IT WASN'T ALL POST-PUNK GUITARS IN 1979

The stuff that Sparks recorded with Giorgio Moroder rocked my boat back in 1979 every bit as much as the LPs I was buying by The Jam, The Clash, The Police, The Boomtown Rats, The Stranglers and loads other bands with the word 'The' in front of their name.

I've still got a copy of the 12" single from all those years ago.  

It was a strange hybrid sort of thing.  It started off as a regular single but then continued on to what was essentially a picture disc.  At to a 16-year old's eye a very sexy and thrilling picture disc as it featured a stunning looking lady wearing a see through bra so you could glimpse her left nipple.  The back of the sleeve was even more exciting:-

All very tame by today's standards, but believe me back in 1979 this was very daring.

What I didn't know until recently the 12" of Beat The Clock was released in eight different coloured vinyls in addition to the plain black that sits on the shelves here in Villain Towers.  See here for more info.

I recently picked up a very cheap copy of the 7" version of the single which means I can now offer you three versions of Beat The Clock:-

mp3 : Sparks - Beat The Clock
mp3 : Sparks - Beat The Clock (Alternative Mix)
mp3 : Sparks - Beat The Clock (Long Version) 

More than 30 years on, this is still a song that I find very listenable.

Incidentally, the 12" also came complete with an advert for the band's current LP featuring the late and often great comedian Peter Cook. So for completeness sake:-

mp3 : Peter Cook - Advert for #1 Song In Heaven

Happy Listening