Sparks discography

The following is a comprehensive discography of Sparks, an American rock and pop music duo formed in Los Angeles in 1970 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals), initially under the name Halfnelson. Best known for their quirky approach to songwriting,^[1] Sparks' music is often accompanied by cutting and acerbic lyrics,^[2] and an idiosyncratic stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's wide-eyed hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's sedentary scowling.^[3]

Sparks discography
Studio albums	27
Soundtrack albums	2
Live albums	1
Compilation albums	12
Singles	79
Video albums	4
Music videos	44

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Chart positions										Certifications (sales thresholds)
		US [4]	AUS [5]	CAN [6]	FRA [7]	GER [8]	NLD [9]	NOR [10]	SCO [11]	SWE [12]	UK [11]
Halfnelson (as Halfnelson)	Released: 1971 Re-released as Sparks: February 1972[13] (as Sparks) Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing	Released: January 1973[14] Labels: Bearsville, Warner Bros.	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kimono My House	Released: May 1974 Label: Island	101	22	58	—	—	10	—	—	—	4	BPI: Gold[15]
Propaganda	Released: November 1974 Label: Island	63	75	81	—	49	—	16	—	50	9	BPI: Silver[15]
Indiscreet	Released: October 1975 Label: Island	169	—	86	—	—	19	18	—	6	18
Big Beat	Released: October 1976 Labels: Island, Columbia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	24	—
Introducing Sparks	Released: October 1977 Labels: Columbia, CBS	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	41	—
No. 1 in Heaven	Released: September 1979 Labels: Virgin, Elektra, Warner Bros., Ariola, Oasis	—	63	—	—	—	—	—	—	43	73
Terminal Jive	Released: 1980 Labels: Virgin, Carrere/Underdog, Ariola, Oasis	—	96	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Whomp That Sucker	Released: 1981 Labels: Why-Fi, Carrere, Ariola, Oasis, RCA	182	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Angst in My Pants	Released: May 1982 Labels: Atlantic, Carrere	173	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
In Outer Space	Released: April 1983 Labels: Atlantic, Carrere/Underdog, Oasis	88	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat	Released: 1984 Labels: Atlantic, Oasis	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Music That You Can Dance To	Released: September 1986 Labels: MCA, Consolidated Allied, Disques Vogue	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Interior Design	Released: August 1988 Labels: Rhino/Fine Art, Carrere	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins	Released: November 1994 Label: Logic	—	—	—	—	29 [16]	—	—	45 [17]	—	150 [18]
Plagiarism	Released: June 23, 1997 Labels: Roadrunner, Virgin Schallplatten	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Balls	Released: August 28, 2000 Labels: Recognition, Strange Ways, Oglio	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	22 [19]	—	—
Lil' Beethoven	Released: November 26, 2002 Labels: Artful/Lil' Beethoven	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	13 [19]	—	—
Hello Young Lovers	Released: February 6, 2006 Labels: Gut, In the Red	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	49 [19]	48	66
Exotic Creatures of the Deep	Released: May 19, 2008 Label: Lil' Beethoven	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	28 [20]	—	54
The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman	Released: August 15, 2009 Labels: SR, Lil' Beethoven	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	17 [20]	—	—
FFS (as FFS)	Released: June 9, 2015 (US)[21] Labels: Domino	—	85 [22]	—	27	22	13	—	8 [23]	—	17
Hippopotamus	Released: September 8, 2017 Labels: BMG	—	—	—	108	88	38	—	7 [24]	45	7
A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip	Released: May 15, 2020[25] Label: BMG	75	—	32	159	24	88	—	2 [26]	—	7
The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte	Released: May 26, 2023[27] Label: Island	48	—	—	128	37	—	—	2 [28]	—	7
Mad!	Released: May 23, 2025 Label: Transgressive	27	—	—	—	48	—	—	1	—	2

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected details

Title	Album details
Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe	Released: March 2013 Labels: Lil' Beethoven

Soundtrack albums

List of soundtrack albums, with selected details and chart positions

Title	Album details	Chart positions
		BEL (FL) [29]	FRA [7]	GER [8]	SCO [30]
Annette	Released: July 3, 2021 Labels: Milan	68	90	72	32
The Sparks Brothers	Released: March 2022 Labels: Waxwork	—	—	—	—
Annette – An Opera by Sparks (The Original 2013 Recordings)	Released: November 14, 2024[31] Label: Lil' Beethoven	—	—	—	—

