Wiki
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Release Date
1 March 1979
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Length
6 tracks
No. 1 in Heaven is the eighth album by Sparks. Recorded in 1978 and released in September 1979 by Virgin Records (initial copies on colored vinyl) and later licensed to Elektra Records in the States, it renewed interest in the band after disappointing sales of albums like Big Beat and Introducing Sparks. The album is the first and only of the band's to be issued on Elektra Records, the 4th label the band was signed to in the US. The first US editions of the LP contained content identical to the original Virgin UK release, but later editions substituted the 12" extended mix of "Beat The Clock" for the album version.
No. 1 in Heaven had a dramatically different sound to that of Sparks' previous seven albums. The group dropped the standard guitar, bass and piano from its musical palette. The new sound was dominated by layers sequencers and synthesizers which built upon the drums and percussion of Keith Forsey. Russell Mael's voice which employed his distinctive falsetto was overlaid in a number of overdubs and complemented by backing vocalists. Musically, the sound of the album matched that of "I Feel Love" and that of Moroder's solo work. Aside from Ron Mael's lyrics and Russell's vocals, the sound of songs like "Tryouts for the Human Race" and "La Dolce Vita" continued in the vein of Donna Summer's music. A sound that began in 1977 with "I Feel Love", was continued on Once Upon a Time ("Now I Need You", "Working the Midnight Shift", "Queen for a Day") and appeared again on 1979s Bad Girls in songs like "Sunset People".
Personnel
Chris Bennett - Backing Vocals
Keith Forsey - Drums
Ron Mael - Keyboards, Synthesiser, Vocals
Russell Mael - Vocals
Jack Moran - Backing Vocals
Giorgio Moroder - Synthesiser, Vocoder, Producer
Dan Wyman - Synthesiser Programming
Dennis Young - Backing Vocals
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