Sparks (band)

Sparks is the name of the American band including the brothers Ron (1948, Culver City) and Russell Mael, (1953, Santa Monica) different music styles for decades back. Some sources mention their dates of birth as 1945 and 1948 respectively but itself keep the Maels, which closed about their private life, striking at the former years. For example, they also help, after they have been broken through the rumor the world in that they are the sons of Doris Day and their last name is actually Day. This is nonsense. A well-known Russell pronunciation is; "We are notorious liars".



Content
[hide] *1 the early years  ==The early years[ Edit] == Their very first recording together is a somewhat surreal sounding song called "Computer Girl" from 1966 that never officially released but in a Japanese semi-biography from 2006 is included on cd. Both brothers studying in time at the UCLA in Los Angeles and before one focused entirely on the music is Ron Mael worked as a photographer. It was only in 1967 he decided to permanently join the band Halfnelson of brother Russell. Earlier incarnations of Halfnelson, without Ron as a permanent band member, Moon baker Abbey and its Urban Renewal Project, in which no shots with it are made. Ron Mael, (then Ronnie), is the keyboard player and main composer of the Group; He stands out for its on Adolf Hitler and Charlie Chaplin moustache and his stoic similar facial expressions. He rejects any comparison with Hitler himself. Russell is the singerand stands out for its high falsetto (falsetto), those in the largest success story "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us" effortless glides to a high d ; both numbers to deliver in time but that role will be quickly taken over by Ron. For financial reasons, at a later stage, every issue will be attributed to Ron and Russell Mael but is almost always the true composer Ron Mael.
 * 2 European success
 * 3 change of taste
 * 4 Again to the forefront
 * 5 American success
 * 6 Return
 * 7 radically different
 * 8 discography
 * 8.1 Albums
 * 8.2 Singles
 * 8.3 Radio 2 Top 2000
 * 8.4 soundtracks
 * 9 external links

After the break-up of Urban Renewal Project places the Maels a call for a guitarist on the Bulletin Board of their University and one Earle Mankey responds. Mankey is not a great musician but turns out to be a true talent in recording techniques and one starts with writing and recording avant-garde-like numbers. Is a demo album recorded in 1969, with the help of Surly Ralph Oswald on bass and John Mendelsohn on drums. By the regular absence of Oswald plays Russell Mael on most of the 12 numbers the bass guitar. In the absence of a decent drum kit uses cardboard boxes and Earle Mankey can enjoy themselves in all kinds of strange recording techniques that give the album a particularly interesting and striking sound.

The recording is funded by manager Roy Silver and one squeezes 100 copies on vinyl and in a by Ron Mael designed cover is the album to all them well-known American record companies steered with a enclosed contract and the request for to sign on the dotted line. There is no response and Oswald and Mendelsohn are acknowledged for their services. They will later form the band Christopher Milk and the latter will also release an ep under the name John Mendelsohn's The Pitt.

The remaining threesome then devotes himself to writing new material and after a tape with four songs via his girlfriend (Miss Christine of the GTO's) in 1970 at Todd Rundgren ends up, he decides to produce their first album, which is commonly known as "Halfnelson" baptized. Through his contacts with Bearsville Records he knows a recording contract for the eccentric trio for get together. The brother of Earle, Jim Mankey is attracted on bass and drums one finds Harley Feinstein, who also studied at UCLA. Halfnelson published in January 1971 and sells only a few hundred copies.

By the lack of success, Albert Grossman, the boss of Bearsville, in 1972 for the band name to Sparks Brothers, a reference to the Marx Brothers, where they do him to think. The band refuses but eventually accepts the name Sparks and the debut album is re-released under that name, accompanied by the single "Wonder Girl". The album again sells hardly but the single ends up in the tail of the Billboard Top 100 and is in some States even a local hit, partly due to their television appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand .

After recording their second LP for Bearsville, "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" is Sparks end of 1972 invited to a short tour of Europe to take care of, where one plays in Switzerland, England and in the Scheveningen Tiffany, where due to the lack of a program for the set is played twice but in a different order. Muziekkrant Oor reporter expresses praise to the flawless singing voice of Russell and make a note of how the band declined in restaurants because of their long hairstyle. For this occasion the American single "Wonder Girl" also released in Netherlands but does not reach the charts.

