Propaganda [EXTRA TRACKS] [IMPORT] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Sparks

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 2, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Fontana Island
• ASIN: B000I8NGJ6
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,374 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Propaganda

2. At Home at Work at Play

3. Reinforcements

4. B.C.

5. Thanks But No Thanks

6. Don't Leave Me Alone with Her

7. Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth

8. Something for the Girl with Everything

9. Achoo

10. Who Don't Like Kids

11. Bon Voyage

12. Alabamy Right [*]

13. Marry Me [*]

14. Interview -- Saturday Scene 8/11/74 [*]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Digitally remastered and expanded reissue of Ron and Russell Mael's 1974 album featuring three bonus tracks: 'Alabamy Right', 'Marry Me' and 'Interview' (Saturday Scene). Island. 2006.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mid 1970's legends-Sparks, February 16, 2007

By	J. Owens "poolrider" (TEXAS,USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Propoganda is impressive and a great example of "real" songwriting,although quirky and WAY off-beat. I first saw the Brothers Mael on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on a Friday night in 1975 and was an instant fan,although I was in to way heavier music at the time. Being a musician, I "got it",as far as what they were doing musically and lyrically. This is a classic album from the 70's era,a multi-tracked master-piece with classic hooks,guitar licks,piano fills and melody galore. Some VERY witty tracks on this CD,folks,and proof there was some artistic,humorous rock and roll of the highest order made in the mid-1970's.
If you can only understand 3-chord rock,don't buy this CD,but if you savvy what a recording artist is all about,turn yourself on to the work of two near-genius brothers. You will not regret it,I promise...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars At Home At Work At Play, May 14, 2007

By	Harold G. Meeks Jr. "hal2k" (raleigh nc) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the followup to the brilliant glam-rock excess of Kimono My House, which is an essential 70's album. Propaganda was written in the studio, a sort of brain-dump by Ron Mael of all the stuff that sticks in his head -- appropriation of british music hall and classical music themes, pun-filled juvenile/clever sexual innuendo. It has the same production values (bombastic excess), and a really really strong opening. But, if you want to buy just one Sparks album, get Kimono My House. If you want to buy a second one, get Angst in My Pants. If you want a third....well, you have a bunch of good ones to pick from, including this one.

--hal

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars up there with their best, February 20, 2009

By	Andreas C G "Andreas Carl Georgi" (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This album is often given second fiddle status as Kimono My House's "follow up", "sequel" or whatever, but I consider it to be every bit as good as "Kimono", which means it's great. Listening to it 35 years later it really make no difference which one was released a few months earlier. If you like one of them, you will want to get the other one. Like the other reviewer pointed out, terms like bombastic, juvenile, campy, etc. all apply AND THAT'S GOOD!

My copy doesn't have the two extra songs, so I can't speak about those, but as far as the original LP tracks go, there really isn't a weak song. If there's a difference between "Kimono" and Propaganda", it's that this one has a bit of harder guitar sound, again hardly a bad thing. The first track has one of many refrains and stick in your heard, and has various shifts in tempo, while remaining catchy throughout. The album is full of clever quirks, like the slow increase in tempo and starts and stops of "BC", and the sneeze solo at the end of "Achoo" (the story I've heard was that Ron & Russell disliked the guitar that was recorded, so they replaced it with achoos).

Highly recommended.