Compilation albums

• 2 Originals of Sparks (1975, Bearsville) – Double LP set consisting of Halfnelson and A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
• The Best of Sparks (1978, Island Records)
• The History of the Sparks (1981, Carrere)
• Mael Intuition (The Best of the Sparks 1974-76) (1990, Island)
• Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection (1991, Rhino)
• The Heaven Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
• The Hell Collection (1993, Underdog/Sony France)
• In the Swing (1993, Spectrum/Karussell)
• The 12 Inch Mixes (1996, Kiosk)
• 12" Mixes (1999, Oglio Records)
• The Best of Sparks (2000, Repertoire Records)
• This Album's Big Enough… The Best of Sparks (2002, Music Club)
• Shortcuts – The 7inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire Records)
• Extended – The 12inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire Records)
• Real Extended: The 12 inch Mixes (1979–1984) (2012, Repertoire Records) Improved and Corrected Version of above
• New Music for Amnesiacs: The Essential Collection (2013, Lil Beethoven Records)
• The Best & The Rest Of The Island Years 74-78 (2018, Island Records, 2 (Limited Edition, Remastered, Red Translucent) Vinyle LP)
• Past Tense – The Best of Sparks (2019, BMG Rights Management UK) SC #23,^[32] UK #73^[11]

Singles

1970s

Year	Single	Chart positions									Album
		US	AUS [5]	BEL (FL) [29]	BEL (WA) [29]	GER [33]	IRE [34]	NLD [35]	SWI [36]	UK [11][18]
1972	"Wonder Girl"	112	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Sparks
1974	"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"	—	69	4	3	12	—	4	7	2	Kimono My House
	"Girl from Germany"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	51[A]	A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
	"Amateur Hour"	—	—	22	36	12	19	6	—	7	Kimono My House
	"Talent Is an Asset" (US and New Zealand only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"	—	—	—	48	40	—	—	—	13	Propaganda
	"Propaganda/At Home, at Work, at Play" (FR only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	"Something for the Girl with Everything"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	17
	"Achoo" (US only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Get in the Swing"	—	—	—	38	—	—	—	—	27	Indiscreet
	"Looks, Looks, Looks"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	26
1976	"I Want to Hold Your Hand"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Big Boy"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Big Beat
	"I Like Girls"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1977	"Over the Summer" (US only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Introducing Sparks
	"A Big Surprise"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1979	"La Dolce Vita"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	No. 1 In Heaven
	"The Number One Song in Heaven"	—	85	—	—	—	5	—	—	14
	"Beat the Clock"	—	—	10	—	—	—	16	—	10
	"Tryouts for the Human Race"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45

1980s

Year	Single	Chart positions						Album
		US Hot 100 [37]	US D-P [37][38]	US D-S [37]	AUS [5]	FRA [7]	UK [11][18]
1980	"When I'm with You"	—	—	—	17	1	—	Terminal Jive
	"Young Girls"	—	—	—	—	—	—[B]
1981	"Tips for Teens"	70	—	—	—	—	—[C]	Whomp That Sucker
	"Funny Face"	68	—	—	—	—	—
1982	"I Predict"	60	—	—	—	—	—	Angst in My Pants
	"Angst in My Pants" (DE only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Eaten by the Monster of Love" (US only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Modesty Plays"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983	"Get Crazy"/"Hot Shot" (Malcolm McDowell) (Split single)	—	—	—	—	—	—	Get Crazy (OST)
	"Cool Places" (with Jane Wiedlin)	49	13	—	—	—	—	In Outer Space
	"All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (US only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Please Baby, Please" (FR only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984	"With All My Might"	104	28	—	—	—	—	Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
	"Progress" (US 12" only)	—		—	—	—	—
	"Pretending to Be Drunk"/"Kiss Me Quick"	—	60	—	—	—	—
1985	"Give It Up" (Evelyn "Champagne" King)/"Armies of the Night" (Split single)	—	—	—	—	—	—	Music That You Can Dance To
	"Change"	—	—	—	—	—	85
1986	"Music That You Can Dance To"	—	6	11	—	—	—
	"Fingertips/The Scene" (US 12" only)	—	38	—	—	—	—
1987	"Rosebud" (UK only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
1988	"So Important"	—	8	—	—	—	—	Interior Design
1989	"Madonna" (FR only)	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Just Got Back from Heaven"	—	7	24	—	—	—
	"Singing in the Shower" (Les Rita Mitsouko and Sparks)	—	24	—	—	37	—	Marc & Robert

