Can't recall who it was (might have been Paul McCartney) but apparently saw this on TV and immediately called a friend to say "quick, turn on your TV. Marc Bolan and Hitler are performing on Top of the Pops" 🤣
@@REVOisMYname Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us 1913pm 10.10.23 queen!? do you think.....? i think they're busy busy busy gettin' the wrong end of the stick... cos i feel that's what they're paid to do. i never saw sparks as queen orientated...
I still sing this anywhere where I’m in a room with to many people , I’m 61 years old ..I even do air guitar & I don’t care who’s listening or watching 😮
The gunshot break with that boooming drum coming in with the guitars over Ron's keyboard - it's total genius and still almost 50 years later still makes me smile every single time.
I saw Sparks in San Francisco a few years ago, Ron still sits and rolls his eyes and Russell still jumps around like a nut, both look and sound great. Weird art rock forever!
Joyce, I saw the bro's a few years ago, too! Incredible performers! Afterwards, they met fans one-on-one, on the streets of Manhattan. After letting me babble over their creative musical genius, Russell took pics with my phone, then switched with Ron. They were so NICE! But it was trippy seeing Ron with normal facial expressions and a super sweet smile!
We all should regard guitarist Ian Hampton a true hero of the people. The man called out Jimmy Savile's behaviour to floor management at the Top of the Pops studio after he witnessed the scumbag exiting the set quietly with a very young female audience member. Obviously Ian wasn't listened to, and for that the BBC should hang it's head in shame for eteternity and a day. Not a lot of people might not know about you and what you did Ian, but i do. And for what you did the country owes you a massive thank you.
This is partly why I threw away my tv, i refuse to pay a tv licence to an organisation that condones child abuse by inaction, i also believe in my opinion, tht the murder of Jill Dando was one of the consequences of people trying to stop that pervert and his sycophants, she took her concerns to the head of the bbc at the time and it wasn't much later she was killed on her doorstep, RIP Jill
@@zippyoffrainbow8174 It was our generation that helped make it that way, moving from Christianity towards atheism is what created the marxist wokism we have today.
There’s something special about Sparks. Something that can’t be explained properly. They and their music are so weird but in such brilliant way that drives you completely crazy. Love this band. Hugely underrated.
I totally agree with you! !And Russell is one of the most UNDERRATED SINGERS! ! His VOICE is so UNIQUE VERSATILE POWERFUL HAUNTING I've NEVER heard before additionally his INCREDIBLY PLAYFUL ENERGETIC CHARMING INVITING STAGE PRESENCE so FABULOUS MAGICAL! They're BOTH SIMPLY IRREPLACEABLE "RON the BRAIN and LYRICIST and RUSSELL the SPIRIT and the WARMING LOVABLE HEART of the Band together they're a PERFECT SYMBIOSE! !
I bought this on a single from Woolworths, it was so unique, and strange, this weird bloke singing falsetto, and Adolf Hitler on keyboards. It shouldn't have worked, but it did. It was pure theatre. Brilliant.
Elton John bet producer Muff Winwood that it wouldn't be a hit But he said the same thing of Bohemian Rhapsody when John Reid played an early copy to him. Great innovative songs sometimes you have to blink twice to appreciate the genius
I like FrankZappa, Godley&Creme, and NorthSumatran Batak music. Among many greats, start with TomiSimatupang singing ChristmasCactus, Night, and GiveMeWeight, then see DewaBudjana, especially the Mahandini videos.
Absolutely brilliant I remember buying the singles wonderful days, everything was less complicated,, and that music was ours, you put it back in the sleeve wonderful, and at times you would look in Dixon's windows at the latest music machines,standing in awe , ahh it was just real and better times,radio,TV ,,pans people,and just life in general,I liked a very wide spectrum of music,john miles, to theme music just completely everything, and food brilliant ,and the weather seemed normal,you could kick a ball about,kids just played out,and kinda relaxed,even schools had a kind of discipline, respect,and pride,,and the family unit was built on decency,respect and expectations, everyone had there role in the home,mother,father kids, children's TV,+ older kids,+ news family TV then a respectable closedown,the religious epilogue, bed,, it was just right ,it was kinda respectable, and there was plenty of work,industries, and everything and more connected to those industry's day + night, also,milkman,coal man,rent man the pools man etc and the blokes who came to read your meter,,and also,to empty your gas maybe electric meter ,and also your slot meter TV , etc etc,its so sad they say oh progress,nah nah there were better times
No. The TV studio told the volunteer studio lot audience to sit still, they mostly always did in the 70s european TV produced videos back then. The fake audience just does as told, they dont care about the music either way
I'm 28 and only discovered these two fellas like 13ish years ago or so. I can't really convey all that I'd want to about them in a single RUclips comment alone, so I will leave it at this: I'm so glad Sparks has finally gotten the kind of real recent/current mainsream attention they deserve with their new documentary. Legitimate pioneers.
