Hello Young Lovers (Sparks album) explained

Hello Young Lovers
Type:studio
Artist:Sparks
Cover:Hello Young Lovers - Sparks.jpg
Released:February 6, 2006
Studio:Sparks Studios, Los Angeles, California
Length:50:39
Label:In the Red (US), Gut (UK)
Producer:Ron Mael, Russell Mael
Prev Title:Lil' Beethoven
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:Exotic Creatures of the Deep
Next Year:2008

Hello Young Lovers is the 20th album by American pop and rock duo Sparks, released in 2006. 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 No. 66 on the UK Albums Chart.[1] 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 No. 80 on the UK Singles Chart[1] and No. 10 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

"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: "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."[2] Eventually, in a statement BBC London said that the track is back in rotation.[2] The single charted at No. 139 in the UK.[3]

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 tribute to The Clash in 2003.

It entered the UK Independent Albums Chart at No. 14.[4]

Personnel

Chart placings

Album

Country/Region (2006/2022)Peak
position
Scotland Albums Chart[5] 49
Swedish Sverigetopplistan Album Chart[6] 48
UK Albums Chart66
"Perfume" (single)
Chart (2006)Peak
Position
Scotland (OCC)[7] 46
UK (OCC)80
UK Indie Singles Chart (OCC)10
"Dick Around" (single)
Chart (2006)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 67
UK (OCC)139

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official Charts Company - Sparks . . 2008-07-22 .
  2. Web site: Sparks single banned on BBC: yes/no on www.side-line.com. 2009-09-25.
  3. Web site: Chart Log UK: DJ S - The System Of Life . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150322040621/http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_S.HTM . 2015-03-22 . 2010-02-17 . Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz, 1994–2009.
  4. Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 Official Charts Company . 2022-05-29 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  5. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 06 May 2022 - 12 May 2022 . The Official UK Charts Company 2022 . May 12, 2022.
  6. Web site: swedishcharts.com - Discography Sparks. Hung Medien. 2009-11-03. Charts cover period from 1975 - 2005
  7. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 26 May 2022.
  8. Web site: Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 26 May 2022.