Sparks – Kimono My House

Sparks – Kimono My House

Sparks blazed into my musical psyche just like their music – fast, fun, creative & quirky.  Kimono My House was released in May, 1974.

Purposefully campy, having fun making fun of all sorts of stuff in the world.  The lyrical messages were similarly witty & oddball as the first couple of 10cc albums, which I liked.  And Russell Mael’s singing?  His extreme falsetto threw many of my friends for a loop, and they couldn’t listen to the album.  (Reminds me of the time Monty Python & The Holy Grail came on the TV one Saturday night long ago, and one of our buddies was not at all familiar with the movie.  He heard the horse hooves, and said, “Great! A cowboy movie!”.  Then when Arthur & Patsy crested the hill, knocking the coconuts together for the horse hoof sound, he yelled, “What is this shit?” and left the house.  Russell Mael had that effect for some.). I thought it fit well as he was using the falsetto style like just another tool instrument.

The music was great too, with strong pop/rock hooks delivered by the requisite guitars, piano, bass & drums.  This was an easy fit into my collection that already had Bowie, T. Rex and the aforementioned 10cc.  Sparks’ Gilbert & Sullivan-like vocal operatics were also an eye into Queen’s vocals, where they would grow their operatic styling with Queen II & beyond.

Here are a couple of links that may be of interest: album lyrics & and rather extravagant (fitting!) album review.

This playlist is from a re-release of this album and contains additional material.  The original album ends with “Equator”.

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