Radio Stars - Songs For Swinging Lovers Radio Stars formed in the wake of "supergroup" Jet. Not the middling Aussie band, but rather the 70's project formed between members of Sparks and a gaggle of musicians who played with Marc Bolan, The Attack and Roxy Music.
That record is worth tracking down in its own right, but a bit harder to find in proper reissue these days. After Jet split, Martin Gordon hooked up with Andy Ellison (from the Nuggets-era stompers John's Children) and Ian Mcleod to form the backbone of Radio Stars. Sparks' influence is evident here in Gordon's songwriting. There's the same pageantry and huge sound amid cheeky subject matter and splashy glam overtones. Radio stars lean in closer to punk, making this akin to the chopped furor of Big Beat, which Sparks released the year prior. The idiosyncrasies give the record a longevity well beyond their era, making this feel like the oddball discovery it is but still letting it blare on the speakers in fine fashion. The follow-up, Holiday Album, didn't chart as well and Gordon left the group, who disbanded shortly after. Though Ellison would attempt to use the name later in the 80's, but that iteration never had the vitality of the original Radio Stars. For what its worth, though, Songs For Swinging Lovers cements them into the canon of punk and glam essentials. Listen: Support the artist. Buy it HERE