Sparks were doomed to obscurity from the beginning. Like Oscar Wilde and the turn-of-the-century decadents and dandies who inspired the Mael brothers, scandal both brought them fame and prevented the public from taking them seriously. Vocalist Russell Mael played the rock star with all the flamboyance of a peacock, while songwriter and keyboardist Ron Mael contrasted his brother's excesses with his ascetic scowl and Hitler mustache. The latter's favorite ploy has always been exposing people squirming in insecurity behind screens of wealth, vanity, professionalism and mediocrity. "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (1974) is a classic case in point, and one of the few Sparks songs to crack the charts. "Number One Song in Heaven" (1976) also gained them a rare bit of exposure. It's easily one of the most bizarre songs ever to be a Disco hit -- a celestial stairway of rapturous melodies heavily greased with irony and black humor. Though in the 1980s and beyond the Maels tended to settle for Disco chintz over rock 'n' roll substance, their music still retains the stinging wit that gives it savor and makes Sparks absolutely unique.

AMATEUR HOUR / WOL	BEST OF SPARKS	COOL PLACES	GET IN THE SWING/PROFILE
GIRL FROM GERMANY	GRATUITOUS SAX & SENSELESS VIOLINS	I PREDICT	JUST GOT BACK FROM HEAVEN
KIMONO MY HOUSE	LIL BEETHOVEN	LIL' BEETHOVEN-LIVE IN ST	LOOKS LOOKS LOOKS
LOOKS,LOOKS,LOOKS	MODESTY PLAYS	MORE THAN A SEX MACHINE CD 1 AND CD 2	MUSIC THAT YOU CAN DANCE TO
MUSIC YOU CAN DANCE TO	NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON MOTHER	NO 1 IN HEAVEN	NO. 1 IN HEAVEN
NOW THAT I OWN THE BBC	PLAGIARISM	PULLING RABBITS OUT OF A HAT	SO IMPORTANT
SOMETHING FOR THE GIRL WITH EVERYTHING	TERMINAL JIVE	THIS ALBUM'S BIG ENOUGH	THIS TOWN AIN'T BIG ENOUG
TIPS FOR TEENS	TRYOUTS FOR THE HUMAN RACE/SAME	WHEN DO I GET TO SING MY WAY	WHEN I KISS YOU(3 MIXES)
WHEN I'M WITH YOU!	WHOMP THAT SUCKER	WOOFER IN TWEETER'S CLOTHING	This Album's Big Enough... : The Best of Sparks
The Number One Song in Heaven	Suburban Homeboy	Lil' Beethoven	In the Swing
Mael Intuition: The Best of Sparks 1974-76	Sparks / A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing	When Do I Get to Sing "My Way"	When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)
Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection	The Hell Collection	A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing	Introducing Sparks
Tryouts for the Human Race	Dick Around	Exotic Creatures of the Deep	Dick Around / Waterproof
Amateur Hour	This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us	Get in the Swing / Profile	I Want to Hold Your Hand / England
12" Mixes	The No. 1 Song in Heaven	The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman	The Heaven Collection
Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth	One and a Half-Nelson: The Instant Darlings Recorded Live	The Best of Sparks	More Than A Sex Machine: disc 2