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Whomp That Sucker
''Whomp That Sucker'' is the tenth album by the American rock band Sparks, released in 1981. History Sparks had recorded '' No. 1 In Heaven'' and ''Terminal Jive'' with Giorgio Moroder. Both had been relatively successful, but the brothers had found the electronic equipment they had adopted for their new sound too cumbersome to tour with. ''Whomp That Sucker'' was consequently recorded without Giorgio Moroder at Musicland Studios, Munich but still in association with Giorgio Moroder Enterprises. The next four albums were recorded as part of the same partnership. The producer for the album was Mack, who had recently produced Queen's album '' The Game''. The album marked Sparks' return proper to a rock sound after their previous two disco efforts. To complement the Mael Brothers the backing band Bates Motel was hired, consisting of guitarist Bob Haag, bassist Leslie Bohem, and drummer David Kendrick. Together this line-up would record the next four Sparks albums concluding with '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sparks (band)
Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—often about women, and sometimes containing literary or cinematic references-- and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. They have been much more successful in Europe than in their native U.S., though they maintain a loyal cult following in the States. Career highlights include "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1974; the disco hit "The Number One Song in Heaven" in 1979, resulting from a collaboration with Giorgio Moroder and marking a stylistic shift ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leslie Bohem
Leslie "Les" Bohem (born 1951) is an American screenwriter, television writer, and former bassist. He is the son of screenwriter Endre Bohem. Biography Bohem played bass in the 1980s with the pop groups Sparks and Gleaming Spires. Bohem's writing credits include the miniseries '' Taken'' and the films ''Dante's Peak'', ''Twenty Bucks'' (with his father), ''Daylight'', and '' The Alamo''. He also wrote the storybook of the Steven Spielberg produced mini-series ''Nine Lives.'' Bohem wrote parts of the science-fiction television series ''Extant'', executive produced by Spielberg and created the series ''Shut Eye'', airing on the streaming service Hulu Hulu () is an American subscription streaming service majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast's NBCUniversal holding a minority stake. It was launched on October 29, 2007 and it offers a library of films and television serie .... It was given a straight-to-series 10-episode order. All ten episodes became avail ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sparks (band) Albums
Sparks may refer to: Places *Sparks, Georgia *Sparks, Kansas *Sparks, Kentucky *Sparks, Maryland * Sparks, Nebraska *Sparks, Nevada *Sparks, Oklahoma *Sparks, Texas * Sparks, Bell County, Texas *Sparks, West Virginia Books * ''Sparks'' (Raffi novel) (1884) * ''Sparks'' (Ally Kennen novel), 2010 *''Sparks!'', a graphic novel by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto Film and TV * ''Sparks'' (film), a 2013 film * ''Sparks'' (TV series), a 1996-1998 American television series starring Terrence Howard and James Avery *Sparks (Matrix character), a character in ''Enter the Matrix'' and ''The Matrix Revolutions'' *Sparks (G.I. Joe), a fictional character in the G.I. Joe universe * Sparks, a fictional football team in ''Footballers' Wives'' Music *Sparks (band), a rock band led by brothers Ron and Russell Mael ** ''Halfnelson'' (album) or ''Sparks'', their debut album * ''Sparks'' (Imogen Heap album) (2014) * ''Sparks'' (Fiction Plane album) (2010) * ''Sparks'' (Sahara Hotnights album) (2009) * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wurlitzer Electronic Piano
The Wurlitzer electronic piano is an electric piano manufactured and marketed by Wurlitzer from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. Sound is generated by striking a metal reed with a hammer, which induces an electric current in a pickup. It is conceptually similar to the Rhodes piano, though the sound is different. The instrument was invented by Benjamin Miessner, who had worked on various types of electric pianos since the early 1930s. The first Wurlitzer was manufactured in 1954, and production continued until 1983. Originally, the piano was designed to be used in the classroom, and several dedicated teacher and student instruments were manufactured. However, it was adapted for more conventional live performances, including stage models with attachable legs and console models with built-in frames. The stage instrument was used by several popular artists, including Ray Charles, Joe Zawinul and Supertramp. Several electronic keyboards include an emulation of the Wurlitzer. As the Wur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roland Jupiter-4
The Roland Jupiter-4 (JP-4) was an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1978 and 1981. It was notable as the company's first self-contained polyphonic synthesizer, and for employing digital control of analog circuits (termed ''compuphonic'' by Roland), allowing for such features as programmable memory, voice assignment modes, an arpeggiator, polyphonic portamento and others. Priced at US$2,895, it was dramatically cheaper than other polyphonic machines from its competitors (such as the Yamaha CS-80, Korg PS-3300 Prophet-5 and OB-X). While it didn't sell as many units compared to the competition, its primary design was such that it could be an accompaniment to organs, complete with an option for a music sheet stand to be fitted. Its future successor in 1981, the Jupiter-8, would go on to sell many more units and make Jupiter a recognized brand. Architecture The Jupiter-4's basic architecture consisted of four voice cards (usually identical, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polymoog
The Polymoog is a hybrid polyphony (instrument), polyphonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1975 to 1980. The Polymoog was based on Frequency divider, divide-down oscillator technology similar to electronic organs and string synthesizers of the time. History The name Polymoog can refer either to the original Polymoog Synthesizer (model 203a) released in 1975, or the largely preset Polymoog Keyboard (model 280a) released in 1978. The Polymoog has a 71-note weighted Pratt & Read Keyboard expression, touch-sensitive Musical keyboard, keyboard divided into three sections with a volume slider for each. It also has a three-band resonant graphic equalizer section, which can be changed to a low/bandpass/high-pass filter. The Moog-designed 24 dB/octave filter section allows modulation modulated from its own envelopes, low frequency oscillation and sample and hold circuit. Ranks and waveforms of all notes are also adjustable combining waveforms, octaves, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yamaha CS-80