1990s

Year	Single	Chart positions									Album
		US D-P [37]	AUS [41]	BEL (FL) [29]	BEL (WA) [29]	GER [33]	NLD [35]	SCO	SWI [36]	UK [11][18]
1993	"National Crime Awareness Week"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994	"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"	9	—	16	12	7	35	41	22	38	Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
1995	"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"	24	—	—	—	61	—	38	—	36
	"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" (UK re-issue)	—	—	—	—	—	—	35	—	32
	"Now That I Own the BBC"	—	—	—	—	81	—	53	—	60
1997	"The Number One Song in Heaven"	28	—	—	—	—	—	54	—	70	Plagiarism
	"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More)	—	69	—	—	—	—	39	—	40
1999	"More Than a Sex Machine" (DE only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Balls

2000s

Year	Single	Chart positions									Album
		US D-P [37]	AUS [41]	BEL (FL) [29]	BEL (WA) [29]	GER [33]	NLD [35]	SCO	SWI [36]	UK [11][18]
2000	"The Calm Before the Storm"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Balls
	"The Angels" (DE only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003	"Suburban Homeboy" (UK only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	142	Lil' Beethoven
2006	"Perfume" (UK only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	46	—	80	Hello Young Lovers
	"Dick Around/Waterproof"	—	—	—	—	—	—	67	—	139
2008	"Good Morning"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	147	Exotic Creatures of the Deep
2009	"Lighten Up, Morrissey" (UK only)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

2010s

Year	Single	Chart positions									Album
		US D-P [37]	AUS [41]	BEL (FL) [29]	BEL (WA) [29]	GER [33]	NLD [35]	SCO	SWI [36]	UK [11][18]
2015	"Johnny Delusional"	—	—	90	—	—	—	—	—	—	FFS
	"Call Girl"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Police Encounters"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Christmas Without a Prayer"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Non-album single
2017	"Hippopotamus"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Hippopotamus
	"What the Hell Is It This Time?"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"I Wish You Were Fun"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018	"You Earned The Right to Be a Dick" (Hippopotamus shaped disc)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Record Store Day exclusive single
2019	"Please Don't Fuck Up My World"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

2020s

Year	Single	Chart positions									Album
		US D-P [37]	AUS [41]	BEL (FL) [29]	BEL (WA) [29]	GER [33]	NLD [35]	SCO	SWI [36]	UK [11][18]
2020	"Self-Effacing"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
	"I'm Toast"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"One for the Ages"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Lawnmower"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021	"Your Fandango" (with Todd Rundgren)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Space Force
2023	"The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
	"Veronica Lake"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Nothing Is as Good as They Say It Is"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2024	"Don't Go Away" (with Max Richter)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Spaceman (OST)
2025	"Do Things My Own Way"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	MAD!
	"JanSport Backpack"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Drowned in a Sea of Tears"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"My Devotion"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"A Little Bit of Light Banter"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Collaborations and contributions

• 1979 – produced and wrote an album called Is There More to Life Than Dancing? for singer Noël.
• 1979 – produced the album Pas Dormir for a French band Bijou.
• 1979 – produced the single "C’est Sheep" by Adrian Munsey.
• 1981 – wrote the lyrics for the album Sex by Telex.
• 1981 – Russell Mael contributed backing vocals for the album Pleasant Dreams by The Ramones
• 1982 – worked with Lio on her album Suite Sixtine, which was a compilation of French rarities and English versions (translated by Sparks) of tracks from her first album.
• 1984 – co-wrote a song called "Yes or No" for The Go-Go's album Talk Show.
• 1987 – Russell Mael provided backing vocals for Salon Music for This Is Salon Music.
• 1988 – "In My Life" and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" with Salon Music for O Boy.
• 1988 – "Singing in the Shower", "Live in Las Vegas" and "Hip Kit" with Les Rita Mitsouko from Marc et Robert.
• 2001 – "Kimono" with Pizzicato Five from Çà et là du Japon.
• 2001 – "La nuit est là" and "Yo quiero màs dinero" with Grand Popo Football Club from Shampoo Victims.
• 2003 – "We Are The Clash", a cover for Uncut magazine's The Clash tribute CDs "White Riot"
• 2004 – "Acid Pants" with Orbital from Blue Album.
• 2006 – remixed Morrissey's song, "Suedehead", for the compilation Future Retro
• 2010 – remixed the song "Give Me Something" by Yoko Ono
• 2010 – remixed the song "A Happy Place" by Katie Melua as Sparks Vs Katie Melua
• 2012 – produced Gemma Ray's cover versions of Sparks songs "How Do I Get to Carnegie Hall" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
• 2021 – recorded "Your Fandango" with Todd Rundgren
• 2025 – appeared on Étoile performing an orchestral version of "I Married Myself" for a ballet solo

