Plagiarism (Sparks album)

Plagiarism is the 17th album by American rock band Sparks. It is a tribute album of sorts featuring new alternate versions of some of their best known songs.

Plagiarism
Studio album by
Released1997 (1997)
StudioSparks Studio, Los Angeles
CTS Studios, London
Coast Recorders, San Francisco
RAK Studios, London
Length74:17
LabelOglio
ProducerRon Mael, Russell Mael, Faith No More, Erasure
Sparks chronology
Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
(1994)
Plagiarism
(1997)
Balls
(2000)
Singles from Plagiarism
  1. "The Number One Song In Heaven"
    Released: October 18, 1997
  2. "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us (with Faith No More)"
    Released: December 6, 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Uncut[2]

Release

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Plagiarism was not successful across Europe like its predecessor Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, and did not chart significantly in any territory. The two singles performed well enough to register in the lower regions of the UK Singles Chart. The first single from the album, "The Number One Song in Heaven", included the vocals of Jimmy Somerville and reached #70 in October 1997.[3] Remixes of the single reached the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart (and currently their final entry) in 1999 at #28.[4] The second single; "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" did better, and was buoyed by the presence of Faith No More, it peaked at #40 (and remains Sparks last UK top 40 single to date) in December 1997.[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat"Ron Mael, Russell Mael3:36
2."This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"Ron Mael4:03
3."No 1 Song in Heaven (Part Two)"Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Giorgio Moroder4:06
4."Funny Face"Ron Mael, Russell Mael5:11
5."When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"Ron Mael, Russell Mael5:44
6."Angst in My Pants"Ron Mael, Russell Mael5:19
7."Change"Ron Mael, Russell Mael5:26
8."Popularity"Ron Mael, Russell Mael4:21
9."Something for the Girl with Everything"Ron Mael2:52
10."This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" (with Faith No More)Ron Mael3:00
11."Beat the Clock"Ron Mael, Russell Mael4:30
12."Big Brass Ring"Ron Mael, Russell Mael4:20
13."Amateur Hour" (with Erasure)Ron Mael3:35
14."Propaganda"Ron Mael2:35
15."When I'm with You" 4:06
16."Something for the Girl with Everything" (with Faith No More)Ron Mael3:15
17."Orchestral Collage"Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Giorgio Moroder0:24
18."The Number One Song in Heaven" (with Jimmy Somerville)Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Giorgio Moroder5:19
19."Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"Ron Mael2:35

Personnel

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  • Russell Mael – vocals, production, mixing
  • Ron Mael – keyboards, production
  • Metro Voices – vocal backing on "Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat", "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'", "The Number One Song in Heaven" and "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth"
  • Dean Menta – guitar on "Funny Face"
  • Tony Visconti – orchestral, choral arrangements and conducting on "Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat", "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'", "Change", "Something for the Girl with Everything", "Propaganda", "The Number One Song in Heaven" and "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth"
  • John Thomas – mixing
  • Greg Penny – mixing
  • Eskimos and Egypt – additional production, remix, bass, guitar and drums on "Angst in My Pants"
  • Faith No More – production and performer on "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" and "Something for the Girl with Everything"
  • Erasure – production and performer on "Amateur Hour"
  • Jenny O'Grady and David Porter-Thomas – additional vocals on "Propaganda"
  • Jimmy Somerville – performer on "The Number One Song in Heaven"

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Roberts, Chris (December 1997). "Mael bonding sessions". Uncut. No. 7. p. 90.
  3. ^ a b "Sparks - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Allmusic - Billboard Singles - Sparks". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-09-22.