A striking television appearance in november 1972 in The Old Grey Whistle Test in England and a number of appearances in the Marquee Club in London, where the Queen for an unknown program provides results in an interest from Island Records. If it turns out that upon return in the us their second album also hardly take the Maels caught on an invitation from Island Records to set up a new band in England. Without their other band members leave the Maels to London and places advertisements in Melody Maker to form a new band. Earle Mankey is technician in the Beach Boys Studios, Jim Mankey is the guitarist for Concrete Blonde and Harley Feinstein graduated and is a lawyer. Earle Mankey In 1976 will still cooperate with the Maels once if he the song "England" for them produces, the single "a achterkantjeI Want To Hold Your Hand", a Beatles cover that is pulled out almost immediately after the release. ==European success[ Edit] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After several auditions in London Adrian Fisher (guitar), Martin Gordon (bass) and Norman "Dinky" Diamond (drums) and adopted the Maels to start composing and rehearsing their new repertoire. Muff Winwood(Steve's brother) is appointed as a producer. Originally the song "Barbecutie" as the first single to be released but Ron Mael comes at the last minute with the classic "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us", that in May 1974, by an appearance on Top of the Pops for a sensation makes. Ron has been its wild curls shaved off and got his hair tightly combed backwards. In combination with his controversial mustache and Flo are dandy-like Russell Sparks is the talk of the town. John Lennon, who also are watching the broadcast calls surprised from; "Christ, they've got Hitler on the telly!". Secondly, the number will eventually reach in the UK top 40 and months long dominated the European press Sparks and Beatles-like scenes observed during their performances, which begin in June 1974 in England. To be able to strengthen their sound live what is enlisted the help of "Sir" Peter Oxendale but that is ultimately not used during their tour. Their debut album for Island Records, "Kimono My House" appears in May and will eventually reach the fourth place.

<p lang="en" len="302" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">One of the holders of hit shows by Sparks is a still young Morrissey, who in June will send a letter to the Melody Maker;

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">"Today I bought the album of the year. I feel I can say this without expecting several letters saying I'm talking rubbish. The album is "Kimono My House" by Sparks. I bought it on the strength of the single. Every track is brilliant-although I must name "Equator", "Complaints", "Amateur Hour" and "Here In Heaven" as the best tracks, and in that order. " Steve Morrissey, 384 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Thirty years later the same Morrissey as organizer of the 2004 version of the Meltdown Festival invite Sparks under the condition that they play live the whole album from 1974. Sparks refuse at first because they claim never to look back and give myself prefer their newest album. Both albums will be closed by a compromise to let them play.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A second single "Amateur Hour" of their Island debut is released a few months later and is also a hit, although it has less of an impact than their first Island-single. It contains the typical witty rhyme line "it's a lot like playing the violin/You cannot start out and be Yehudi Menuhin", about a bumbling newbie in love. Bearsville Records, the American record company that provided their first two albums, try a reap the sudden success of the Maels and using a rush-release the song "Girl From Germany" in England, Germany and France but this remains virtually unnoticed. Also the both first albums as double LP released by Bearsville again in England under the title "Two Originals or Sparks".

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Under pressure from the fans and the press released a second album for Island at the end of 1974, called Propaganda . Also this sells well, partly due to the of the album pulled singles "Something For The Girl With Everything" and "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth", that a remarkably quiet and understated number is compared to their previous singles.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Toured again In november by Britain and the Mainland is also done to them. They play In Netherlands in december 1974 in a sold out Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Martin Gordon and Adrian Fisher replaced by Ian Hampton respectively and Trevor White. Both musicians come from the band The Jook and have, like Sparks John Hewlett as a manager. John Hewlett was the original bass player of John's Children, an English band from the 60 's where Marc Bolan also joined another couple of months.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Adrian Fisher is later reflected in the band Boxer but will never taste of the great success. In 2001 he deceased in Thailand where he still was active as a musician in local venues.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Martin Gordon turns in 1975 the band Jet on which brings out one album (reissued on cd in 2000 by the Dutch Fan Mael Records). In 1976, he has some local success in England with the band Radio Stars. He was currently active as a solo artist. He was also actively involved in the renewed version of John's Children. ==Change of taste<span class="mw-editsection" len="341" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The third album for Island brings In 1975 Sparks from; the experimental "Obtrusive", produced by Tony Visconti. It is initially less well received, but has two small hitsuccessen: "Get in the Swing" and "Looks Looks Looks", the last thing in terms of sound and arrangements strongly reminiscent of the 1920s. In retrospective is the album better appreciated and joined to their classics.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In that period the Maels also come in contact with the French Director Jacques Tati, known for his movies with Mr. Hulot in the lead role. They would play a role in the film "Confusion" but because Tati rewrite the script remained constant and his health deteriorated this never realized. Though writing the title track and take this on the Maels. However, this version never released but for their next album is again included. In 1982 the deceased Tati.

