''Hello Young Lovers'' is the 20th

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by Sparks. A continuation of the repetitious, orchestral sound of their previous album '' Lil' Beethoven'', though with a much greater emphasis on guitar and drums, It is a concept album which addresses aspects of modern love.

Release

''Hello Young Lovers'' was commercially more popular than any Sparks album since the 1970s, and it reached #66 on the

UK Album Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...

. The album did not chart in the US. The album was released on CD and both white and pink vinyl. The CD was initially released on Gut records, and then later released on In The Red records. Two singles and an EP were released to promote the album. The first; "Perfume" was backed with an alternative version of "(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country" and a remix by Clor. It peaked at #80 on the UK Singles chart and #10 on the

UK Independent Singles Chart The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...

. " Dick Around" was released as an EP in the US, and as a double a-side single with "Waterproof" in the UK. Both versions featured an edited version of "Dick Around" and the US version included live tracks recorded earlier that year in Los Angeles. The UK release of the song fell foul of a ban by the BBC, who took issue with the title citing it as obscene. Sparks issued a statement; "In a reaction o the banthe band says: "The BBC has officially killed off our new single Dick Around, ostensibly through rather childish objections to the title, an innocent reference to the idle life. That a piece of music can be condemned purely by its title without the 'decision makers' even having the decency to open the CD case is a travesty and an insult to both us as the creators of the music and to the listeners of the BBC." Eventually, In a statement BBC London said that the track is back in rotation. The single charted at #139 in the UK.

Re-release

In April 2022, a remastered ''Hello Young Lovers'' was issued on LP, CD and digital as part of the five album "21st Century Sparks" collection. The CD and digital releases contain two bonus tracks: An alternative version of "(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country" previously released as a B-side, and a cover of "We Are The Clash" recorded for an

Uncut Magazine ''Uncut'' is a monthly magazine based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections. A DVD magazine under the ''Uncut'' brand was published quarterly from 2005 to 2006 ...

tribute to

The Clash The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...

in 2003. It entered the UK Independent Albums Chart at no. 14.

Track listing

Personnel

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 ...

- keyboards, orchestrations and production *

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 fa ...

- vocals, engineering and production * John Thomas - mixing and additional engineering *

Tammy Glover Tammy Glover is a television producer, film producer, and musician. She served as the VP of Production for Comedy Central from 2007 to 2011, Senior Vice President of Production for FremantleMedia and is currently the Head of Physical Production fo ...

- drums *

Dean Menta Dean Menta (born July 23 1966) is an American music editor and composer living in Los Angeles, California. Biography In 1995, Dean Menta became involved in the band DUH and appeared on their second album ''The Unholy Handjob''. Menta went on t ...

- guitars * Jim Wilson - additional guitar *

Steven Shane McDonald Steven Shane "Steve" McDonald (born May 24, 1967) is an American rock musician, best known as the bass guitarist in the Los Angeles alternative rock/power pop band Redd Kross. He is a founding member of the hardcore punk band Off! – serving a ...

- additional bass

Chart placings

Album ;Perfume (single) ;Dick Around (single)

References

External links

Sparks - Hello Young Lovers
{{Authority control 2006 albums Sparks (band) albums Concept albums Albums recorded in a home studio