Soundtrack appearances

• Rollercoaster (1977) – "Big Boy" and "Fill 'Er Up"
• Valley Girl (1983) – "Angst in My Pants" and "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
• Get Crazy (1983) – "Get Crazy"
• Where the Boys Are '84 (1984) – "Mini-Skirted"
• Heavenly Bodies (1984) – "Breaking Out of Prison"
• Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains) (1984) – "Growing Pains", "Motorcycle Midget", "What You're Wearing" (with Laurie Bell) and "Growing Pains (Reprise)"
• Fright Night (1985) – "The Armies of the Night"
• Rad (1986) – "Music That You Can Dance To"
• Black Rain (1989) – "Singing in the Shower"
• Unlawful Entry (1992) – "National Crime Awareness Week"
• Knock Off (1998) – Original Musical Score and "It's a Knockoff"
• Boarding Gate – "The Number One Song in Heaven"
• Rendition – "Camel Jam" and "Nous-Nous"
• Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009) – "Eaten by the Monster of Love"
• Kick Ass (2010) – "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
• Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) – "The Number One Song in Heaven"
• The Overnight (2015) – "Tryouts for the Human Race"
• Master of None – "Tryouts for the Human Race"
• A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018) – "Beat the Clock"
• Yellowjackets (2023) – "Angst In My Pants"
• Spaceman (2024) – "Don't Go Away" with Max Richter
• Sign Here (Firma aquí) (2024) – "All That"
• The Decameron (2024) – "All You Ever Think About Is Sex"

Video

• Amateur Hour (V-CD, 1995)
• Live in London (2003)
• Lil' Beethoven – Live In Stockholm (2004)
• DEE VEE DEE – Live at the London Forum (2007)

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
1974	"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
1977	"Occupation"
1979	"The Number One Song in Heaven"	Bruce Gowers[42]
	"Beat the Clock"	Brian Grant[42]
	"La Dolce Vita"	Bruce Gowers[42]
	"Tryouts for the Human Race"	Brian Grant[42]
1980	"When I'm with You"	Brian Grant[42]
	"Stereo"	Brian Grant[42]
1981	"Tips for Teens"
	"Funny Face"
1982	"I Predict"	Steve and Doug Martin
1983	"Minnie Mouse"	The Walt Disney Company
	"Cool Places"	Graeme Whifler[43]
	"All You Ever Think About Is Sex"	Pat Warner
1984	"With All My Might"	Graeme Whifler
1986	"Music That You Can Dance To"	Ron & Russell Mael
1988	"So Important"	Ron & Russell Mael
1989	"Singing in the Shower"
1993	"National Crime Awareness Week"	Finitribe
1994	"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"	Sophie Muller[42]
1995	"When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"	Sophie Muller[42]
	"Now That I Own the BBC"	Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
1997	"No. 1 Song In Heaven (Plagiarism) "	Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2000	"The Calm Before the Storm"	Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2003	"The Rhythm Thief"	Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
	"I Married Myself"	Oliver Kuntzel & Florence Deygas
2004	"My Baby's Taking Me Home"	Shaw Petronio[42]
2006	"Perfume"	Shaw Petronio
	"Dick Around"	Shaw Petronio
2009	"Lighten Up Morrissey"	Shaw Petronio
2015	"Christmas Without A Prayer"
2017	"Hippopotamus"	Scott Peters
	"What The Hell Is It This Time?"	Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson
	"Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)"	Joseph Wallace
2020	"One For The Ages"	Chintis Lundgren
	"Lawnmower"	Ron & Russell Mael
	"The Existential Threat"	Cyriak Harris
	"iPhone"
2021	"Left Out In The Cold"
	"Your Fandango"	Liisa Vääriskoski
	"So May We Start"	Leos Carax
2023	"The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte"	Richie Starzec, Ron & Russell Mael
	"Escalator"	Paul Trewartha, Ron & Russell Mael
2025	"Do Things My Own Way"	Ambar Navarro
	"Drowned In A Sea Of Tears"	Ambar Navarro

Notes

1. Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
2. This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Chart.^[39]
3. This single did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach number 93 on the Record Business Singles Top 100 chart.^[40]