If you are interested in an in-depth discussion of the importance and influence of Sparks on popular music over the last 50 years then you should watch the film. I will simply say that they are impressive and I like their music even more now than I did before watching it.

“Amateur Hour”

“Batteries Not Included”

“Cool Places”

“Eaten By The Monster Of Love”

“I Predict”

“Lighten Up, Morrissey”

“Music That You Can Dance To”

“My Baby’s Taking Me Home”

“Never Turn Your Back On Mother Nature”

“So May We Start”

“Sparks Documentary Fanfare”

“The Number One Song In Heaven”

“This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us”

“Tips for Teens”

“Under the Table With Her”

“Wonder Girl”

“So May We Start” is a brand new song written for the new film Annette. After attempting to work in film twice before, the brothers Mael have finally succeeded. This film recently debuted at Cannes 2021 as the opening film on premier night and received a 5 minute standing ovation. Sparks wrote all of the music. Russell also wrote the screenplay.

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman may be best known for his work in the field of comic books and graphic novels, especially his Sandman series, but in 2008 he published an incredible young adult novel called The Graveyard Book. Like most great YA novels, this work can be enjoyed by adults as well. I won’t go into plot, but if you are a reader and haven’t read this book then I think you should do so. You can find it at your public library.

Fortunately The Milk

In 2013 Gaiman wrote a novella for an even younger audience. Fortunately The Milk is a nonstop laugh-out-loud story that any parent can relate to. If you have children around 10 years old then this is a must have, not only for them to read themselves but to read out loud to them. You will laugh until the milk comes out your nose, if you can keep the carton safe!

Dusty Hill: Dusty Hill was the bass player and back up vocalist for ZZ Top. He sings lead on this week’s selection “Hi Fi Mama.” Hill died on July 28, 2021.

Chuck E. Weiss: Chuck E. Weiss was an LA songwriter and vocalist. He is the subject of Rickie Lee Jones‘ debut #4 hit “Chuck E.’s in Love.” Weiss died on July 20, 2021.

Ron Popeil: Ron Popeil was the founder of Ronco. Anyone who watched tv from the ’50s through the ’90s is familiar with his work. “But wait, there’s more!” He is an easy celebrity to parody and satirize, but Popeil changed how we think about advertising and how we think about our kitchen tools. He died on July 28, 2021. Luckily Weird Al has ensured that no one will ever forget the inventions of “Mr. Popeil.”

Vinny Denunzio: Vinny Denunzio was the percussionist on the Feelies influential 1980 debut album Crazy Rhythms. His signature moment is the percussion on their cover of John Lennon’s “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey.”

Floyd Ashton: Floyd Ashton was an original member of The Tams. Their 1962 version of the Joe South composition “Untie Me” was their first R&B hit.

Billy Pinkney: Billy Pinkney was a founding member of Clyde McPhatter’s group The Drifters and “Money Honey” was their first single. Most people are more familiar with later versions of The Drifters who had hits including “Up on the Roof” and “Under the Boardwalk” in the ’60s, but the original Drifters with Pinkney singing bass are foundational in the history of R&B and rock and roll. Pinkney actually sings lead tenor on “Money Honey,” showcasing his vocal range.

Matt Johnson: Matt Johnson is the lead singer of The The and “Infected” is the title track from their 1986 album.

Nesbert “Stix” Hooper: Stix Hooper is a drummer and a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders. The Jazz Crusaders (or Crusaders) were a group featuring several great jazz artists, including pianist Joe Sample.

Shirley Kwan: Shirley Kwan is a Cantopop artist who was most successful in the ’90s.

Sylvie Vartan: Sylvie Vartan is a contemporary of the more well-known French pop star Francoise Hardy, but Vartan had plenty of success as well, especially in France in the ’60s and ’70s.

Hugo Winterhalter: Hugo Winterhalter was a conductor and arranger who began his career in the ’30s working with legends such as Count Basie and Tommy Dorsey. He was most successful in the ’50s and ’60s and worked with many singers of that era. Jimmy Webb’s classic “Macarthur Park” is one of Winterhalter’s most popular songs as a conductor.

Jimmy Webb: Jimmy Webb wrote some of the most well-known songs of the ’60s and ’70s, including “Macarthur Park.”

When Ms. Faux saw that I had selected Neil Gaiman, who isn’t even a musician, as artist of the week instead of Oscar Peterson she told me to make amends or else. [This is an unfair characterization. The discussion was, indeed, heated. – Ed.] Oscar Peterson is Ms. Faux’s favorite jazz artist, and one can’t argue with that choice. He is also the greatest Canadian jazz artist. During his 60-year career he accomplished everything one can accomplish in the world of jazz and his influence lives on today and most likely for as long as there are jazz pianists.

Trying to select just one or two Peterson recordings is nearly impossible, so I went with “C Jam Blues” from the most famous Oscar Peterson Trio album, Night Train, and “When Your Lover Has Gone” from a great album with the Trio backing Ben Webster on saxophone.

Hits

Rickie Lee Jones “Chuck E.’s in Love”

The Flamingos “I Only Have Eyes For You”

2 for “Two”day

“Weird Al” Yankovic “Mr. Popeil” and “Virus Alert”

Oscar Peterson Trio “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “C Jam Blues”

New

Sparks “So May We Start” from the 2021 film Annette and “Sparks Documentary Film Fanfare” from The Sparks Brothers soundtrack

Sparks “I Predict”: One of the best K-Tel albums was 1982’s The Beat. It includes ’80s classics such as “I Ran” by Flock of Seagulls, “We Got the Beat” by The Go Gos, “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran, and many others. Sitting at track four of side one on the record is “I Predict” by Sparks. This was the first time I ever heard Sparks and I have loved the song ever since. It was years later before I realized who Sparks were, but thank you K-Tel for that early introduction!

“Weird Al” Yankovic “Mr. Popeil”: This song is Weird Al’s tribute to Ronco founder Ron Popeil. “I wanna crazy glue my head to the bottom of a big steel girder. Help me, Mr. Popeil!”