You “only” discovered them 13 years ago and you’re 28? So, you’ve been listening nearly for half of the total available time your ears have had to listen?
The contrast between Ron and Russell is just fantastic, it’s part of what makes Sparks so amazing, and incredibly fun to watch; well that, and their unbelievable music, that was so far ahead of its time, and influenced many bands that would go on to be huge. You have Russell, with the big hair, and glam rock-look, as a the charismatic, energetic frontman; then you have Ron, sat motionless at the keyboard, looking out as if deciding which audience member he wants to murder first, with some of the best bored/creepy facial expressions you’ll ever see. Just watching them “be” on stage, is an incredible experience; then their music takes it to a whole different level of greatness. I remember seeing Ron and Russell on a British music quiz called ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’, and they were both absolutely fantastic- especially Ron, who has such a dry, understated type of humour, that worked perfectly on that show; it used to be a superb program, particularly back in the 90’s and early-to-mid-2000’s, with a couple of great presenters- especially the first one, comedian Mark Lamarr, and it had some excellent team captains and panelists- from the music business, comedy, television etc. If you ever see a video, of Sparks on that show, posted anywhere, you should give it a watch; they used to be all up on RUclips, but I think they were mostly taken down by bloody bastard copyright people- ie the “BBC” haha.
I used to play this song, very loud, as the last song before i closed the café late at night. The message was, of course, that everybody had to leave except for me. The beat got the guests up and going and gave me the necessary energy to swiftly dance through the 2 hours of tidying and cleaning afterwards. Thanks, guys, for still making me dance even 35 years later! :-)
Have become obsessed with Sparks ever since watching their doc on Christmas day. The more I delve into their catalog, the more amazed I am! I'm floored by the consistent creativity. Sparks never fail to amuse and make me occasionally think "what the???" True artists!
I was 7 year old in 1977 and my mum and I lived in the Gallowgate in Glasgow. Tommy Burns the famous Glasgow Celtic Football player lived two doors down from us. What a time that was. Thanks Jim The Hippie.☮️
Hey, man. I know it's been 2 years, but I need you to tell me the name of the program your profile picture came from- I can't remember it but I wanna go watch it
OMG! I was just 14 years old and rocked like an old boy. :-) Absolutely great music and I think a lot like the old days back. :-) (Sorry my english is not so good.) Greetings from Germany Klaus
One day the world will wake up and realise how good sparks are. They said in the early days spell binding sounds!!! I would say sounds never be to forgotten. Everybody else copied them. So many songs . Russ a voice of an angel and two GREAT rock stars making great music. 40 + years . My 15 year old daughter said, dad I can't get that song out off my head. I replied I've had that problem for a long time!!! Thats SPARKS give us another great song guys. John Robert Linihan.
Join the club m8. I love this track. And I often go around Portsmouth where I live. Doing my 🥁 kit sound affect impression 2this track. And others. Like The Lebenon by the Human League. .
@@darrenfoster334 So r the Human League Sweet ♥️ s IE Queens Joanne Catherall ♥️ and Susan Sulley ♥️ and king Philip Oakey 2. I am a mega big Human League fan 4ever. And I am going to see my heroes IE the Human League play live 4 the 18th time in Bournemouth on the 30th of November . And hopefully I will get a chance to meet up and chat up both of the Human League Sweet ♥️ s IE Queens Joanne Catherall ♥️ and Susan Sulley ♥️ and king Philip Oakey 2 atherwards.
Also featured in the 1977 suspense film "Rollercoaster" with George Segal, Richard Widmark and Timothy Bottoms. Sparks were playing this live in the theme park "Magic Mountain" adding to the mayhem. Brilliantly acted by all.
First time I ever saw them was in that movie… then started seeing them on Supersonic.. they belong in the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame… There I said it..
Hiya Queen Jane Sweet ♥️. I love this track. Because it reminds me of a few people. Who's in my very very bad books. And 1 of these is a ex Portsmouth female Police officer IE Caroline Barton. Or otherwise known 2me. As Officer Ferguson. Ather the TV show. Prisoner Cell Block H. I love doing my best drum kit sound affect impression 2 this track. And it sounds like the real thing.
So very many of the songs that stand out from my childhood and adolescence are utterly brilliant, like the Sparks who were unforgettable not only because of incomparable hits like this but that look and those eyes !
This came out 16 years before I was born. I only recently heard it when my uncle played me the track. Absolutely love it. I love new sounds and, despite its age, this still sounds very new and original!
