In Outer Space

1983 studio album by Sparks

In Outer Space

Studio album by

Sparks

Released| April 1983
Studio| Synsound Studios (Brussels)
Genre|

* New wave
* synth-pop[1]

Length| 36:37
Label| Atlantic
Producer|

* Ron Mael
* Russell Mael

Sparks chronology
| Angst in My Pants
(1982)  | In Outer Space
(1983)  | Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
(1984)

|
|

Singles from  In Outer Space

1. "Cool Places"
Released: March 1983
2. "All You Ever Think About Is Sex"
Released: July 1983

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]

In Outer Space is the twelfth studio album by American pop band Sparks, released in April 1983 by Atlantic Records. Brothers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks self-produced the album.

## Release[edit]

In Outer Space became one of Sparks' most successful albums in the U.S. It peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard 200 albums chart,[2] and built upon the success of the band's previous two studio albums, Angst in My Pants (1982) and Whomp That Sucker (1981). In France, the non-album single "Modesty Plays" (originally conceived for the TV series Modesty Blaise) was added and included as the final track.

"Cool Places" was released as the first single from the album and it reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song was a duet with the Go-Go's rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Jane Wiedlin. Wiedlin's band was very popular, and her input gave exposure to the single, which led it to become Sparks' biggest hit in the US. "Cool Places" was extended for 12", and both formats were backed with the non-album track "Sports". The single also became the first of many entries for the band on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart; where it peaked at No. 13.

"All You Ever Think About Is Sex" was remixed and released as the follow-up single, but it did not chart. An extended mix was also produced and it was backed with a remixed version of the album track; "Dance Godammit" on both 7" and 12" formats.

Neither the album or the accompanying singles were successful in the UK.

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael

Side oneNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Cool Places"| 3:23
2.| "Popularity"| 3:52
3.| "Prayin' for a Party"| 2:59
4.| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex"| 4:09
5.| "Please Baby Please"| 3:42

Side twoNo.| Title| Length

|
|

6.| "Rockin' Girls"| 4:42
7.| "I Wish I Looked a Little Better"| 2:58
8.| "Lucky Me, Lucky You"| 3:26
9.| "A Fun Bunch of Guys from Outer Space"| 4:00
10.| "Dance Godammit"| 3:26
11.| "Modesty Plays" (French editions only)| 3:47

Imperial Records (Japan) bonus tracks (2009)No.| Title| Length

|
|

11.| "Miniskirted"| 3:47
12.| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (Unreleased Alternate Version)| 4:06
13.| "Sports"| 3:23

Repertoire Records bonus tracks (2013)No.| Title| Length

|
|

11.| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (Single version – Remixed by Brian Reeves)| 3:32
12.| "Sports"| 3:23
13.| "Cool Places" (12" mix)| 4:40
14.| "All You Ever Think About Is Sex" (12" club version – Remixed by Brian Reeves)| 5:06
15.| "Dance Godammit" (12" club version – Remixed by Brian Reeves)| 3:59

## Personnel[edit]

Credits are adapted from the In Outer Space liner notes.[3]

Sparks

* Russell Mael – Vocals
* Ron Mael – All synthesizers (Roland JP-8)

Additional musicians

* Bob Haag – Endodyne guitars and Roland guitar synthesizers, Tab cans, background vocals, and additional bass guitar
* Leslie Bohem – Bass guitar, background vocals
* David Kendrick – Drums
* James Goodwin – Additional concert keyboards
* Jane Wiedlin – guest vocals on "Cool Places" and "Lucky Me, Lucky You"

Production and artwork

* Ron Mael – producer
* Russell Mael – producer
* Dan Lacksman – engineer
* Brian Reeves – mixing; engineer
* Marc Moulin – album coordination
* Larry Vigon – art direction and design
* Jim Shea – photography

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c AllMusic review
2. ^ "Sparks in Billboard 200". billboard.com. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
3. ^ In Outer Space (CD booklet). Sparks. Atlantic Records. 1983.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

## External links[edit]

* In Outer Space at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Sparks

* Ron Mael
* Russell Mael

* Jim Mankey
* Earle Mankey
* Harley Feinstein
* Martin Gordon
* Adrian Fisher
* Norman "Dinky" Diamond

* Trevor White
* Ian Hampton
* Bob Haag
* Leslie Bohem
* David Kendrick
* Christi Haydon
* Tammy Glover
* Dean Menta

Albums|

* Halfnelson/Sparks
* A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
* Kimono My House
* Propaganda
* Indiscreet
* Big Beat
* Introducing Sparks
* Nº 1 in Heaven
* Terminal Jive
* Whomp That Sucker
* Angst in My Pants
* In Outer Space
* Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
* Music That You Can Dance To
* Interior Design
* Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins
* Plagiarism
* Balls
* Lil' Beethoven
* Hello Young Lovers
* Exotic Creatures of the Deep
* The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman
* Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe
* Hippopotamus
* A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
* The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte

Singles|

* "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us"
* "Amateur Hour"
* "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"
* "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
* "The Number One Song in Heaven"
* "Beat the Clock"
* "When I'm with You"
* "I Predict"
* "Cool Places"
* "With All My Might"
* "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'"
* "When I Kiss You (I Hear Charlie Parker Playing)"
* "Now That I Own the BBC"
* "Dick Around"
* "Johnny Delusional"

Related|

* Giorgio Moroder
* Telex
* Sex (Telex album)
* Noël
* Gleaming Spires
* Les Rita Mitsouko
* Devo
* Todd Rundgren
* Sparks Spectacular
* Tony Visconti
* Jane Wiedlin
* FFS (self-titled album)
* The Sparks Brothers
* Annette

Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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