"Propaganda" is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on November 11, 1974. It followed their commercial breakthrough Kimono My House, which had been released earlier in the same year. While Propaganda didn't match the commercial success of Kimono My House, it still performed moderately well, peaking at No. 9 in the UK in 1975 and reaching No. 63 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, marking their highest-ever U.S. chart position.
The album's cover features a provocative image of the Mael brothers (Ron and Russell), tied up and gagged, with the title "Welcome on Board," which was photographed by Monty Coles. This image contributed to the album's striking visual identity, further emphasizing the band’s eclectic and often surreal approach to both music and art.
In terms of singles, Propaganda produced two UK Top 20 hits: "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth," which reached No. 13, and "Something for the Girl with Everything," which peaked at No. 17. However, these were not as commercially successful as the singles from Kimono My House. In France, "At Home, at Work, at Play" and "Propaganda" were released as singles instead of "Something for the Girl with Everything." In the U.S., "Achoo" was the album's sole single, though it did not make a significant impact on the charts.
Several songs from Propaganda, including "Bon Voyage" and "Thanks But No Thanks," were later featured in the 2021 musical drama film Annette, which was co-written by Ron and Russell Mael in collaboration with director Leos Carax.
Despite not being as commercially dominant as its predecessor, Propaganda continued to showcase Sparks’ distinctive blend of glam rock, art pop, and experimental sounds, with complex arrangements and sharp, witty lyrics that helped solidify the band’s cult following.
Propaganda is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on November 11, 1974. It followed their commercial breakthrough Kimono My House, which had been released earlier in the same year. While Propaganda didn't match the commercial success of Kimono My House, it still performed moderately well, peaking at No. 9 in the UK in 1975 and reaching No. 63 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, marking their highest-ever U.S. chart position.
The album's cover features a provocative image of the Mael brothers (Ron and Russell), tied up and gagged, with the title "Welcome on Board," which was photographed by Monty Coles. This image contributed to the album's striking visual identity, further emphasizing the band’s eclectic and often surreal approach to both music and art.
In terms of singles, Propaganda produced two UK Top 20 hits: "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth," which reached No. 13, and "Something for the Girl with Everything," which peaked at No. 17. However, these were not as commercially successful as the singles from Kimono My House. In France, "At Home, at Work, at Play" and "Propaganda" were released as singles instead of "Something for the Girl with Everything." In the U.S., "Achoo" was the album's sole single, though it did not make a significant impact on the charts.
Several songs from Propaganda, including "Bon Voyage" and "Thanks But No Thanks," were later featured in the 2021 musical drama film Annette, which was co-written by Ron and Russell Mael in collaboration with director Leos Carax.
Despite not being as commercially dominant as its predecessor, Propaganda continued to showcase Sparks’ distinctive blend of glam rock, art pop, and experimental sounds, with complex arrangements and sharp, witty lyrics that helped solidify the band’s cult following.