Damn,I said the same thing about 7 years ago.Had to look up the timeline. You are correct,sir.They were before Queen.Imagine them playing today..A Hitler keyboardist.😅😅.But dang.90% of what I used to do is illegal now.Just cant have fun anymore.lol
@@mpatrickthomas As if anybody actually considers Ron's choice of facial hair styling to be offensive nowadays. I'm a gen-z leftist and have always found it to be quite hilarious, perhaps you should re-evaluate the actual social relevance of why some things are considered offensive in the mainstream now. It's not like he's saying racial/ homophobic slurs or something
This is where it all began for me. My love affair! From day one that I heard this on it's release I never looked back. The Mael brothers are incredibly gifted and to this day, after seeing them in concert a number of times, but not enough, I rate these guys as my top 5 favourite bands. Along with Led Zep, Deep Purple to name a few. A career that spans nearly 50 years and they are still knocking out great tunes. Catch their early albums, i.e Kimono My House, Propaganda and you'll be hooked if you love This Town Ain't Big Enough. Thanks for all those years of magical music Russ and Ron
The commercial issue with Sparks, is that they never settled with a thing - and then just kept variating and progressing on it. That's how you make your band a 'viable product'. Instead, they just decided to create a new genre with every track, and successively blow the minds of every creative individual across the board. Throwaway Sparks riffs made entire careers for countless bands.
And this is exactly why the music scene doesn't respect them, remember them nor treat them with the same odious love they do all the pathetic bands following in their slipstream.
@Vanir Traditionalist Bowie in personal opinion was a different scenario - and he honestly stands in my pantheon of top 5 favourite artists? Each album had a theme, and whilst not all of his work was appreciated as and when it was released (heathen and earthling in particular) they were still coheisve albums? Compare that to 'Music that you can dance to' where honestly any track could have been written and produced by a completely different artist.
Queen always did different styles and genres as well, and they were obviously extremely successful. But even so Queen also had a lot of detractors and critics over years. It is usually the theatrically that the critics types hates. Sparks certainly should enjoyed more commercial success.
@Loneamaruq Wow.. Your takeaway is that it's unnatural for a teenager to like this song? We're all humans here; nothing should boil down to mere age or one's taste in music to decide the character of an individual.
@Loneamaruq Sorry but you comepletely lost me at your last comment. Think whatever you want of me; I literally could not give less of a care. I apologize for calling you daft though. Good day!
This song reminds me of a few Portsmouth Police officers and 1 epy IE Caroline Barton or officer Ferguson. As I have nicknamed her ather Prisoner Cell Block H
A stonkingly great song from a great band! 70s had some of the greatest songs ever written and incredible eclectic mix of bands and artists. This song alone is better than the entire current charts!!
Nah that was just a bored studio audience after hours of playback recordings. Disco was recorded in bulk in one day for an entire month usually and the crowd simply lost their drive. They'd be the same after 3 hours of pop when something good like Deep Purple would show up. Then again, there's a reason why Sparks never made it big until the jumped on the House/Dance train in 1994 and "finally" got their big break.
Fantastic Album ! Really Russell's singing is so intense- how can he do it for so many years ??? Great tunes with great themes- a huge influence on myself as a budding musician and everyone as grateful listeners !
Hell,I agree.Im 55 and they are one of the greatest unheard of band.Dang Queen was inspired by them.Cant believe I'm sitting here in Mid Missouri talking about Sparks at 4:45 in the morning.😅😅😅Oh well.Life goes on.Lol.
As a teenager I loved the song, and we all laughed at the Inspector Blakey look a like on the keyboards. Watching it nowadays, it’s just great. The lyrics, the singing, the dancing. Love it.
I will always remind myself of this performance and how it demonstrates that audience reaction is not an indicator of brilliance. These people must have no pulse.
I was 11 years old back then loved this track and still do Great band as far as I know Ron and Russell are still touring the band my favourite musical era
Loved them from the beginning back in the early seventies! A wonderful part of the glam rock scene in the UK - streets ahead of their contemporaries, and still massively influential today. Love the Maels. Always will.
Sparks is American ( L.A.) but I think I know what you mean. 3 great albums, Propaganda, Kimono my house and Indiscreet. And some years later Beat the Clock of course
@@fcamsterdam8941 Sparks are American, but their career took off after they moved to the UK in 1973, not returning home until late 1976. The glam-rock Sparks lineup were all Brits - Bass player Martin Gordon, Adrian Fisher on guitar and Norman "Dinky" Diamond on drums. Kimono My House, Propaganda and Indiscreet were recorded during their time in London.
"This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us" was written in A, and by God it'll be sung in A. I just feel that if you're coming up with most of the music, then you have an idea where it's going to go. And no singer is gonna get in my way." -- Ron Mael
I send YT videos to a friend of mine who is extremely knowledgeable about rock and roll...he said "This is is weirdest thing you've ever sent me." Of course l followed this up with Dick Around, and he was amazed that after all of these decades they were never on his radar.
Since I was 13 years old, I used to listen to new wave and rock music as usual, but then I saw this video, and then I just watch and listen to this song. After I listened the whole song, the song was absolutely incredible! Since I was 14, I was a huge fan of Sparks, I listen to lot of albums from Sparks. My favorite albums from Sparks: Propaganda, Whomp That Sucker, Kimono My House, In Outer Space, Angst In My Pants and No.1 In Heaven. But that song "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" were extremely good.
