I compiled a playlist from their current set list. There are a few I can do without. @Jaygee commented that 2018 was better.
So hit me with your best tracks so I can further distil this list.
Back on Sparks – gimme your playlist
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The Ghost of Liberace (Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins)
Scandinavian Design -(Hippopotamus)
Perfume (Hello Young Lovers)
There’s No Such Thing as Aliens (Hello Young Lovers)
Any track from Li’l Beethoven
Scheherazade (Balls)
Angst in my Pants (Angst in My Pants)
Big Boy (Big Beat)
Self Effacing (A Steady Drip Drip Drip)
Save Me From Myself (FFS)
The 2CD/3LP best of, Past Tense.
From 2019, so excludes some of the latest stuff.
The latest stuff holds up pretty well.
The lastest I have as a physical copy, apart from Past Tense, is Hello Young Lovers from 2006.
I have some catching up to do.
Avoiding ones from their recent set list:
Amateur Hour [Kimono My House]
At Home At Work At Play [Propaganda]
Hospitality On Parade [Indiscreet]
Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat [Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat]
Aeroflot [Balls]
How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall? [Lil’ Beethoven]
Suburban Homeboy [Lil’ Beethoven]
(Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your Country [Hello Young Lovers] (I prefer The Alternative Lyrics version, available on some streaming services, and on a Word mag cover disc IIRC)
Johnny Delusional [FFS]
Missionary Position [Hippopotamus]
I Wish You Were Fun [Hippopotamus]
Thanks Hawkfall and Lights out. I will add them all then cull as required.
Freddy and Jaygee , my playlist awaits you.
Apols for late reply @Junior-Wells, I’ve been locked out for most of the day. My list was basically the live show they did in Dublin in April 2022 – my first post-lockdown gig that I almost didn’t go to as detailed elsewhere on the site
Setlist for the ahow was
So May We Start
Angst in My Pants
Tips for Teens
Under the Table With Her
Get in the Swing
I Married Myself
I Predict
Wonder Girl
Stravinsky’s Only Hit
Shopping Mall of Love
Johnny Delusional (FFS cover)
We Love Each Other So Much
Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
Lawnmower
Music That You Can Dance To
The Rhythm Thief
Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth
When Do I Get to Sing “My Way”
My Baby’s Taking Me Home
The Number One Song in Heaven
This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us
ENCORE
:
Suburban Homeboyo
All That
Only disappointment was that they didn’t do “Play Video”
I think a lot are covered! But would add All that which seems to have become their anthem.
Another vote for Perfume! Probably my favourite of theirs.
No one flagging up anything from Introducing Sparks, so may I add Occupation and Goofing Off from that album.
I love that album. My second favourite after Indiscreet. My favourite track on it is ‘Over The Summer’ which doesn’t get much of a run out live – in fact I think the 21 albums in 21 days gig might be the only time I’ve seen it performed live.
@johnw
Did you go to many of those shows? Did they pull it off? Herculean task to remember all those songs. Did they have lyric sheets ?
I went to 5 altogether. They had screens with the lyrics (or at least Russell did) and I don’t think there were any major mistakes made. I heard a few others because they attempted to live stream a few of them with varying results.
I would imagine it was even harder for the band who would have not been familiar with many of the songs beforehand.
I wished I’d gone to more but it would have been expensive and time consuming (what with the travel into London each night).
Thanks.
Do Re Mi always goes down well live. There was no Suburban HomeBoy at the gig I saw this year which was a shame. Also missing were ‘Amateur Hour’, ‘Looks Looks Looks’ & ‘Get In The Swing’ which would, along with ‘Equator’ all be on the setlist if I was writing it!
Oooh, how about “(When I kiss you) I hear Charlie Parker playing.”
Anyone?
Funny Face
Angst in my Pants
Left Out In The Cold
Balls
Tips for Teens
Not sure what is in the current setlist, but I’d include the below in any Sparks playlist:
Veronica Lake
Piss Off (FFS)
Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
Good Morning
Dick Around
Suburban Homeboy
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing