Interior Design

Tracklisting

01. So Important
02. Just Got Back From Heaven
03. Lots Of Reasons
04. You Got A Hold of My Heart
05. Love-O-Rama
06. The Toughest Girl In Town
07. Let's Make Love
08. Stop Me If You've Heard This Before
09. A Walk Down Memory Lane
10. Madonna



Reviews

'Sparks makes entertaining, danceable and very clever music...these guys from Pacific Palisades are back with a record that is so much fun that it would be easy to take for granted the originality at work in the music. Intelligent dance music is not exactly a crowded field, and this disc is the best we have.' (Octavio Roca, New Times, 10 August 1988)

'Who even knew these guys were still together and working? Well, they are, and the recording is superb.' (Goldmine, 2 December 1988)

'Dance music of the 90s will probably sound very much like Sparks music of the 70s and 80s. Today, you can hear their influence on every pop station in the nation. Maybe the country has finally matured enough to appreciate the inventiveness and wit in the music that is Sparks.' (Frontiers Magazine, 1988)




Lyrics

01. So Important (Ron & Russell Mael)

Begging isn't easy
It kills your self-esteem
Makes you feel dependant
It makes you feel mean
But subtlety is useless
In breaking down a wall
And subtlety is toothless
You'd rather see me crawl
So if it takes a flashy display
To make you warm up, OK
Because you're so important to me
So important to me
So important to me
Right now
This discrimination
It's cruel and inhumane
If I had any pride left
I'd say you were insane
If only you would love me
Or just be less intense
It isn't that I'm ugly
It isn't that I'm dense
But if it takes a cheap, tawdry scene
To make you see what I mean
Because you're so important to me
So important to me
So important to me
Right now

02. Just Got Back From Heaven (Ron & Russell Mael)

All I get is quiet
Laughing friends won't buy it
I've been known to tell them white lies
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh
I just got back from heaven
I can see their faces
As I mention places
Places that I've overdescribed
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh
I just got back from heaven
Heaven isn't so far away
You walk through the door
And you're light years away
Someone looks right into your eyes
And you feel the magic that you can't deny
And you sway
All through the night
If you stay
All through the night
Look at the shape I'm in
I just got back from heaven
Searching for some glory
People make up stories
One too many drinks at the bar
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh
I just got back from heaven
Heaven isn't so far away
You walk through the door
And you're light years away
Someone looks right into your eyes
And you feel the magic that you can't deny
And you sway
All through the night
If you stay
All through the night
Look at the shape I'm in
I just got back from heaven
Any destination
Makes a great vacation
This is something greater by far
This time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh
I just got back from heaven

03. Lots Of Reasons (Ron & Russell Mael)

Lots of reasons why I'm chasing you
Lots of reasons only you will do
The way you look is like a movie star
Lots of reasons why I've gone this far
Everybody you'll find me on your trail
Lots of problems but I will not fail
You're intelligent but that's no threat
I've been reading every chance I get
And I'm closer to you each day
But you manage to slip away
But I'll never give up on you
I could be fifty
I could be sixty
I could be seventy
I could be eighty
Lots of reasons why I will not fail
You're a walkin' talkin' Holy Grail
I got stamina and I got shoes
And I gotta nothing else to do
And I'm closer to you each day
But you manage to slip away
But I'll never give up on you
I could be fifty
I could be sixty
I could be seventy
I could be eighty
I'm so close
I'm so close
I'm so close
I'm so close
Lots of times I thought of giving up
Lots of times I said, 'Enough's enough'
Then I thought of what you mean to me
How you made a real fiend of me
And I'm closer to you each day
But you manage to slip away
But I'll never give up on you
I could be fifty
I could be sixty
I could be seventy
I could be eighty
I'm so close
I'm so close
I'm so close
I'm so close
Lots of reasons why I'm chasing you
Lots of reasons only you will do
I can feel a real affinity
Stirring up my masculinity
Lots of reasons
Lots of reasons
Lots of reasons
Lots of reasons, yeah

04. You Got A Hold of My Heart (Ron & Russell Mael)

I’ve done my best to forget you
Dumped your perfume down my drain
My telephone is always in use, new day and bight
You’ve got a weird conception of love
Like a rocket, I am ready to fly
Back lit so you can’t see their faces
Your replacement is everywhere
Brown bodies just a little too wide prance around
O.K., let’s say my judgement was poor
Give me one more chance
And like a rocket, I will fly to your side
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart
In fact, I’ve done my very best to forget you
And in fact, I failed
And like a rocket, I will fly to your side
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart
The grass is greener on the other side
That’s what some old guy said
But I know that old guy must have lied
Or he was out of his head
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart
You’ve got a hold of my heart

05. Love-O-Rama (Ron & Russell Mael)

Trains are leaving from the station
(Hop on board for Love-O-Rama)
Goin’ for that sweet sensation
(Hop on board for Love-O-Rama)
Brothers, sisters, all invited
(Hop on board for Love-O-Rama)
All your love will be requited
(Love him, love her, Love-O-Rama!)
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
Love-O-Rama, will it move me up?
(Ain’t no doubt about Love-O-Rama)
Is it liable to improve me?
(Ain’t no doubt about Love-O-Rama)
In the moonlight, nothing fancy
(Ain’t no doubt about Love-O-Rama)
Don’t go pulling a Polanski
(Love him, love her, Love-O-Rama)
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
You’ll feel my love and then you’ll know
Get on up, man, time is flying
(Love him, love her, Love-O-Rama)
Someone needs you, someone’s crying
(Love him, love her, Love-O-Rama)
Final call for Love-O-Rama
Final call for Love-O-Rama

