps about both the movie and the soundtrack, we take a little bit of time to explore the unusually high number of soundtrack-only songs Ron and Russ recorded in 1983-1984. The great Monte Mallin returns, and I'm happy to introduce Mr. Chris Sutton to the show this time out! Besides being a true Sparks ride-or-die, Chris has written several books about various music legends. And his latest one is called On Track... Sparks 1969-1979. (PSST. YOU CAN BUY IT HERE:)  Monte's Sparks: Entertainment and Art series is here:

    1h 52m

  4. 03/21/2025

    Episode 48: Hillyboymania part 2 of 2

    Howdy, Sparks fans! As promised, here's another episode all about New Haven's finest, the inimitable Hilly Michaels! Monte Mallin and I wax poetic for a bit about just what made Hilly's powerhouse work on the skins so special on 1976's Big Beat. After that, I clock out, and pass the baton over to Monte for his one-on-one interview with Hilly, recorded a few weeks before our three-way convo with the rhythm savant, which was featured on the previous episode. Don't sleep on Hilly's non-Sparks work, in particular his solo career! Aside from that early MTV staple "Calling All Girls," his first LP from 1980 simply roars from beginning to end. The sadly-out-of-print Lumia from the following year shows Hilly exploring a more technology-forward sound a la DEVO or Wall of Voodoo, and should've made more of a splash. As I mention in the episode, Hilly has dozens of unreleased songs in the vault, and you can actually hear them right here, on Hilly's YouTube channel! Monte's Sparks: Entertainment and Art series is here: https://www.youtube.com/@montemallin2024 And Paul Barrett's MetaSparks at: https://www.youtube.com/@MetaSparks Drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com Coming up: We discuss that time in 1984 when Sparks showed Bad Manners!

    1h 37m

  5. 03/04/2025

    Episode 47: Hillyboymania part one

    Hilly Boy is back! Monte Mallin and I have a nice, in-depth chat with one of Sparks' most celebrated drummers, Hilly Michaels! We cover lots of ground that was left unexplored from the last time we talked, back in 2021. For thousands - if not tens of thousands - of folks of their generation, Hilly's smash hit "Calling All Girls" was the very first video they saw on the fledgling MTV! Hearing Hilly talk about his career is like reading a SparkNotes (see what I did there?) version of The Entire History of Rock n Roll from 1969 to today. Some very auspicious figures get mentioned in the Hilly Boy saga, like: Ron Wood, Michael Bolton, Rupert Holmes, Liza Minelli, and of course, the late, great Marianne Faithfull. Shake It and Dance, Goddammit! Be sure to check out Hilly's YouTube and Bandcamp pages! Monte's Sparks-themed YouTube channel at: Monte Mallin - YouTube  And Paul Barrett's MetaSparks at: https://www.youtube.com/@MetaSparks Drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com

    1h 28m

  6. 02/09/2025

    Episode 46: Sparks In Outer Space (1983) pt. 3 of 3

    This one has been in the vault for a while now! Monte and I mix things up by occupying the same geocoordinates as each other for this episode. It's Sparks In Outer Space! Side B. Or 2, if that's your jam. This one was a ton of fun, y'all! We've got another one I'm sticking in the podcast oven to warm up, so that I can serve it up hot and fresh, reeeeeal soon now. Next stop: Pulling Rabits Out of a Hat!... Or... is it? You can still reach me, most of the time, at podcastsparks@gmail.com

    1h 33m

  7. 08/22/2024

    Episode 45: Sparks In Outer Space part 2 (1983)

    Part 2 of our 3-parter on Sparks' 1983 LP In Outer Space! We get through the rest of side A! Plus, a brief history of the Linn Drum! Lucky me, lucky you! Monte's Sparks-themed YouTube channel at: Monte Mallin - YouTube  And Paul Barrett's MetaSparks at: MetaSparks - YouTube Drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com

    1 hr

  8. 07/02/2024

    Episode 44: Sparks In Outer Space (1983) part one

    Monte Mallin and I take the wayback machine to 1983, when Sparks were kings of the mountain - the Magic Mountain. In Outer Space was Sparks' 12th LP, and was released when the group was white-hot, at least in Los Angeles! This episode focuses mostly on the smash single "Cool Places," a duet with Go-Go Jane Wiedlin. So, sit back and let the soothing strains of the Linn Drum lull you to a state of bliss. This is "All You Ever Think About Is Sparks!" Monte's Sparks-themed YouTube channel at: Monte Mallin - YouTube  And Paul Barrett's MetaSparks at: MetaSparks - YouTube Drop me a line at podcastsparks@gmail.com

    1h 27m
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Home of the unofficial podcast devoted to the music of Ron and Russell Mael, written and produced by Christian Huey.

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