Hello Young Lovers (Sparks album)

Release

Hello Young Lovers was commercially more popular than any Sparks album since the nineteen-seventies, and it reached #66 on the UK Album Chart. 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 #80 on the UK Singles chart and #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; "In a reaction [to the ban] the band says: "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." Eventually, In a statement BBC London said that the track is back in rotation. The single charted at the lowly position of #139 in the UK.

Track listing

All tracks written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael; except where indicated.

Personnel

Chart Placings

Album