Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
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225645699
2008-07-14T18:36:51Z
J Milburn Bot
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All Music Guide has now been rebranded to Allmusic
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat
| Type = [[Album]]
| Artist = [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]]
| Cover = Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat - Sparks.jpg
| Released = 1984
| Recorded = Oasis Studios, Los Angeles, California <ref name="discogs1">[http://www.discogs.com/release/539283 Sparks - Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
| Genre = [[Rock (music)|Rock]]
| Length = 38:58
| Label = [[Atlantic Records]]<br><small>7 80160-1</small>
| Producer = Ian Little
| Reviews =
* [[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|2}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j6j4eay24xa7 link]
| Last album = '''''[[In Outer Space]]''''' <br /> (1983)
| This album = ''Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat'' <br /> (1984)
| Next album = '''''[[Music That You Can Dance To]]''''' <br /> (1986)
}}
'''''Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat''''' is the thirteenth [[album]] by [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]]. Released in 1984, it wasn't very well received and failed to capitalise on the commercial success of their 1983 album ''[[In Outer Space]]''.
The album developed the light synthpop sound of ''In Outer Space'' but with a slightly darker lyrics revolving around Ron Maels favourite subject matter: relationships. Overall, ''Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat'' has better material than ''In Outer Space'', less personality and only a few outstanding tracks. Perhaps tiring of unrewarded cleverness, the album's most durable effort is "With All My Might," a syrupy ballad distinguished by its plain-spoken emotionalism. <ref name="TrouserPress1"> http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=sparks Ira Robbins at Trouser Press "The equally inconclusive Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat, produced by Ian Little, has better material, less personality and only a few outstanding tracks. Perhaps tiring of unrewarded cleverness, the album's most durable effort is "With All My Might," a syrupy ballad distinguished by its plainspoken emotionalism."</ref>
"With All My Might", "Pretending To Be Drunk" and "Progress" were released as singles. The latter pair were remixed and extended for club play.
==Track listing==
'''Side one'''
# "Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat" - 4:07
# "Love Scenes" - 4:20
# "Pretending To Be Drunk" - 3:38
# "Progress" - 4:43
# "With All My Might" - 4:06
'''Side two'''
#<li value = 6> "Sparks In The Dark (Part One)" - 0:28
#<li value = 7> "Everybody Move" - 2:58
#<li value = 8> "A Song That Sings Itself" - 4:29
#<li value = 9> "Sisters" - 3:53
#<li value = 10> "Kiss Me Quick" - 4:07
#<li value = 11> "Sparks In The Dark (Part Two)" - 2:58
*Written by [[Ron Mael]] and [[Russell Mael]].
==Personnel==
*[[Leslie Bohem]] - Bass, Backing Vocals
*David Kendrick - Drums
*Bob Haag - Guitar, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals
*Ron Mael - Synthesizers: Roland Jp-8, Yamaha Dx-7, Fairlight
*Russell Mael - Vocals
*John Thomas - Keyboards
*Producer - Ian Little
*Mixed by - Brian Reeves, Dave Bianco, Mick Guzauski
*Engineer - Steve Bates
==Chart Positions==
'''Singles'''
{|class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Chart
! Position
|-
| 1979
| "With All My Might"
| [[Hot Dance Club Play|US Hot Dance Club Play]]
|align="center"| 28
|-
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Sparks}}
[[Category:Sparks albums]]
[[Category:1984 albums]]
{{1980s-rock-album-stub}}