The Number One Song in Heaven

"The Number One Song in Heaven" is a disco song by the American rock duo Sparks. Released as a single in 1979, the song was produced and co-written by electro-disco producer Giorgio Moroder. It became a top 20 hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 14. In addition to the standard black vinyl, both the 7" and 12" versions of the single were issued in a variety of coloured vinyl releases (red, blue, and green).

"The Number One Song in Heaven"
Single by Sparks
from the album No. 1 in Heaven
ReleasedMarch 23, 1979
Recorded1979
Genre
Length7:26
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Giorgio Moroder
Sparks singles chronology
"La Dolce Vita"
(1979)		 "The Number One Song in Heaven"
(1979)		 "Tryouts for the Human Race"
(1979)
Music video
"The Number One Song in Heaven" on YouTube

Sparks re-recorded the song in 1997, one version of which featured vocals by Jimmy Somerville and orchestrations by Tony Visconti. This version peaked at number 70 in the UK, but was slightly more successful on the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart where it became a top 30 hit.

Music videos

The video for the 1997 version involves an angel singing with Satan trying to stop a ferris wheel, which pays homage to The Third Man.[1]

Track listing

1979 release
  • 7 inch Virgin VS 244
  1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" – 3:48
  2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (long version) – 6:56
  • 12 inch Virgin VS 244-12
  1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" – 4:02
  2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (long version) – 7:27

1997 release
  • CD single 1
  1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Sparks radio edit) – 3:28
  2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (extended version with Jimmy Somerville) – 5:16
  3. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (part two) – 4:05
  • CD single 2
  1. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Sparks radio edit) – 3:28
  2. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Tin Tin Out mix) – 8:15
  3. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Heavenly dub) – 8:15
  4. "The Number One Song in Heaven" (Tin Tin Out instrumental) – 9:14

Personnel
  • Ron Mael – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Chris Bennett – backing vocals
  • Keith Forsey – drums
  • Jack Moran – backing vocals
  • Giorgio Moroder – synthesizer, vocoder
  • Dan Wyman – synthesizer programming
  • Dennis Young – backing vocals

Charts

1979 original release

Chart Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 85
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 14
Ireland (IRMA)[4] 5

1997 re-recording

Chart Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[5] 54
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 70
US Dance Play (Billboard) 28

In other media

The song was featured in the closing credits of the 2013 film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.[6]

References
  1. Sparks - "No. 1 Song In Heaven" (Plagiarism) official video on YouTube
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 286. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. "Sparks - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  4. "The Irish Charts - Sparks search". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 19 October 1997 - 25 October 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  6. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Soundtrack (2014) - Soundtrack.net
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