Of all the A&R-ing decisions Albert Grossman’s Bearsville label made, signing Los Angeles art-rock ensemble Sparks, led by brothers keyboardist Ron and vocalist Russell Mael, was one of the boldest. Few would have thought after hearing the two left-field, idiosyncratic, and frankly bizarre albums that the group made for Grossman, that they would have had any kind of future. Forty years on, the Mael brothers are still making left-field, idiosyncratic and often bizarre music to a devoted worldwide audience.

This package contains those two albums made for Bearsville before the Maels came to England, signed to Island Records and released “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us”. The first album, produced by none other than Todd Rundgren, was recorded and released in 1971 when the group was called Halfnelson (the original sleeve is represented here) and features the single “Wonder Girl”.The second album (1972) was produced by James Lowe, lead singer of legendary psychedelic band the Electric Prunes, and features the single “Girl From Germany”.

This deluxe slipcased package features the rare bonus track “I Like Girls”, the lyrics, track-by track annotation by the Maels, many original record labels, photos and biogs, and new annotation by acknowledged Sparks expert and authorized biographer Daryl Easlea.