I always love how so much popular music varied and changed during the 1970s. In my opinion (you don't have to agree), it was the greatest musical decade in history. It was also great for TV, sport and movies as well. Kind of wish I grew up and experienced it.
This kicks the shite out of Queen and their overrated crap. These guys are the real deal. Sellouts get all the fame, while those with talent remain obscure (like Sparks). That's the way it goes in this rock n roll show.
Can't recall who it was (might have been Paul McCartney) but apparently saw this on TV and immediately called a friend to say "quick, turn on your TV. Marc Bolan and Hitler are performing on Top of the Pops" 🤣
It was John Lennon 😂
@@jenniekingwell2867 definitely sounds like something Lennon would say.
ruclips.net/video/VNuUL5H3Li0/видео.html. they are still on tour
Ron is the spitting image of Nikola Tesla.
😂😂😂😂
49 Years later and still no one has ever caught up to the quirky inventiveness of Sparks. Simply brilliant!
Dear NS: This was progressive operatic rock, almost in the style of Queen.
Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us. which one's the Baker.....
Heavy Queen influence
@@REVOisMYname Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us 1913pm 10.10.23 queen!? do you think.....? i think they're busy busy busy gettin' the wrong end of the stick... cos i feel that's what they're paid to do. i never saw sparks as queen orientated...
C'est tellement vrai, j'adore infiniment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I shot out and bought 'Kimono' as soon as I heard Sparks back in 1974 when I was 14!! Still whistling the songs in 2022 at 62!!
Me too. I was like 15
Same here! :-D
I still sing this anywhere where I’m in a room with to many people , I’m 61 years old ..I even do air guitar & I don’t care who’s listening or watching 😮
I was 2.
young band just copied this as a tribute...they are 'the last dinner party'
The gunshot break with that boooming drum coming in with the guitars over Ron's keyboard - it's total genius and still almost 50 years later still makes me smile every single time.
One of the best songs ever!!!!gazz big sparks fan!!!
I love how the guitars right after he sings "And it ain't me who's gonna leave!" are actually a tad too loud in the mix 😁
Pas certain d'avoir exactement compris tout ce que tu dis.... Mais je crois que je suis bien d'accord, et ça me fait bien rire moi aussi !
I am just singing along in 2023, awesome...❤
the engineer working on the sing added the gunshots while everyone was at lunch and heard when they came back and loved it.
I saw Sparks in San Francisco a few years ago, Ron still sits and rolls his eyes and Russell still jumps around like a nut, both look and sound great. Weird art rock forever!
@joyce slaton,saw a video of them on here filmed two years ago and they are brilliant 👌
Ron, absolutely superb. Remember thinking who is that guy when they were on Top of the Pops at the time. 👍
Joyce, I saw the bro's a few years ago, too! Incredible performers! Afterwards, they met fans one-on-one, on the streets of Manhattan. After letting me babble over their creative musical genius, Russell took pics with my phone, then switched with Ron. They were so NICE! But it was trippy seeing Ron with normal facial expressions and a super sweet smile!
And do we need to know?
I envy you a lot for this,....
We all should regard guitarist Ian Hampton a true hero of the people. The man called out Jimmy Savile's behaviour to floor management at the Top of the Pops studio after he witnessed the scumbag exiting the set quietly with a very young female audience member. Obviously Ian wasn't listened to, and for that the BBC should hang it's head in shame for eteternity and a day. Not a lot of people might not know about you and what you did Ian, but i do. And for what you did the country owes you a massive thank you.
John Lydon was one of the first to publicly call saville out
This is partly why I threw away my tv, i refuse to pay a tv licence to an organisation that condones child abuse by inaction, i also believe in my opinion, tht the murder of Jill Dando was one of the consequences of people trying to stop that pervert and his sycophants, she took her concerns to the head of the bbc at the time and it wasn't much later she was killed on her doorstep, RIP Jill
Savile had MI5 protection he was a useful asset, of course anyone calling out his behavior was ignored.
Good for him, I hope that sick piece of shit is getting flayed down in hell.
A good and important comment, I learned something today, thank you!
Happy are those who had the chance to live the wonderful 70's, as children, teenagers or adults!
Definitely, 70s 80s 90s amazing growing up born 68,
What a shite hole the uk is now 2024
@@zippyoffrainbow8174
It was our generation that helped make it that way, moving from Christianity towards atheism is what created the marxist wokism we have today.
I always loved Sparks. Their songs were awesome. Nobody else like them. Pure genius.
There’s something special about Sparks. Something that can’t be explained properly. They and their music are so weird but in such brilliant way that drives you completely crazy. Love this band. Hugely underrated.
Perfect Description Ivan!! Couldn't have said it better!
Genius band. Wernt scared to be diverse. I love them.
Brilliant band ,still recording and touring today
McCARTNEY MOCKS SPARKS??
