Big Beat (+ Bonus Tracks) [Import]

Sparks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Plygr
• ASIN: B00000740B
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,758 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese reissue of 1976 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Includes two bonus tracks, 'Tearing The Place Apart' & 'Gone With The Wind'. 2001. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sparks find their heavy sound, with mixed results. CD mastering blemished by technical glitch, January 9, 2007

By 

Movie fan from another galaxy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Beat (Audio CD)

Please Note: This review is of the 2006 remastered version of Big Beat.
One track (Throw her away And Get A New One) has a technical glitch created during remastering and ends prematurely. All other previously released versions of Big Beat play normally.

The rating of four stars is for an otherwise beautiful job of remastering + the bonus tracks, a nice booklet and of course the original tracks which appeared on Sparks wonderfully quirky 1976 release - Big Beat.

Having conquered England's shores circa 73-75 riding the crest of "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us", California born anglophiles Ron and Russell Mael packed up and moved back stateside for further dalliances with pop stardom. Their second attempt (first being 2 rare yet exquisite records from 72-73) to capture the whims of U.S. audiences was '76's "Big Beat" produced by Rupert Holmes who would much later score with bar favorite "Pina Colada" (the song, not the drink). Having now orchestrated their relocation back to the U.S., Sparks then proceeded to hire a new band for this outing. After first recruiting Ziggy's sidekick Mick Ronson who began rehearsals but then dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, the Mael boys finally settled on guitarist Jeff Salen formerly of Tuff Darts. Already on board were sometime Roxy Music bassist Sal Maida and session drummer Hilly boy Michaels. The new three piece guitar, bass and drum driven sound surprisingly, often relegates Ron's keyboard flourishes deeply back in the mix. And likewise doing away with what had been a Sparks trademark of complex, soaring queen-like arrangements and multi-part harmonies. Big Beat explores a more simple, heavy, straight forward and basic rock sound in great contrast to their previous bombastic, falsetto hyper-drive displayed gloriously with great effect on previous efforts: "Kimono My House", "Propaganda" and "Indiscreet".

Big Beat was to be Sparks's reintroduction to their American audience and was intended to jumpstart their conquest on the American pop charts. But while the Sparks "brothers" had been busy tapping into the brit-pop glam bubbling across the pond, the American audiences were now drinking heavily of the disco de-light. With Donna Summer, the BeeGees and the like topping the charts with their dance oriented studio 54 sound, the Sparks sparse guitar driven pop could not make a ripple inching only minimally onto FM hard rock stations where favorites Peter Frampton, Boston and Pink Floyd ruled the air.

30 years on, Big Beat now rests comfortably between Sparks triumphant 3 minute whirling dervish pop days and their then soon to be forthcoming New Wave electronic soaked reincarnation beginning with '79's "Number One Song In Heaven"

This newly remastered CD captures the Maels in all their stripped down glory, spotlighting "Big Boy", "Fill-er-Up" (both ably played on the big screen in 76's disaster-pic "Rollercoaster" which must be seen if only for Ron Mael's on-stage demolition of his piano stool ala Pete Townsend), "Nothing to Do", "I Want to Be Like Everybody Else" and FM fave - "Everybody's Stupid". However a technical glitch in "Throw Her Away And Get A New One" causes a premature and abrupt ending, thereby ruining one of the best songs on the album. This was not just a simple skip, which may be attributable to my receiving a defective disk, but is inherent in the mastering. I have not yet tried to return it, but would be curious to know if Island Records is planning on recalling this disk. On the plus side, the six additional tracks make this CD even more fun as "Intrusion/Confusion" and "Looks Aren't Everything" are being released for the first time. Intrusion...being a pre Big Beat version of "Confusion" that was written for French director Jasques Tati's un-named film which, sadly was never completed. This version is a bit more rumba-like and sheds a whole new light on the song. In addition there is a slick 10 page booklet with plenty of photos, 45 cover shots, lyrics and enlightening commentary by Daryl Easlea.

Big Beat marked a distinct musical departure for the Mael's and like many style breaking leaps, it failed on many levels, not the least of which was popular appeal. But while the sound did not take hold in the pre-punk American ears, the songs still hold up well and stayed true to the Mael boys propensity for off-handed lyrical jaunts and unexpectedly vaudevillesque-like song structures. That 1976 era Sparks attribute has remained their true calling card and what keeps them still vital in the overcrowded yet oft-underwhelming cavalcade of pop music.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray for amazon.com, March 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Beat (+ Bonus Tracks) (Audio CD)

This is a great Sparks CD. And the price is right considering it'is an import. The first time I heard of Sparks was seeing them in a motion picture called "Roller Coaster." It came out in 1977 or something and the group was featured in the film. They performed "Big Boy" and "Fill er up." Ron broke the piano stool on the floor ... it was fun. The music had a lasting impression on me and I'm proud to own most of their stuff. I've never heard more solid funky rock riffs until I heard this album. The movie was available on cassette but I haven't seen a copy in ages. I'd recommend the film for the Sparks concert alone (You can also see a much younger Helen Hunt as well.) If you love clever lyrics and a driving beat--don't pass this one up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a KILLER rock album, if you can find it, BUY IT!!!, April 1, 2005

By 

Gordon M. Wagner (Suburbia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Beat (+ Bonus Tracks) (Audio CD)

Truly brilliant, original and beautifully produced, this album seemed to vanish instantly. They played a big show @ the Long Beach Arena back in '76 on New Year's Eve but got NO airplay, EVER... I *LOVE* this album. Funny, acerbic lyrics, incredible playing -- it's a nearly perfect rock album that should have been a huge success!!!

I wanna be
I wanna be
I wanna be like everybody else
Be like everybody else, be like everybody else
Gravity don't work on me!
I want to be like everybody else...

BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

PS -- some kind soul pointed out that I am mistaken about the Sparks show being @ Long Beach, it was in Santa Monica! And VAN HALEN opened!!!