Noel
Is There More To Life Than Dancing?
Virgin - Polygram (Canada) / 1979 / V 2126
LP-album 33 ⅓ rpm vinyl record
Genre: Dance
All titles written and produced by Ron and Russell Mael for Sparks Productions
Side One:
1. Dancing Is Dangerous (9.45)
2. Is There More To Life Than Dancing? (8.09)
Side Two:
1. The Night They Invented Love (9.16)
2. Au Revoir (3.10)
3. I Want A Man (4.56)
Clearly inspired by their work with Giorgio Moroder on their resurgent "No. 1 In Heaven" album, the Mael brothers released this disco project for the enigmatic singer Noel the same year. An excellent album combining spaced out, synth-heavy production with the Sparks' own clever and witty lyrics. While there is a definite Moroder influence in the production (the use of synths and of continuous plays), the end result is uniquely their own. An excellent and interesting side project..
Note: All of side one and the first two tracks on side two are segued together. This album was also released in the UK on a picture disc.
Submitted by neonlights (25)
This LP is possibly one of the ‘best kept secrets’ of electro-disco releases. Fans of Sparks (the Bros Mael) will be interested as it was entirely written and produced by them, around the time of their Sparks release 'No1 in heaven'. That particular release was of course written and produced in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, and it was perhaps that recent influence on the Mael's that prompted them to write this particular cannon of work. Quite why they chose to enlist the lady ‘Noel’ in order to front the release is anyone's guess, but doing so sets this apart from other Sparks releases. Noel can sing. Noel is enigmatic (other than another LP she released a few years later as 'Noel and the red wedge', little is known about her). But most importantly, the 5 songs on this LP are absolute gems - no 'fillers' here. This record sounds as fresh and as upbeat today as it must have done when first released 30 years ago. Don't believe me? Well I only recently tracked this one down, having never heard it before and only being vaguely interested due to the Sparks connection - it has blown me away and is on constant spin!
The side 1 lead track, ‘Dancing is dangerous’ and the lead on side 2, ‘The night they invented love’ are two extra long slices of pure disco energy. These two segue nicely into two further disco delights. One of particular mention is ‘Au revoir’ which has all the 'camp' of a Marlene Dietrich warble and of course the quirkiness of Ron Mael's lyrical genius (for although it is not made clear on the credits which Mael brother wrote which melody/lyric, Sparks aficionados will probably agree that this is entirely within Ron's usual style). The song ‘Dancing is dangerous’ has that anthemic chorus so well loved by the gay audiences for which I am sure this track was surely aimed. Indeed, it has been segued into Hi-nrg/disco various artist medley's on several occasions. ‘The night they invented love’ is sax as well as synthesizer driven and has all the ambience of a porn movie or a sleazy 'back room' encounter. Of the 5 tracks, only one stands alone (i.e. not segued), this being the final track on side 2, ‘I want a man’. This in itself could have easily been mixed into the proceeding track, but was not and it is all the better for it as this serves to ensure that this outstanding ditty garners attention in its own right. The fact that this was released as a single in some countries, but was not extended or remixed for those releases is sad, as it screams out to be treated so, but never the less, is a 'lost gem’ of synthesizer driven 'camp'. As is the whole LP. Track it down. Buy it. Love it. Because if you are a fan of the 'disco’ sound from the late 70's / early 80's, or Donna Summer with Giorgio etc. etc. YOU WILL!