Find the hidden Ron Mael!
ruclips.net/video/g5nzLQ63c9E/видео.html
There's something special about the audience too miserable old bunch lol
Ron Mael is massively underrated as a songwriter.
👍👍👍Agree
Ron Mael is a genius
Do you listen to the poems he publishes every Sunday on RUclips? ;-)
Yep, and he recites them aloud. He’s also read his lyrics to several Sparks songs… which are poetic in themselves.
I totally agree with you! !And Russell is one of the most UNDERRATED SINGERS! ! His VOICE is so UNIQUE VERSATILE POWERFUL HAUNTING I've NEVER heard before additionally his INCREDIBLY PLAYFUL ENERGETIC CHARMING INVITING STAGE PRESENCE so FABULOUS MAGICAL! They're BOTH SIMPLY IRREPLACEABLE "RON the BRAIN and LYRICIST and RUSSELL the SPIRIT and the WARMING LOVABLE HEART of the Band together they're a PERFECT SYMBIOSE! !
I bought this on a single from Woolworths, it was so unique, and strange, this weird bloke singing falsetto, and Adolf Hitler on keyboards. It shouldn't have worked, but it did. It was pure theatre. Brilliant.
I remember Woolsworth!
Elton John bet producer Muff Winwood that it wouldn't be a hit
But he said the same thing of Bohemian Rhapsody when John Reid played an early copy to him.
Great innovative songs sometimes you have to blink twice to appreciate the genius
Shame it lasted so short though.....after "Propaganda" the fun was over . The brothers became too clever for their own good .
@@frankgross135 this may be a dumb question but are woolsworth and woolsworths different things?
@@nublet_101 LOL, no. It was a department store franchise back in the 70s. They were much smaller back then as well.
Why have I not heard of them before Weird Al covered them today? This kicks ass, especially for the 70s. It's kinda goth, kinda Queen, kinda Abba.
I watched al’s cover today, too. Reminded me I hadn’t seen the docu yet. It’s on Netflix. 👍
Here from the same source ✋🏻
I saw that cover. It was awesome
Same, Seems like this song was the inspiration for everything Danny Elfman made for Tim Burton.
Same here, never heard of this band till Al posted that video. Now I am finding myself wanting to watch the doc
This is genius on so many levels. Still brilliant today as it was in 1974
Il est très difficile de dater la musique des SPARKS.
@@MrJeepsters Exactement!
LMFAO...
Dear Chris Cooks: Great generational talent and projection. These were similar to Queen but didn't take off the same way globally.
First record i ever bought as a 13 year old kid in Dublin been a life long fan to this day .!
And these guys are still putting out solid music.
Absolutely. Saw them a few years ago and they're still great live too!
Just saw them the other day in Copenhagen. Fantastic live band!
@@puyol8700 WOW, I didn't know they still exist!
Sparks taught me that weird and catchy can walk hand in hand. No rules, no telling where the music is going. I love this so much!
You need to listen to Frank Zappa. I hope you have in the past 2 years since your comment.
Try 10cc too, art/pop extraordinaire.
I like FrankZappa, Godley&Creme, and NorthSumatran Batak music. Among many greats, start with TomiSimatupang singing ChristmasCactus, Night, and GiveMeWeight, then see DewaBudjana, especially the Mahandini videos.
Diesen Song werde ich in Hundert Jahren noch immer wieder gerne hören ...
I love the wtf reactions from people. Also, what in the actual frick, this is the first time I’ve heard of the Sparks. Edgar Wright sent me here.
me too
Absolutely brilliant I remember buying the singles wonderful days, everything was less complicated,, and that music was ours, you put it back in the sleeve wonderful, and at times you would look in Dixon's windows at the latest music machines,standing in awe , ahh it was just real and better times,radio,TV ,,pans people,and just life in general,I liked a very wide spectrum of music,john miles, to theme music just completely everything, and food brilliant ,and the weather seemed normal,you could kick a ball about,kids just played out,and kinda relaxed,even schools had a kind of discipline, respect,and pride,,and the family unit was built on decency,respect and expectations, everyone had there role in the home,mother,father kids, children's TV,+ older kids,+ news family TV then a respectable closedown,the religious epilogue, bed,, it was just right ,it was kinda respectable, and there was plenty of work,industries, and everything and more connected to those industry's day + night, also,milkman,coal man,rent man the pools man etc and the blokes who came to read your meter,,and also,to empty your gas maybe electric meter ,and also your slot meter TV , etc etc,its so sad they say oh progress,nah nah there were better times
Wtf you been?
No. The TV studio told the volunteer studio lot audience to sit still, they mostly always did in the 70s european TV produced videos back then. The fake audience just does as told, they dont care about the music either way
Bad movie, great group
My dad, RIP, died 20.03.2020, borned 02.08.1938, was always amazed from the keyboard player. So do I
I remember when this came out. It was so different. It still sounds fresh nearly fifty years later.
