SPARKS ON A ROLLERCOASTER PT 1

Sparks as seen on 1977 film Rollercoaster playing "Fill'er Up" and "Big Boy."

From: http://graphikdesigns.free.fr/sparks-rollercoaster-movie.html

After "Indiscreet" Lp failed to achieve chart access, Ron & Russell Mael got dissatisfied with the European public as well and relocated back to the United States leaving the British band behind. So, in 1976, The Maels produced their most aggressive album, "Big Beat". This record with mostly guitar based tunes was produced by Rupert Holmes. Ron Mael & Russell Mael used session-men musicians with a mid-Sixties bent : Jeffrey Salen (Tuff Darts) on guitars, long time Sparks' fan Sal Maida (Milk & Cookies) played bass guitar while Hilly "Boy Michaels" was on drums.

In 1974, famous french movie director Jacques Tati had planned to make his movie ''Confusion'' with Ron Mael & Russell Mael. The project mainly failed because of Jacques Tati's bankruptcy and Sparks instead appeared in performance in the 1977 blockbuster motion picture "Rollercoaster".

Sparks' performance was shot at Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, California, USA. Sparks performed two songs "live" in the motion picture. In fact they mimed to their studio recordings of "Big Boy" & "Fill'er Up" and applauses were added in the mix. The Sparks appearance was too brief but very impressive and fun, especially when Ron Mael gets rowdy and breaks his piano stool on the floor.

Russell Mael: "Yes, you did see Sparks performing "Big Boy" and "Fill'er Up" in the film Rollercoaster during your last airplane trip. No, we didn't know that the film was going to turn out like that. Rollercoaster movie proves that you have to be continually careful of what you do... You never know what's going to last and what's going to fall by the wayside, and man, does that last !"

Synopsis of Rollercoaster : A young man with a deep understanding of radio-controled home made explosives targets the patrons of an amusement park for his million-dollar extortion scheme. He informs federal agents and the owners of the park that he has planted a bomb and he demands $1,000,000...

"Rollercoaster" stars George Segal as Harry Caulder, a government safety inspector who has to deal with the terrorist played by Timothy Bottoms. Also in the film are Richard Widmark as federal agent Hoyt, Henry Fonda who appears for like a total of five minutes in two or three scenes, Susan Strassberg as Caulder's girlfriend, and a teenagish Helen Hunt as Caulder's daughter.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sparks
• alternative
• rock
• Ron
• Russell
• Mael
• Fill'er
• Up
• Big
• Boy

[mspossum]

Wasn't this in filmed in "Sensesurround" or some equally lame presursor to THX? You were supposed to "feel" the effects, tho it was only the soundtrack cranked up to 11. (Not even as loud as some car stereos now.) We saw this dog because of Sparks, and I'm happy to see they've held up better than '70s technology and '70s screenplays. Woof.

[tumblingmatt]

I remember the theatrical release of Battlestar Galacta having "Sensesurround." It was supposed to attract an audience despite the show having already been aired on TV. Ha!

[MaidanTube]

Super classical scenes from a brilliant movie. That film introduced me to the Sparks. Wonderful to see it on YouTube!

[jbirden111]

Sparks rules the galaxy!

[Pinhead554]

Bay City Rollers were originally supposed to perform in this movie!

[ratcliffave]

you would think someone would ask tomothy bottoms why isn`t he dancing to the music.

[Kohntarkosz]

I don't understand what Russell Mael means by "We didn't know the movie was going to turn out that way". What way? I always thought it was a pretty good movie, but I get the impression that he and Ron were embarrassed somehow.

[missjacko1]

Not a bad film but with the inclusion of Sparks makes it a must see.

[Philomath1974]

"I can always use another letter of commendation."

Great film. Harry Calder is a classic hero, besting the enemy not with superhuman abilities or a powered suit but rather with his wits. It's too bad Sparks didn't like the film.

[1skullduggery]

not QUITE the worst band in history...

[kd4adv]

Can y'all believe that was Helen Hunt?

[11xzxzxz]

Damn I like Timothy Bottoms .. especially good in The Last Picture Show and good in The Paper Chase.

Hey Sparks to the Marx brothers.

[MrGENOSTV]

" NOTHING LIKE SPARKS IN SENSURROUND ( )"

[kd4adv]

I hope there's no remake of this movie.

"Kings Dominion" is NOT in Richmond, Virginia. IT is in Doswell, Virginia.

There was a different movie about "Ocean View Park" in Norfolk, VA called, "The Death Of Ocean View Park" (1979)