A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing is the second studio album by the American rock band Sparks. It was released in 1973 and includes the single "Girl From Germany". It was the last release by the original five-member incarnation of Sparks.
The album was recorded and mixed at ID Sound at La Brea and Walley Heider Studios, and produced by Thaddeus James Lowe, then Todd Rundgren's engineer and former lead singer of The Electric Prunes. Receiving mixed to positive reviews, it was originally released as an LP in 1973. The artwork was photographed by Larry DuPont and Ron Mael.
Release
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing was released in February 1973. It was not very successful and did not reach the Billboard 200 in the US. "Girl From Germany" was belatedly released as a single in the UK following the group's surprise success but was without success.
The album did however lead to a tour of the United Kingdom, including a residency at the Marquee in London,[3] which, despite much heckling during performances, helped them to secure a significant cult following.[4] An appearance on the BBC Television's Old Grey Whistle Test led to wider interest, regardless of a cold reception from the show's host Bob Harris.[5]
Re-issue
A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing has been re-released numerous times since 1973. It is often packaged with its predecessor Sparks. One such re-issue was released in 1975 to capitalize on the group's success in the UK. This version was titled 2 Originals of Sparks and was packaged as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve with a 14-page booklet.
In 1988, the album was first issued on CD, again in tandem with the first Sparks album, but in order to fit both programs within the constraints of a single disc, the last four tracks of the album were mastered at a higher speed than on the original LP, shortening the running time to 39:27. Though the album has subsequently been reissued in a standalone format, including the most recent reissue on Rhino Encore, released in 2008, the sped-up master has continued to be used.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [6] |
A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing received mixed to positive reviews by the majority of critics.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Girl From Germany" | Russell Mael, Ron Mael | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Beaver O'Lindy" | Ron Mael, Russell Mael, Earle Mankey, Jim Mankey, Harley Feinstein | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Nothing is Sacred" | Ron Mael | 5:31 |
| 4. | "Here Comes Bob" | Ron Mael, Russell Mael | 2:09 |
| 5. | "Moon Over Kentucky" | Ron Mael, lyrics: Jim Mankey | 4:08 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Do Re Mi" | Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Angus Desire" | Ron Mael, Russell Mael | 3:25 |
| 8. | "Underground" | Earle Mankey | 2:59 |
| 9. | "The Louvre" | Ron Mael; French Translation by Josée Becker | 5:04 |
| 10. | "Batteries Not Included" | Ron Mael | 0:47 |
| 11. | "Whippings and Apologies" | Ron Mael | 5:05 |
Personnel
- Sparks
- Russell Mael - vocals
- Ron Mael - keyboards
- Earle Mankey - guitar
- Jim Mankey - bass
- Harley Feinstein - drums
References
- ^ a b Xavier Lorente-Darracq. "SPARKS "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing" second Lp album on Bearsville Records". graphikdesigns.free.fr. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Easlea, Daryl (July 2003). "Sparks Interview". Record Collector Magazine Issue. 287.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Popular Music. "Sparks". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
- ^ "Sparkography on allsparks.com". Archived from the original on 16 April 2006. Retrieved 2006-04-15.
- ^ "Allmusic review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02.