I'm 28 and only discovered these two fellas like 13ish years ago or so. I can't really convey all that I'd want to about them in a single RUclips comment alone, so I will leave it at this: I'm so glad Sparks has finally gotten the kind of real recent/current mainsream attention they deserve with their new documentary. Legitimate pioneers.
estou pagando com meu amor
You “only” discovered them 13 years ago and you’re 28? So, you’ve been listening nearly for half of the total available time your ears have had to listen?
The contrast between Ron and Russell is just fantastic, it’s part of what makes Sparks so amazing, and incredibly fun to watch; well that, and their unbelievable music, that was so far ahead of its time, and influenced many bands that would go on to be huge.
You have Russell, with the big hair, and glam rock-look, as a the charismatic, energetic frontman; then you have Ron, sat motionless at the keyboard, looking out as if deciding which audience member he wants to murder first, with some of the best bored/creepy facial expressions you’ll ever see.
Just watching them “be” on stage, is an incredible experience; then their music takes it to a whole different level of greatness.
I remember seeing Ron and Russell on a British music quiz called ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’, and they were both absolutely fantastic- especially Ron, who has such a dry, understated type of humour, that worked perfectly on that show; it used to be a superb program, particularly back in the 90’s and early-to-mid-2000’s, with a couple of great presenters- especially the first one, comedian Mark Lamarr, and it had some excellent team captains and panelists- from the music business, comedy, television etc.
If you ever see a video, of Sparks on that show, posted anywhere, you should give it a watch; they used to be all up on RUclips, but I think they were mostly taken down by bloody bastard copyright people- ie the “BBC” haha.
ruclips.net/video/su1gbmpFj0I/видео.htmlfeature=shared
I used to play this song, very loud, as the last song before i closed the café late at night. The message was, of course, that everybody had to leave except for me. The beat got the guests up and going and gave me the necessary energy to swiftly dance through the 2 hours of tidying and cleaning afterwards. Thanks, guys, for still making me dance even 35 years later! :-)
Fantastic
Have become obsessed with Sparks ever since watching their doc on Christmas day. The more I delve into their catalog, the more amazed I am! I'm floored by the consistent creativity. Sparks never fail to amuse and make me occasionally think "what the???" True artists!
Agree with you all! 👍🏴
I was 7 year old in 1977 and my mum and I lived in the Gallowgate in Glasgow. Tommy Burns the famous Glasgow Celtic Football player lived two doors down from us. What a time that was. Thanks Jim The Hippie.☮️
Ron still manages to make me smile and scare the crap out of me at the same time
Hey, man. I know it's been 2 years, but I need you to tell me the name of the program your profile picture came from- I can't remember it but I wanna go watch it
@@spook9155 'Bo Selecta' I think!
@@spook9155 bo selecta
Ohhhhh ya bastad yahh
@@spook9155
Bo Selecta
Love this , but is it 50 years ago XXXX
Yes it was the summer of 1974 great song .
1:07 closing up on his "omg when this will stop" face is the funniest thing ever
Your SFM vids are phenomenal.
Or as John Lennon put it when he first saw the band. "Fuck me, it's Hitler"
They are ahead of their time,30-40 years later there were memes with a face like that
Key-fuhrer
1:39
These guys were so progressive that people like Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney listen to them for inspiration
I bet ACDC also
OMG! I was just 14 years old and rocked like an old boy. :-) Absolutely great music and I think a lot like the old days back. :-) (Sorry my english is not so good.) Greetings from Germany Klaus
I was 14 too Klaus and yeah - our culture has lost something sadly :(
I was 17 and this was music was real
Your English is quite good enough,Klaus. And yea, this is a pretty good song.
I was also 14 when this came out, pretty much determined my musical taste for years to come. Totally original!! Klaus, your English is fine.
Greetings from Scotland Klaus,yes great music from a great band I loved those days
One day the world will wake up and realise how good sparks are. They said in the early days spell binding sounds!!! I would say sounds never be to forgotten. Everybody else copied them. So many songs . Russ a voice of an angel and two GREAT rock stars making great music. 40 + years . My 15 year old daughter said, dad I can't get that song out off my head. I replied I've had that problem for a long time!!! Thats SPARKS give us another great song guys. John Robert Linihan.
Well, this song was used in Kick Ass, so at least it's made it's way into mainstream media.
Who else uses RUclips to watch old favourites? I do.
This song is embedded into my brain and i was only 5 at the time. Loved it and still do.
Everyone uses RUclips! RUclips forever!
Me!
We're hardly gonna talk politics on here. I don't think anyone is enough of a lefty to get past the filter.
Me 😮😊
RIP Dinkie Diamond. A beast of a drummer. One of sparks best backing bands.
And martin gordon, one heck of a bass player!!!
You know you made a banger when your song is covered by both Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Weird Al. Amazing 👏
And the darkness
@@gerbill13 And Faith No More
@@hrothgar64 oh i forgot they did it.