06. The Toughest Girl In Town (Ron & Russell Mael)

She won't marry you
She don't look good in white
Don't try sweet talk
Unless you're hot for a fight
Still there's something that
Drives the guys half-insane
Ain't they heard that their love
For her is in vain
And all the guys in town
Just love to hang around
The toughest girl in town
Look outside and you'll see
The rain pouring down
That's the sign that
She's now on your side of town
Plan your life around
Someone proper and clean
That's the smart thing
But that means nothing to me
And all the guys in town
Just love to hang around
The toughest girl in town
She's not evil
She's just a little confused
All here life she's been
Set upon and abused
Given that, she's more interesting
Than the rest
Given that, she's the one
Who I love the best
Like all the guys in town
I love to hang around
The toughest girl in town

07. Let's Make Love (Ron & Russell Mael)

There's no way that I could ever explain
I got to hold you in my arms, dear
Or else go insane
And what I'm feelin' in my heart
Feelin' in my soul
It makes me just a little dizzy
And out of control
But I've been waiting all my life
For someone I could stand
And you're the primary reason
I feel like a man
And what I'm feelin' in my heart
Feelin' in my soul
I couldn't ever hope to tell you
I'm sure you must know
It ain't the cool thing to be leaving
You're a sweet, young, and naive thing
Here comes the night
There goes my heart
Let's make love and not fall apart
I'm so grateful
For the love that we share
I'll never take it for granted
That you're always there
And when I think about the world
And what is going on
It makes me even more thankful
That you're still around
And I've been waiting all my life
For someone I could stand
And you're the only one so far
Who could understand
And what I'm feelin' in my heart
Feelin' in my soul
I couldn't ever hope to tell you
I'm sure you must know
It ain't the cool thing to be leaving
You're a sweet, young, and naive thing
Here comes the night
There goes my heart
Let's make love and not fall apart
When I see you there
With tears in your eyes
And I know somethin's gonna happen
That I might not like
I feel a worry in my heart
A worry in my soul
In fact, it's only you rehearsing
For some silly role
And you say, did I have you fooled
Were you really fooled
And I say, sorry pretty baby
No, I wasn't fooled
And what I'm feelin' in my heart
Feelin' in my soul
I couldn't ever hope to tell you
I'm sure you must know
It ain't the cool thing to be leaving
You're a sweet, young, and naive thing
Here comes the night
There goes my heart
Let's make love and not fall apart

08. Stop Me If You've Heard This Before (Ron & Russell Mael)

I'm loyal, I'm faithful, I trust you
Then Friday, I walk in and bust you
With someone else
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me
I'm wary of lasting relations
Since you started taking vacations
With all my friends
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me
I know what you do
I know what you're up to
I know what you do
I know what you're up to
I lie here, I'm waiting, debating
I know you, you're out there, gyrating
With someone else
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me
Stop me if you've heard this before
Stop me, stop me

09. A Walk Down Memory Lane (Ron & Russell Mael)

We all expected champagne
But it never did come
But it never did come
We said, 'Hey, where's our champagne ?'
And they gave us a gun
Said to go and have fun
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
(Chorus)
Let's take a walk
A walk down memory lane
Past the signs of the times
That lit our little way
And decide what it is
That made it all this way
And decide who it is
That might make it O.K.
The sun bears down on the man
With a girl on his arm
She's a victim of charm
She thinks, Sinatra the man
Think of him as you walk
Think of him as you talk
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
(Chorus)
They say in 10 million years
That the sun'll burn out
And that'll be that
She drinks a couple of beers
Takes a look at the sun
She would love to see that
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
(Chorus)

10. Madonna (Ron & Russell Mael)

While the symphony played
I was starting to fade
‘Til I woke with a cymbal crash
I turned to my right
You were gone, that’s all right
These Platonic things are a burn
I walked out on the street
While the big city lights
Tried to sell me on a way of life
That I was already living
Well, a limousine longer than
The Golden Gate Bridge
Pulled up alongside me at the curb
All the glass was blacked out
So I knew there was somebody
Very important in there
Then the door opened up
And a blonde in the shadows said,
'Get inside.'
And of course, I got inside
(Chorus)
Madonna, is that really you
Madonna, whatcha gonna do
Feelings only you can have
Never in the photograph
Feelings only you can have
Well, she took me back to her penthouse
And showed me all of her platinum records
And of course there were a lot
Then we sat on the sofa
And she turned on a classical station
But the reception was poor
And we sat there and talked
And talked a little more
And one things led to another
As they often do in these situations
All the stars are shining tonight for me
All the stars are shining tonight glory be
(Chorus)
In the morning
She fixed me a continental breakfast
And then she said, 'Well, good-bye.'
And I said, 'Can I see you again?'
And she said, 'No.'
And I said, 'Well, goodbye.'
And I never told anyone about this
‘Cause after all
It’s none of their business what she or I did
(Chorus)



Credits

Interior Design:
Produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael
Recorded at The Pentagon Studio, Los Angeles
Engineered by John Thomas
Vocals: Russell Mael
Keyboards: Ron Mael
Keyboards: John Thomas
Guitar: Spencer Sircombe
Backing Vocals on 'Just Got Back From Heaven': Pamela Stonebrook
Cover Concept: Ron Mael
Design: Donald Krieger
Photos of Ron and Russell Mael by Christi Haydon