<p lang="en" len="152" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After an American tour in 1975 remain the Maels their band and they dissolve in Los Angeles behind while the rest of the band returns to England.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Trevor White brings out a solo single in 1976; "Crazy Kids", (an old song by The Jook) and replaces in 1977 Martin Gordon in Radio Stars, as the last Blue Meanies erects a new band. Both of them are not successful with it.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Ian Hampton and Norman Diamond stop their musical career. Hampton starts a hotel in Wales and Diamond dies in 2004.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">With in mind the hype of that time; the punk in England and a comparative scene in New York is an album recorded in this city which is characterized by the basic sound of hard guitars and simple direct melodies; "Big Beat". As a producer Rupert Holmes is attracted. The band exists this time completely out of Americans; guitarist Jeff Salen of Tuff Darts, bassist Sal Maida Milk'n'Cookies 's and session drummer Jeff "Boy" Michaels, who later would record another solo album; "Calling All Girls".

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The singles from this album are "Big Boy" and "I Like Girls" pulled, which completely flopping. "I Like Girls" is an old song, from their American period that live was very popular but never was released. A version that was included with the original American band in 1973 finally appears on the compilation cd "Profile", in 1990 but hardly deviates from the "Big Beat" version.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A tour of America and Canada follows but with an almost completely different band; David Swanson plays bass and two other guitarists, namely Luke Zamperini and Jimmy McAllister. Michaels remains in service as a drummer.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There is a guest appearance in the film Roller coaster in which they live "Big Boy" and "Fill 'er Up" perform in an amusement park. Stores the always quiet Ron Mael his piano stool to pieces, entirely in keeping with the spirit of the times.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The European press is quite divided on "Big Beat". Muziekkrant Oor calls the album "the fall of two tightrope walkers" but in England is generally more enthusiastic. Nevertheless the album flops fully and for the first time is also none of the singles to be found somewhere in the charts. In Sweden the album gets suspiciously enough the gold status.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Never too lousy to stir radical to throw, let the Maels themselves for their next album inspired by the westcoast sound, a music style that was a strong presence during their youth to the beaches of Los Angeles. Island Records is exchanged for CBS and a number of studio musicians hired, including David Foster, Lee Ritenour and Thom Rotella. Also, this time for the first time made use of professional background singers to the harmonies in the tradition of access The Beach Boys . With an emphatic American sound and the ironic title "Introducing Sparks" seem the Maels, mainly on the local market to target. Yet the end of 1977 they bring some brief promotional visits to Europe where they release the single "A Big Surprise". There are no performances and it will take until early 1980s Sparks will go touring again. The song appears In America "Over The Summer" on single. Both singles flopping.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Meanwhile, a compilation album from Island Records brings in Europe; "The Best of Sparks", on which two outtakes from "Obtrusive" can be found; "Gone With The Wind" and "Tearing The Place Apart".

