Sparks release "Christmas Without a Prayer" (watch the video) ++ new 'The Island Years' vinyl box set
by Bill Pearis
Art pop icons Sparks have released a holiday single, “Christmas Without a Prayer.” As you might expect it’s on the darkly comic side, offering up a look at Christmas alone, that is not necessarily a bad thing. “No one to buy me things I don’t want / bright colored ties / monogramed things / an album by Wings.” You can check out the song’s lyric video below.
In addition to the terrific FFS album they made this year with Franz Ferdinand, Sparks also put out a box set, The Island Years, which collects the band’s four albums for the label from 1974 – 1976 (Kimono My House, Propaganda, Indiscreet, Big Beat) plus a newly-created adaptation of the 1979 compilation, The Best Of Sparks, which they’ve retitled The Rest Of Sparks featuring all their b-sides from the Island era, and some songs that have never been available on vinyl. The remaster and cut was supervised by Sparks associate Inglot, for those that worry about stuff like that. You can check out a video promo for the box set, plus artwork and tracklist, below.
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NEWS: THE ISLAND YEARS 5-VINYL LP BOXSETSparks: The Island Years Boxset – released 27th November 2015PRE-ORDER FROM http://po.st/IslandYears+ Signed Lithograph prints for first 100 pre-ordersSparks: The Island Years, a collection of Sparks' four Island Records studio albums from 1974-1976 along with a newly-created adaptation of the 1979 compilation, The Best Of Sparks, punningly retitled The Rest Of Sparks.The heavyweight vinyl box set includes Kimono My House, Propaganda, Indiscreet and Big Beat and a fifth LP, The Rest Of Sparks, that rounds up all of the band’s Island B-sides from the period, most of which have never previously been available on vinyl album, while the tracks ‘Looks Aren’t Everything’ and ‘Intrusion/Confusion’ are making their debut on vinyl. The set, with its faithful recreation of all original sleeves is pressed on 180GM vinyl. The cut was overseen by long-term Sparks associate Bill Inglot.The first 100 customers to pre-order ‘The Island Years’ will receive a signed art print of the iconic ‘Big Beat’ sleeve.TRACKLISTING: KIMONO MY HOUSE- Side 1 -This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of UsAmateur HourFalling In Love With Myself AgainHere In HeavenThank God It’s Not Christmas- Side 2 -Hasta Manana, MonsieurTalent Is An AssetComplaintsIn My FamilyEquatorPROPAGANDA- Side 1-PropagandaAt Home At Work At PlayReinforcementsB.C.Thanks But No ThanksDon't Leave Me Alone With Her- Side 2 -Never Turn Your Back On Mother EarthSomething For The Girl With EverythingAchooWho Don't Like KidsBon Voyage INDISCREET- Side 1 -Hospitality On ParadeHappy Hunting GroundWithout Using HandsGet In The SwingUnder The Table With HerHow You Getting Home?- Side 2 -PineappleT*tsIt Ain't 1918The Lady Is LingeringIn The FutureLooks, Looks, LooksMiss The Start, Miss The EndBIG BEAT- Side 1 -Big BoyI Want To Be Like Everybody ElseNothing To DoI Bought The Mississippi RiverFill-er-UpEverybody's Stupid- Side 2 -Throw Her Away (And Get A New One)ConfusionScrewed UpWhite WomenI Like GirlsTHE REST OF SPARKS- Side 1 -Lost And FoundBarbecutieAlabamy RightMarry MeProfileThe Wedding of Jacqueline Kennedy to Russell Mael- Side 2 -I Want To Hold Your HandEnglandGone With The WindIntrusion/ConfusionLooks Aren't EverythingTearing The Place Apart
Posted by Sparks Official on Friday, September 18, 2015
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SPARKS – THE ISLAND YEARS tracklist:
KIMONO MY HOUSE
– Side 1 –
This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us
Amateur Hour
Falling In Love With Myself Again
Here In Heaven
Thank God It’s Not Christmas
– Side 2 –
Hasta Manana, Monsieur
Talent Is An Asset
Complaints
In My Family
Equator
PROPAGANDA
– Side 1-
Propaganda
At Home At Work At Play
Reinforcements
B.C.
Thanks But No Thanks
Don’t Leave Me Alone With Her
– Side 2 –
Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
Something For The Girl With Everything
Achoo
Who Don’t Like Kids
Bon Voyage
INDISCREET
– Side 1 –
Hospitality On Parade
Happy Hunting Ground
Without Using Hands
Get In The Swing
Under The Table With Her
How You Getting Home?
– Side 2 –
Pineapple
T*ts
It Ain’t 1918
The Lady Is Lingering
In The Future
Looks, Looks, Looks
Miss The Start, Miss The End
BIG BEAT
– Side 1 –
Big Boy
I Want To Be Like Everybody Else
Nothing To Do
I Bought The Mississippi River
Fill-er-Up
Everybody’s Stupid
– Side 2 –
Throw Her Away (And Get A New One)
Confusion
Screwed Up
White Women
I Like Girls
THE REST OF SPARKS
– Side 1 –
Lost And Found
Barbecutie
Alabamy Right
Marry Me
Profile
The Wedding of Jacqueline Kennedy to Russell Mael
– Side 2 –
I Want To Hold Your Hand
England
Gone With The Wind
Intrusion/Confusion
Looks Aren’t Everything
Tearing The Place Apart
