The Sparks album too weird for an American release

Sparks : When I'm With You

[Purchase]

On January 28, 1980 Sparks released Terminal Jive, their danceable follow-up to the classic 1979 album No 1 In Heaven. Produced in name by a very busy Italo-German Giorgio Moroder, most of the work was actually done by synthesizer master Harold Faltermeyer, who would later score his own big hit with "Axel F" from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. Terminal Jive is the only Sparks album not to be released in the United States. 

Perhaps their label Virgin didn't know how to market it in America where Russell Mael told  Smash Hits they've run into trouble commercially:

In the States we've always had a tough time as have a lot of newer band because we just don't fit into the nicely labelled categories American radio stations work upon. We don't fit into the brackets--in the past were we rock or pop? Now are we disco or just plain weird? If you don't fit it's easiest for them to ignore you."

Terminal Jive did find critical success in the U.K. with Red Starr of Smash Hits opining:

'This is a fine album by anybody's standards. Simple but effective synthesized arrangements give full backing to Sparks superbly catchy tunes...with excellent quality throughout. Far and away the best thing Sparks have ever done and highly recommended.'

And from Harry Doherty of New Musical Express:

'Terminal Jive...has Moroder playing on Sparks' court, applying his skill to the production of a rock album. It’s an even more compelling venture than last years. Terminal Jive is given further depth via the quality of the Maels' songwriting...the three tracks that open side two are percussive arguments in favour of this being their best-ever album'

Despite the critical success, Terminal Jive and its contagious lead off single "When I'm With You" only found commercial success in Australia and in France, where Sparks released a second single.

That single is "Young Girls", which is an unfortunate subject matter for two brothers in their mid-30's: "And they will hold you, though it might not be tight /And they will kiss you, though it might not be right /'Cause they are young girls". 

Sparks would soon tire of hauling all the electronic equipment necessary to perform their electronic disco songs and return to rocking out in 1981.