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">It seems to still be around the Maels. Behind the scenes, working on a new record deal and in 1978 they record a demo with six new songs for Arista, which there are not, however, be impressed and the recording fades away unused in the la. ==Again to the forefront<span class="mw-editsection" len="345" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the late 70 's rock is at an impasse. Progressive rock and hard rock live no longer, so many turn to rhythm and blues, while the young people embrace punk and new wave . Sparks feels more attracted to the Germanavant-garde electronic music by Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Kraftwerk and Can.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">As mentioned earlier the Maels are looking for a new direction, the Arista-demo is not interesting enough and a radical change is needed. "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer released in 1977 and hit the Maels is interested in the man behind the sound; Giorgio Moroder.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A friend telling them that they admire the work of Giorgio Moroder, this friend tells it to Moroder and the collaboration is a fact. There are recorded in Moroder's at Musicland Studios in Munich and those mean a radical change for the sound of the Maels.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">First of all, the album exclusively of synthesizers, which are played by both by Ron as Moroder. It is the use of a live drummer, which is delivered by Moroder; Keith Forsey. Forsey is not just a drummer. He played all drums on virtually all Donna Summer albums and is the fixed producer of Billy Idol.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Another striking difference with the earlier work of Sparks is that one this time allows another interferes with the composing of the songs. Only two of the six numbers are written only by the Maels, the other four are under the influence of Moroder composed.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the recording of the album expanded both the Maels as Moroder let hear about the new music style and the record companies roll over each other to the plate back. It is eventually Richard Branson 's Virgin Records.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The album "No. 1 In Heaven", is received with mixed feelings by the press and fans. Many accuse the band that they have reduced to "disco", while others see the album as a renewal within the music scene and will take it to a whole new wave; the synthpop. Acts such as Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Yazoo and Erasure, Pet Shop Boys have also influenced by the new sound of Sparks.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The first single; "The Number One Song In Heaven" is a modest hit in England but the successor to "Beat The Clock" is the snelstverkopende single in the history of Virgin Records. A third single, "Tryouts For The Human Race", it does significantly less but the new show is set and Sparks is back on the map in Europe.

