Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Russell Mael Edition

Let’s wish a happy birthday to Russell Mael, the lead singer for my all-time favorite band, Sparks. Since the late ’60s, Russell and his brother Ron have made a career on trying to hit the pop charts by subverting pop conventions. Sparks actually started as Halfnelson, changing their name after the band’s debut album (full of wiggy post-psychedelic pop) stiffed. Even then, Russell’s odd falsetto stood out. It moved more to the forefront when he and Ron went to England and became glam rock stars, Ron’s ornate compositions having no regard for what notes Russell would have to hit in order to cram tons of lyrics into a short space. In 1979, Sparks worked with Giorgio Moroder on the groundbreaking disco/rock album No. 1 In Heaven, and Russell’s angelic vocals were a template for future hi-NRG dance music and future synth-poppers like Bronski Beat and Erasure. Nowadays, Russell has mastered the art of stacking vocals on Sparks’ more recent baroque, classical music inspired albums. To this day, he can hit those high notes in a distinctive style. It’s no wonder noted producer Tony Visconti said that Russell is the best vocalist he has ever worked with. Let’s pay tribute to Russell Mael by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.

1. Joy Division — Twenty-Four Hours (Permanent): Here’s a band that I need to invest more in. I have one compilation and their box set, but need to get the original albums. The sound is so iconic and influential. The throbbing bass lines and crisp drumming with splashed of guitar atmosphere and Ian Curtis’ deep and affecting vocals. This song is full of drama, but Curtis never overplays it, knowing that his large presence grounds the increasingly intent music.
2. The Living End — Growing Up (Falling Down) (The Living End): This Aussie trio had a fresh take on old school punk, with the stand up bass, tons of energy and, as shown on this number, a way with a hook. The verses of this song are sped up rockabilly that gallops furiously along. The band manages to flow well into the ridiculously melodic, shout-a-long chorus. One of the best numbers on their debut full-length.
3. Jules Shear — I Need It (Watch Dog): I wish Jules Shear and Todd Rundgren could have worked more together, because Todd’s production brought so much color to Shear’s strong songs. This is a bit of a rocker, with a guitar part that seems to float and lacerate at the same time. Cool track.
4. Liquor Giants — Fifth Wheel Time (Up With People): Ward Dotson’s post-Pontiac Brothers’ band retained the Replacements-like scruffiness, mixing it with a love of ’60s pop-rock that blended ’80s Midwest indie rock with The Monkees, The Hollies, The Beatles and much more. The result is head bopping fun from the band’s final album.
5. A House — That’s Not The Truth (On Our Big Fat Merry-Go-Round): The first A House album is the sound of young Irish men who loved British indie-pop, but had a skewed lyrical take. The band plays with controlled wild abandon, as this song is jangly and aggressive, while David Couse manages to stay on key most of the time, as he shouts and sings the witty, prolix words.
6. Buzzcocks — Radio Nine (A Different Kind Of Tension): A little tidbit at the end of the band’s ’80s swan song, which sounds like a distant radio playing the classic song “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays”.
7. Jerry Lee Lewis — Rockin’ Jerry Lee (A Whole Lotta…Jerry Lee Lewis): On most songs, Jerry Lee Lewis refers to himself in the lyrics. So why not a fully self-referential lyrics on this biographical tune. This boogie-woogie tune is clearly true, as he notes that he’s “the rockingest man on the piano/that you ever did see.”
8. The Beach Boys — That’s Not Me (Pet Sounds): I’ve read so much about Pet Sounds, it’s hard to say anything brief about it or any of the tracks. Even the relatively lesser tracks are simply brilliant songs with incredible vocals and arrangements, and some of the best production ever. What is so striking about Pet Sounds is how, even without lyrics, the music so perfectly captures the moods Brian Wilson was trying to portray. The words just spell it out more clearly. It may be unpopular to say so, given the current stories, but Mike Love’s lead vocal on this tune is one of his best.
9. Yello — Stalakdrama (Stella): This is a very dramatic instrumental from the last great Yello album. It sounds like it should be the soundtrack for some thriller that takes place high on snow capped mountains. It really sticks out like a sore thumb, even on this terrific LP, but I’m sure Dieter Meier and Boris Blank felt it was simply too cool not to go on the album.
10. The Byrds — John Riley (Fifth Dimension): This is the classic Byrds sound. The 12-string guitar, the vaguely Eastern modal undertones, the fluid rhythms and the wonderful, quavering harmonies. This is basically a psychedelic folk song, and it’s really good.