053: Sparks - Whomp That Sucker (1981) - The Willys

Flipping to Side B, Sparks open with The Willys, a track that immediately divides opinion. Built around an endlessly repeated chorus, it straddles the line between playful earworm and deliberate annoyance. The song leans on a rock ’n’ roll and doo-wop feel, updated with Sparks’ usual eccentricity and a flurry of strange noises, clattering effects, and even a sudden drop into low-pitched vocals that could almost be Frank Zappa in miniature.

For some in the panel, its sheer persistence makes it irresistible fun; for others, it’s the one “slightly annoying Sparks track” that seems to appear on nearly every album. Either way, it’s undeniably memorable, the kind of oddball cut that sticks in your head long after it ends. Performed live only in 1981 and briefly revived in 2008, it hasn’t become a Sparks staple, but it remains a fascinating curiosity that shows how the band never shied away from testing the patience and humor of their audience.