<p lang="en" len="106" style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Entirely in keeping with the spirit of the times is the album and singles in assorted colors vinyl released.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Within a year follows "Terminal Jive", in which the style is carried through but where again though guitars can be heard. On this album is the influence of Ron Mael minimized, although he takes more compositions. The album is produced by Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer, who became another big hit will score with "Axel F", the soundtrack to the film Beverly Hills Cop.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Despite the fact that the Maels afterwards but little to speak about this album, featuring the though Sparks ' biggest hit in the form of "When I'm With You", a song on the first place in France ends up. As a result, the Maels almost a year stay in Paris. Years later the lp les Rita Mitsouko call their great inspiration and will include the two bands later some numbers together. ==American success<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Store In the United States the two albums under hardly to Moroder's influence. The reviews are good but they do not know the general public to reach, despite reasonable promoting their American record label Elektra.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Maels moving back to Los Angeles and if they see the local band "Bates Motel" occur, they take this band as their backing band and begin to write new songs. It is, however, included in the new album at Musicland Studios in Munich and this time it's one Mack, someone from Moroder's stable and known as Queen's recording engineer, who takes care of the production.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">With "Whomp That Sucker", that do the Maels appears in 1981 another step back to the original sound of the early Island-albums "Kimono My House" and "Propaganda" and the texts are also a lot more interesting than the gentle "Terminal Jive". The backing band of Sparks now consists of Bob Haag, guitar, David Kendrik on drums and Leslie Bohem on bass. Bohem will be much later still the scenario, write the movie "Dante's Peak" and is currently a successful screenwriter in Los Angeles.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In november 1981, Sparks give for the first time since something. Belgium's served but three of the six scheduled concerts are canceled due to lack of interest. To support uses the live keyboard player Jim Goodwin.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the unsuccessful tour of Belgium and a successor to Los Angeles Sparks departs again from "Whomp That Sucker" will be included, "Angst In My Pants". This Gallery provides a first hit for the band on in America;the comic "I Predict" with the sarcastic line "The Queen is a man/But that Philip don't care". They even more success with their next album; "Sparks In Outer Space", where two tracks with Jane Weidlin of the Go-Go's on it. One of these two numbers, the cheerful "Cool Places" is a hit. In the ancient tradition of Island they put on the back the song "Sports", which is not on an LP will appear. There is extensive toured across America and the concerts are well attended.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In France are in the meantime also the necessary singles released, hoping the success of "When I'm With You" comes to prolong but despite what small quantitative terms-that there isn't more of it. One of the singles is the rather obscure "Modesty Plays", which would appear on LP only four years later.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A third album, again with the same backing band has been less well received in the us. "Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat", although does it better than their albums from the 70 's, but sells a lot less than their previous two albums. It is now 1984 and the backing band is thanks for services rendered. They will set up a band itself; Gleaming Spires, with which some local success in California is posted but also in Burma.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the meantime there are some requests for some numbers to contribute for different soundtracks and early eighties deliver the Maels indeed what songs for movies like "Flashdance", "Fright Night" and "Get Crazy".There would just have been that the photogenic Russell Mael would play the lead role in the last film but eventually preferred the award winning Malcolm McDowell.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1985, if it turns out that their popularity in the United States about the highlight, the Maels return on Europe. They take a new number called "Change", which in terms of composition very similar to the song "Is That All There Is" Peggy Lee's, what if a big favorite of Ron Mael applies. In England is the song in the TV show from Terry Wogan presented with a spectacular intermezzo of the brothers on timpani. On the back of the single, which in several countries including Netherlands on the small label London Records is released, is an acoustic guitar version of their first hit, "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us". The single does little despite their promotion efforts and the Maels times back to the us.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Released a new album In 1986; "Music That You Can Dance To" LP, a glorified collection of two sound tracks (the title track and "Armies Of The Night" from Fright Night), supplemented by Madsen Plays, which in some countries is replaced by "Change". The other numbers are fairly experimental and have all the character of film music. The album also houses a rather annoying version of the Stevie Wonderhit "Fingertips". In England the number "Rosebud" released as a single but disappears unnoticed on sale bins. For this album are the old-timers Les Bohem, Bob Haag and David Kendrick again popped up, supplemented with some guest appearances by musicians. The album is included in the Brussels Synsound Studios by Marc Moulin, one of the men behind Telex, for whom the Maels have few texts written for their cd "Sex". (See collaborations).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There are some gigs in America but soon it will be very quiet around the Maels, which still are a breed on their magnum opus. "Interior Design", the album that quite unexpectedly in 1988 appears, is that clearly not. It is the first album ever recorded at Russell's own "The Pentagon Studios", at his home in Los Angeles.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">As additional musicians are John Thomas on keyboards, guitar and backing vocalist Spencer Sircombe on Pamela Stonebrook attracted, the band that also accompanied them during the scant appearances in 1986."Interior Design" is a nice cd but certainly not more than that. it lacks is also not particularly striking outliers and lyrically, something where one with each new plate of the Maels are looking anyway. By way of gimmick is the song "Madonna" (about an imaginary rendezvous with the mega star) by Russell in the German, French and Spanish Sung.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Put the brothers in the early 1990s a lot of time and energy in a musical out there will never come. The film would be based on a Japanese cartoon character "Mai, the psychic girl". Though they ultimately, years later a cd-r which unreleased numbers from "Mai", as well as unreleased songs from the soundtrack for "Knock-Off", a film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. ==Return<span class="mw-editsection" len="329" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The album "Gratuitous sax and senseless violins" (1994) means a return to the pop music, this time in the genre of European elektropop. In Germany is a big hit scored with "When do i get to sing my way" and "(When I kiss you) I hear Charlie Parker playing"; also in the United Kingdom and Netherlands are the Sparks again present in (the lower regions of) the charts.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">"Plagiarism", the next album contains covers from 1997, of the own hits, to which Faith No More, Erasure and Jimmy Sommerville cooperate. In 1998 the brothers names the soundtrack for the movie "Knock off" (withJean Claude Van Damme) on. In 2000 the album "Balls" still appears, that can be seen as a repeat exercise of the successful "Gratuitous sax and senseless violins". The success, however, does not repeat itself. ==Radically different<span class="mw-editsection" len="335" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The album "Lil ' Beethoven" from 2003 is a radical turnaround. The songs are arranged and the quasi-Classic texts are characterized by simplicity and repetition. The album is described in the press as genius. The successor (20th!) album "Hello young lovers" (2006) builds this concept further. Again the press excited; commercial success, however, remains out. Deal with the Brothers In London in the summer of 2008 by twenty nights to act out a lot with the music of all of their albums. ==Discography<span class="mw-editsection" len="331" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Albums<span class="mw-editsection" len="326" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Singles<span class="mw-editsection" len="328" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Radio 2 Top 2000<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Soundtracks<span class="mw-editsection" len="332" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ===
 * 1977: Roller coaster
 * 1983: Valley girl
 * the same: Get crazy
 * 1985: Fright night
 * 1986: Rad
 * 1989: Black rain
 * 1992: Unlawful entry
 * 1998: Knock off