Propaganda Maelstrom Blue LP + 3CD

Sparks seminal Propaganda album was released on the 11th November 1974, following up from their commercial breakthrough album Kimono My House.Propaganda peaked at number 9 in the UK album charts in 1975.Features the singles Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth Something For The Girl With Everything and AchooEnjoy this limited 50th Anniversary release, featuring a reproduction of Monty Coles iconic album artwork titled Welcome On Board, pressed on maelstrom blue vinyl.Ah, the eternal problem of how to follow up the overnight success. It039s often the case that groups change their sound and image to keep up the commercial winning streak once they hit the big time, often at the expense of their original appeal. Sparks, however, are a law unto themselves. Whatever acclaim was brought by Kimono My House appears to have been ignored by the Mael brothers, who instead solidified the style of demented, sinister pop songs that the band pioneered. Thom AllotSparks 1974 compiles Sparks two 1974 albums Kimono My House amp Propaganda alongside a bonus CD containing demo, unreleased and live takes and B Sides. 1974 saw the group relocate from L.A. to London where they recorded some of their most memorableoutput.Kimono My House, containing the groups biggest single This Town Aint Big Enough For Both Of Us 4 UK Singles Charts, was thegroups first real commercial breakthrough. Produced by Muff Winwood, the album slotted into the contemporary landscape of glam rock, stylistically similar to the experimental and electronicled output of David Bowie and Roxy Music.Propaganda was released subsequently in November 74, peaking at number 9 in the UK album charts. The Mael Brothers solidifiedtheir style of demented, sinister pop songs with tracks like Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth, Something For The Girl With Everything and Achoo.Packaged in a deluxe 7 3CD fold out card set with an illustrated booklet containing a liner note from Guardian critic Jude Rogers.You wonder if he ever thought that fifty years, twentysix albums and a critically acclaimed film later that Sparks rather deliciously would endure. The works of their breakthrough year can also still be our protein, still exercise our heartbeats, still sound like no one else, so peculiarly wonderful. Jude Rogers, The Guardian