It’s been some time since
we last did this, so we’re about due for another Lost B-sides Week here at LIT80s, aren’t we? All this week, we’ll feature b-sides to some famous and not-so-famous singles that for the most part have yet to make it to CD.
Kicking the week off is a long-time LIT80s fave, Sparks. We’ve talked about Sparks a bit
here and
here. The Brothers Mael had been recording for more than ten years by the time they got their American breakthrough with “Cool Places”, a duet with the Go-Go’s Jane Weidlin featured on their 1983 (the Best Year for Music Ever!) album,
Sparks In Outer Space. The single’s b-side,
”Sports”, is another fun romp that wouldn’t have been out of place on the already short LP. In fact, it sounds a bit too close to other songs on
Outer Space, especially “Popularity”, which may account for its flip-sided fate.
Oglio Records issued
Outer Space on CD for the first time in the mid-90s, but left “Sports” off, so it’s remained a forgotten Sparks artifact. The band and Island Records have been slowly re-mastering and reissuing their catalog, but since their 80s output remains in the hands of Atlantic Records, it’s tough to tell when and if
Outer Space and “Sports” will ever make it to CD.
”Sports” was the b-side of the “Cool Places” single and 12”.Get Sparks music at Amazon or on
Labels: go-go's, jane weidlin, lost b-sides, sparks