Check out the live faith no more version of the song it is amazing.
And Vic & Bob.
When I first saw this as a kid in the 70s I used to wonder how the hell Hitler wound up in a band XD
Fuck shitler Israel lives !!! 😎😎😎
Ha ha same here!
When I was a kid the keyboard player (Ron Mael?) frightened me. Then I saw an interview with him and realised it was all an act...thank God, lol.
McCARTNEY MOCKS SPARKS??
Find the hidden Ron Mael!
ruclips.net/video/g5nzLQ63c9E/видео.html
Lol mein keyboardist!!!
I bought his first LP in t 70s. Top artist, top songwriter. Brings back memories of a time long gone
I discovered this song in 2022, heard it before for sure, but now it really caught my attention. It is brilliant!
It's never late for something like this!! 👍🏴
Audience is more deadpan than Ron could ever be.
it's like that on a lot of these- audience from the morgue
Germans…..
Probably traumatised. Never seen or heard anything like this before.
I saw Sparks live in Boston at the Berklee Performance Center in 1976. They were the opening act for Leo Sayer (I kid you not)....and they were GREAT.
Leo Sayer.... Really??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wow, this group is way ahead of their time!!
True, and the song still sounds great today.
They're still making music ahead of its time TODAY.
yes they were well well ahead great band
I sorta disagree because other bands started copying them
@@iceynipyt7790 true words !!!!!!!!
I mean this in the absolute best possible way: it sounds like something Charlie Kelly would write.
Holy shit you're right. Maybe he was influenced by them? It's really similar. In the best way.
Who TF is Charlei Kelly?
@@zapkvr a character played by Charlie Day in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
I feel like Charlie Day most definitely likes Sparks.
I agree,and,, I thought a couple of times,, Charlie has talent
This song is my greatest memory to my teen age. I listend 1000 times and more until today. Very special sound
1974. What a year. This stuff was fresh and exciting. An amazing sound.
It is so wonderful that the spirit of that time is still appreciated (even by by youngsters!) nowadays :-D !!!
.. celui qui n'a pas écouté les Sparks .. n'a rien écouté... incontournables dans toute discothèque qui se respecte.. des immenses.. !!!!
I remember hearing this song as a kid. Amazing voice.
yep as a Kid you hear it from Kick-Ass
There was never anyone like Sparks there still isn't in 2021. RIP Dinky Diamond(great drummer)
Still sounds amazing from when I first heard it 45 years ago.
Sparks one of the best groups of the 70¨s I still listen to them..
Join the club m8. I love this track. And I often go around Portsmouth where I live. Doing my 🥁 kit sound affect impression 2this track. And others. Like The Lebenon by the Human League. .
They're still making good stuff now
@@darrenfoster334 So r the Human League Sweet ♥️ s IE Queens Joanne Catherall ♥️ and Susan Sulley ♥️ and king Philip Oakey 2. I am a mega big Human League fan 4ever. And I am going to see my heroes IE the Human League play live 4 the 18th time in Bournemouth on the 30th of November . And hopefully I will get a chance to meet up and chat up both of the Human League Sweet ♥️ s IE Queens Joanne Catherall ♥️ and Susan Sulley ♥️ and king Philip Oakey 2 atherwards.
Still as thrilling as this 13 first heard it and at 63 its still kicking 😂❤❤
Also featured in the 1977 suspense film "Rollercoaster" with George Segal, Richard Widmark and Timothy Bottoms. Sparks were playing this live in the theme park "Magic Mountain" adding to the mayhem. Brilliantly acted by all.
First time I ever saw them was in that movie… then started seeing them on Supersonic.. they belong in the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame… There I said it..
Great 70's movie that, I think Lalo Schrifrin did the soundtrack.
this song is still way ahead of most people. ..... including me.
I personally believe it had influenced bohemian rhapsody
Hiya Queen Jane Sweet ♥️. I love this track. Because it reminds me of a few people. Who's in my very very bad books. And 1 of these is a ex Portsmouth female Police officer IE Caroline Barton. Or otherwise known 2me. As Officer Ferguson. Ather the TV show. Prisoner Cell Block H. I love doing my best drum kit sound affect impression 2 this track. And it sounds like the real thing.
Just love that keys player, he cracks me up, also he looks like Blakey of 'on the busses', brilliant tune though
McCARTNEY MOCKS SPARKS??
Find the hidden Ron Mael!
ruclips.net/video/g5nzLQ63c9E/видео.html
lol "I got you this time Butler!"
"Aaahhhaha, that's made my day, that has Butler"
This song is at least 100 years before its time! what a tune
So very many of the songs that stand out from my childhood and adolescence are utterly brilliant, like the Sparks who were unforgettable not only because of incomparable hits like this but that look and those eyes !
+Howard Downes .... WWWWWOWWWWW .... very big town you're living in .... Uhhh ... it's Newwww YYYYorkkkk .... but now it's smaller.