The Yamaha CS-80 is an analog synthesizer released in 1977. It supports true 8-voice polyphony, with two independent synthesizer layers per voice each with its own set of front panel controls, in addition to a number of hardwired preset voice settings and four parameter settings stores based on banks of subminiature potentiometers (rather than the digital programmable presets the Prophet-5 would sport soon after). It has exceptionally complete performer expression features, such as a layered keyboard that was both velocity-sensitive (like a piano's) and pressure-sensitive (" after-touch") but unlike most modern keyboards the aftertouch could be applied to individual voices rather than in common, and a ribbon controller allowing for polyphonic pitch-bends and glissandos. Production of the instrument ceased in 1980. Vying with the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and Oberheim OB-X polysynths for the title, the CS-80 is often described as the pre-eminent polyphonic analog synthes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ron Mael
Ronald David Mael (born August 12, 1945) is an American musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is the keyboard player and principal songwriter in the band Sparks which he founded with vocalist, occasional songwriter and younger brother Russell Mael in 1971. Mael is known for his quirky and idiosyncratic approach to songwriting, his intricate and rhythmic keyboard playing style and for his deadpan and low key, scowling demeanour onstage often remaining motionless over his keyboard in sharp contrast to Russell's animated and hyperactive frontman antics. Ron Mael is also noted for his conservative clothes and unfashionable moustache. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records. Early life Ronald David Mael was born on August 12, 1945, in Culver City, California. The Mael brothers grew up in Pacific Palisades – an affluent beach neighborhood of Los Angeles – with their father, Meyer Mael, who was a graphic designer and caricaturist for the ''Hol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Russell Mael
Russell Craig Mael (born October 5, 1948) is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the band Sparks which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching falsetto. He has a flamboyant and hyperactive stage presence which contrasts sharply with Ron Mael's deadpan scowling. The band released an album with British rock band Franz Ferdinand, as the supergroup FFS, titled '' FFS'', released in 2015. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records. Early life Russell Craig Mael was born on October 5, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. The Mael brothers grew up in Pacific Palisades – a relatively affluent suburb of Los Angeles – with their father Meyer, who was a graphic designer and caricaturist for the ''Hollywood Citizen-News'', and their mother, Miriam (''née'' Moskowitz), a librarian. Both Meyer and Miriam were the children of Jewish immigrants, Meyer of Austrian and Russia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indiscreet (Sparks Album)
''Indiscreet'' is the fifth album by Sparks. It was released in 1975 and later re-released with three bonus tracks. The album was a departure from the glam rock sound of ''Kimono My House'' and ''Propaganda'', and emphasised the theatrical elements of their work, with greater use of orchestral arrangements and drawing from non-rock orientated styles such as jazz, big band, swing, vaudeville, and classical music. The album was produced by Tony Visconti, with whom the group reunited in 1997 to produce several tracks for their retrospective album ''Plagiarism.'' The song "How Are You Getting Home?" was used in Leos Carax's film ''Holy Motors''. Release ''Indiscreet'' was released in October 1975, nearly a year after Sparks' previous album and would be the third album recorded with the British-based line-up. It was not as successful as ''Kimono My House'' or ''Propaganda''; reaching #18 on the UK Album Chart and #169 in the US. The group's next two albums were even less successful ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billboard 200
The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists. Often, a recording act will be remembered by its " number ones", those of their albums that outperformed all others during at least one week. The chart grew from a weekly top 10 list in 1956 to become a top 200 list in May 1967, and acquired its current name in March 1992. Its previous names include the ''Billboard'' Top LPs (1961–1972), ''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape (1972–1984), ''Billboard'' Top 200 Albums (1984–1985) and ''Billboard'' Top Pop Albums (1985–1992). The chart is based mostly on sales – both at retail and digital – of albums in the United States. The weekly sales period was originally Monday to Sunday when Nielsen started tracking sales in 1991, but since July 2015, tracking week begins on Friday (to coinc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
When I'm With You (Sparks Song)
When I'm with You is a song released by Los Angeles band Sparks. The song relies on disco and new wave as its two main genres with rock guitars audible throughout the song. The song did not chart on any ''Billboard'' charts, but was Sparks' only Top 40 single in Australia, where it peaked at number 14, whilst it peaked at number 1 in France for six weeks. It is not known who produced this song as Giorgio Moroder produced it alongside Harold Faltermeyer, with the latter claiming to have produced much of the album. Keith Forsey, best known as producer for Billy Idol in the 1980s and then resuming in 2006, and for writing several other works including "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and " Flashdance... What a Feeling" among others, played drums on the song. The B-side is an instrumental version of "When I'm with You". Personnel The following are purported to be on the song. * Russell Mael – vocals * Ron Mael – keyboards * W. G. Snuffy Walden – guitar * Richie Zito – bass gu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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