035: Noël (with Sparks) - Is There More to Life Than Dancing (1979) - The Night They Invented Love

We’re on to Side B of Noël’s Is There More to Life Than Dancing?, Sparks’ mysterious 1979 disco side project, with the sprawling third track, “The Night They Invented Love.”

At over 9 minutes, this one aims for symphonic disco—but does it pull it off? The panel debates: while the groove, title, and Michael Brecker’s saxophone are highlights, the track’s repetitive loops, insistent beat, and minimal variation make it feel more like an overextended 12" mix than a fully realized song. Would a tighter arrangement have turned this into a lost disco gem?

We also discuss the single release (backed with “Au Revoir”) and speculate on the track’s intended context: maybe not for living room listening, but as part of an all-night dance floor soundtrack.

Join us as we keep unpacking this fascinating Sparks experiment—and let us know if you’ve ever actually danced to it!