Sparks - Song by Song [Fonthill Media]

 

In March 2023, I was approached by the British publisher Fonthill Media, who told me they were impressed with the chapters I had written for the Sparks Albums Project and were seeking an author for a book in the Song by Song series.

I was not familiar with this series, but it features a selection of diverse artists—not least—whose work is examined in detail, with a focus on individual songs. Musicians and bands represented include U2, Led Zeppelin, ABBA, Madonna, Oasis, ELO, Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen, and Black Sabbath.

This seemed like an exceptionally interesting list of artists amongst whom Sparks deserved a rightful place, and I enthusiastically accepted the proposal. However, I made it a strict requirement that sufficient attention be devoted to the band’s biography.

If I were to focus solely on the individual songs, the book would essentially be a review of Sparks’ music, which is ultimately just a personal opinion. I did not believe Sparks fans would be interested in that, so I agreed to write the book on the condition that ample attention be given to the biography.

This was ultimately agreed upon, but it quickly became clear that a single 80,000-word book would not be enough to cover the entire history and discuss each song. It was therefore decided to publish the book in two parts: one covering the period 1971–1988 and the other covering 1989–2025.

I am pleased and proud to announce that the first part is scheduled for release in November of this year. It comprises 224 pages and will be published in hardcover. The second part is planned for 2026, and the latter will also devote ample attention to all the non-album tracks and to the more than 150 unreleased recordings that I’m aware of.

The cover is currently being finalised, and I will post it here as soon as I receive and approve it. The book will be available for purchase both in book stores and online. In fact, several websites already offer pre-orders.

I hope this publication will make an important contribution to the historiography and analysis of Sparks and their music.

Ruud Swart – September 2025