Hey there, bright sparks! This week, we're living in a powder keg and giving off...
SPARKS #1
Igniting today's post, a collaborative Sparks led by Sam Chatmon with powerful vocals by Gwinny Witherspoon, from the early 50s.
THE SPARKS #2
Followed by a five-piece instrumental group from New Orleans in the late 50s.
SPARKS #3
And an LA-based rock n roll group led by Curtis Irvin from, I'm guessing, some time in the 50s.
THE SPARKS #4
Louisiana rock 'n roll band from 1957...
THE SPARKS #5
More rock n rolly Sparks from California in 1958.
THE SPARKS #6
In 1959, The Sparks were a backing band for Nashville songwriter Boudleaux Bryant (the man who wrote Love Hurts and a bunch of hits for the Everly Brothers, with his wife and co-writer, Felice).
THE SPARKS #7
Also in 1959, the genie gets out of the bottle via these New York Sparks...
LOS SPARKS #8
Mexican Sparks from 1960...
THE SPARKS #9
Trinbagonian* Calypso group active from 1962, changing their name to Wild Fire in the 70s.
(*The AI Gods tell me that "people from both Trinidad and Tobago are collectively referred to as Trinidadians and Tobagonians, or colloquially Trinbagonians".)
THE SPARKS #10
Next up, some Canadian Sparks from 1963.
THE SPARKS #11
And some soulful Philly Sparks from the mid-60s.
THE SPARKS #12
Dutch Sparks from 1966 with a half-decent cover of a Van Morrison / Them song.
THE SPARKS #13
Cool New York funk/soul band from 1967...
THE SPARKS #14
Meanwhile down in Brazil around the same time...
SPARKS #15
Ron and Russell. From LA, 1969 to now. You know the rest. With apologies to every other featured band this week - this town ain't big enough...
THE SPARKS #16
Zimbabwe Sparks from 1971...
THE SPARKS #17
A Jamaican reggae act (with his pals) from 1975, singing about something that makes him feel happy...
THE SPARKS #18
Nigerian Sparks from 1988. I dig their groovy sci-fi uniforms.
SPARKS #19
Also from 1988, these South African Sparks were taking out the trash...
THE SPARKS #20
AKA Gregg and Rebecca Sparks of Pittsburgh, bothering God since 1989.
SPARX #21
Also starting their career at the end of the 80s - and still going today, by all accounts - these New Mexican sisters were Sparx.
SPARKS. #22
English singer-songwriter active from 2020, who's clearly never heard of Ron & Russell, or thinks sticking a full stop on the end of his name somehow differentiates him.
SPARKS #23
And finally, some Sparks from Minneapolis. According to the Camp of Bands, they're playing three UK dates in August, but I'm not sure I believe that.
Which ones start a fire in you... and which ones leave you cold?
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