'Beat The Clock' by Sparks (UK 12" single artwork). From the ground-breaking album 'Number One In Heaven' (1979) produced by Giorgio Moroder.
The follow-up album 'Terminal Jive' was produced by both Giorgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer.
Sparks
Unlike many of Moroder's previous projects, Sparks (Ron and Russell Mael) already had their own history of chart success with hit singles like 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us' and 'Amateur Hour'. Their transition to synthesizers and 'Disco' with Moroder was derided at the time by rock music critics.
Russell Mael, vocalist and co-songwriter, comments:
"Despite the success with the public, the British press crucified us for 'going disco'. We felt we had committed some crime and Giorgio was our accomplice. Funny how years later, 'disco' is called 'dance music' and it's no longer a pejorative term."Despite the critics, the collaboration yielded many new hits: 'Beat the Clock', 'The Number One Song In Heaven' 'Tryouts For The Human Race' and 'When I'm With You' a song which had immense appeal for the French. Russell recalls:
"Ron had played Giorgio scores of songs before recording 'Terminal Jive' and all had been rejected with the exception of 'When I'm With You' which Giorgio felt needed a new middle section. In commercial terms, this was the biggest single Sparks has had to date, and it was never even released in America. The majority of sales came from France where we stayed for nine months as a result of the large number of TV shows we appeared on.CARRY ON...A video of Ron as a ventriloquist and me as his dummy was shown to death in France. As a result, we could walk into virtually any couscous restaurant in Paris and get the best table in the house."