Propaganda by the band Sparks, released on the Island Records label in 1974, value £50

REMINISCING about old music with a pal, I was staggered when asked "What happened to the pop band Sparks?" Sparks, primarily were brothers Ron and Russell Mael, from California. Failure to find success in their home country led them to relocate to the UK; they had been impressed by English bands, The Who, The Kinks, Pink Floyd and The Move. Signed up by Island Records, most people will remember their run of hit records in the seventies, beginning with This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us, which topped the charts in 1974. They declared themselves to be "adopted anglophiles." Difficult to classify, they have been labelled glam rock, synth rock, disco, new wave and art pop: they were all these and a lot more.

Their music was written by older brother Ron with Russell harmonising and singing vocals. Ron developed his character to be instantly recognised as his contribution to the image of Sparks. He dressed conservatively, adopting a cheekie-chappie persona complete with a Charlie Chaplin moustache. The reality was such that he resembled a rather sinister, oddball, bizarre looking person looking more like Hitler than Chaplin, but overall remained as an engaging and charismatic character.

By the eighties, Sparks had developed a cult following. New bands such as Depeche Mode, New Order, The Smiths, and Nirvana (USA) were all influenced by Sparks. Their biggest international hits all happened in the nineties, mostly in Europe. (When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing and When Do I Get To Sing My Way sold more than a million each and became classic dance tracks. May and June 2008 saw the 21 nights sell out Sparks Spectacular in London where they played each of their albums in chronological order. A total of almost 270 songs. Not many bands have recorded over 21 albums - a tremendous achievement. In March 2017 Sparks performed at the BBC Radio 6 music festival at Glasgow, and are currently touring the UK and Europe until early October promoting their latest album Hippopotamus. They may be a band that some people have forgotten about, but some 40-plus years since their beginning, they are alive and kicking and still playing to sell out audiences. If you get the chance to see them in concert, don't miss it!

Propaganda £50. Another Sparks collectable, Kimono My House £50 is one of The Smiths frontman Morrissey's favourite albums.