Sparks! is the debut album by
soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded for the Prestige label in 1970. On
this album Melvin is joined by trumpeter Virgil Jones, saxophonists Grover
Washington Jr. and Houston Person, organist Leon Spencer Jr., drummer, Idris
Muhammad and percussionist Buddy Caldwell. Even though Melvin chose predominantly
popular commercial tunes for this album, he skillfully turns it into a solid
soul-jazz outing. The LP contains five songs: ‘Thank You’ a cover of the
popular Sly and the Family Stone Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin);
‘I Didn't Know What Time It Was’ is a straight-ahead guitar swinger; ‘Charlie
Brown’ turned into a funky cover of the 1958 hit by the Coasters; ‘The
Stinker’ another funky blues tune with a soul-jazz feel, featuring Houston
Person on tenor saxophone, and again he is heard on ‘Spill The Wine’
which is a funky jam version of the radio hit by Eric Burdon & War released
earlier in 1970. Sparks would go on to release another two albums on Prestige “Spark
Plug” & “Akilah!”, each showcasing his technical richness, fine
improvisations and wonderful phrasing reminding the listener of the style
portrayed by Grant Green, probably his most immediate precursor. Only Houston
is the sole surviving member of this wonderful band, a superb start to an extraordinary
career, enjoy!
Prestige Records, PRST 10001,
1970
BGP Records, BGPD 1065, 1993
Recorded 14th September,
1970 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Musicians:
Melvin Sparks - Guitar
Virgil Jones - Trumpet
Houston Person - Tenor
Saxophone (#A3,B1)
John Manning - Tenor
Saxophone
Leon Spencer, Jr. - Organ
Idris Muhammad - Drums
Tracks:
A1. Thank You {Sylvester
Stewart} (7:59)
A2. I Didn't Know What Time
It Was {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (6:27)
A3. Charlie Brown {Jerry
Lieber, Mike Stoller} (5:46)
B1. The Stinker {Leon
Spencer, Jr.} (6:53)
B2. Spill The Wine {Papa Dee
Allen, Harold Ray Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee
Oskar, Howard Scott} (10:56)
Total Time: 38:01
Credits:
Supervisor, Liner Notes - Bob
Porter
Recording Engineer - Rudy van
Gelder
Design - Don Schlitten
Photo - Al Johnson
