078: Sparks - In Outer Space (1983) - Rockin' Girls

Side B of In Outer Space kicks off with Sparks having obvious fun. “Rockin’ Girls” is a knowingly old-fashioned move: pure 50s rock’n’roll shapes rebuilt with early-80s synths, drum machines, and a wink firmly in place. It’s light, playful, and deliberately unserious — and that’s exactly why it works.

We talk about how easily this kind of retro exercise could have gone wrong. On paper it risks sounding like a straight rip-off, but the charm wins out almost immediately. The song keeps undercutting itself with little surprises: a deliberately awkward synth intro, lyrics that comment on their own clichés, meta asides about instrumentals and fade-outs, and even a brief drum solo just because it feels like the right thing to do.

It’s also longer than expected — close to five minutes — but it rarely feels it. The simplicity is part of the appeal: cheap-sounding keyboard presets, basic structures, and a sense that the band is enjoying the joke without trying to elevate it into something more serious. Comparisons drift toward other 80s artists playing dress-up with rock history, but Sparks’ version feels warmer and more affectionate than ironic.

Never a single, barely played live, and largely absent from later setlists, “Rockin’ Girls” remains a deep cut — but a solid one. As a side-opener, it loosens the album’s grip, resets the mood, and makes it clear that In Outer Space isn’t done surprising you just yet.