Best band i have ever heard. Their music is so inspirational and makes me enjoy life
This came out 16 years before I was born. I only recently heard it when my uncle played me the track. Absolutely love it. I love new sounds and, despite its age, this still sounds very new and original!
Way ahead of its time. I was 10 years old when it was released. Still a great track.
To me it sounds like a really cool combination of KISS style rock,pop,and classical (like ride of the Valkyries)
Glad you found them! I was 18 when this came out. N I still love em.
I've listened to this song off and on for 50 years. It's still friggin' great!
Sparks came in before Queen, so it's possible to think that Freddie Mercury got some influence from these so talented brothers
That's obvious
Damn,I said the same thing about 7 years ago.Had to look up the timeline. You are correct,sir.They were before Queen.Imagine them playing today..A Hitler keyboardist.😅😅.But dang.90% of what I used to do is illegal now.Just cant have fun anymore.lol
@@mpatrickthomas they released an album this year
Whatever.
@@mpatrickthomas As if anybody actually considers Ron's choice of facial hair styling to be offensive nowadays. I'm a gen-z leftist and have always found it to be quite hilarious, perhaps you should re-evaluate the actual social relevance of why some things are considered offensive in the mainstream now. It's not like he's saying racial/ homophobic slurs or something
This is where it all began for me. My love affair! From day one that I heard this on it's release I never looked back.
The Mael brothers are incredibly gifted and to this day, after seeing them in concert a number of times, but not enough, I rate these guys as my top 5 favourite bands. Along with Led Zep, Deep Purple to name a few. A career that spans nearly 50 years and they are still knocking out great tunes. Catch their early albums, i.e Kimono My House, Propaganda and you'll be hooked if you love This Town Ain't Big Enough.
Thanks for all those years of magical music Russ and Ron
Aaaaamen
The commercial issue with Sparks, is that they never settled with a thing - and then just kept variating and progressing on it. That's how you make your band a 'viable product'. Instead, they just decided to create a new genre with every track, and successively blow the minds of every creative individual across the board. Throwaway Sparks riffs made entire careers for countless bands.
Interesting, then they're like Ween somehow...
And this is exactly why the music scene doesn't respect them, remember them nor treat them with the same odious love they do all the pathetic bands following in their slipstream.
Bowie made a career out of reworking his style. (Maybe not every track but he never settled on one thing for long.) Ween and Sparks both genius bands.
@Vanir Traditionalist Bowie in personal opinion was a different scenario - and he honestly stands in my pantheon of top 5 favourite artists? Each album had a theme, and whilst not all of his work was appreciated as and when it was released (heathen and earthling in particular) they were still coheisve albums? Compare that to 'Music that you can dance to' where honestly any track could have been written and produced by a completely different artist.
Queen always did different styles and genres as well, and they were obviously extremely successful. But even so Queen also had a lot of detractors and critics over years. It is usually the theatrically that the critics types hates. Sparks certainly should enjoyed more commercial success.
The Mael brothers were and still are unique. A treasure to all of us.
20 years ahead of their time... Absolute Genius.
I've seen Sparks play live 3 times, and it's always been an absolute blast. What a superb band.
Hard to believe they are brothers !!!!!
As they say...the greatest British band to come out of the United States.
Yeah, I heard that same thing yesterday on radio ! I always thought they were from the UK. Great song . .
Surely that's the killers.
and apparently two of the nicest guys you'll ever meet
Совершенно верно! Их везде считают европейской командой.
Just like Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers-and others
This is the most unique pop hit ever, ever, ever! Unreal!
Jim Morrison and Hitler take the stage and the audience can't even be bothered to look up.
John pertwee the 3rd Dr Who on drums
Nah will Farrell and Hitler
TheMrPangloss 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I think he’d be annoyed being classed as Chaplin😂😂😂😂
the definitive comment!
LOLOL you sir win the internet comment of the year!!
wow, we completely bypassed these guys in 70's East Vancouver; damned this is abstractly classical! Eat your heart out Queen!
yep, I always thought they sounded a bit like Queen before Queen even existed.
theres 2 types of people:
people who like this song and people who you can't trust
superb track...still has energy....and not overly dated.
What's not to like about Sparks? I can't believe there are such ignoramuses in this world.
@Loneamaruq Wow.. Your takeaway is that it's unnatural for a teenager to like this song? We're all humans here; nothing should boil down to mere age or one's taste in music to decide the character of an individual.
@Loneamaruq What? No, you're missing the point entirely. Are you daft?
@Loneamaruq Sorry but you comepletely lost me at your last comment. Think whatever you want of me; I literally could not give less of a care. I apologize for calling you daft though. Good day!
I love the major difference in personality between Russ and Ron lol I think the dynamic is what sold me on the band
even today this brilliant song blows me away!
When we put this album on the turntable as soon as it was released we just didn't know what hit us. Fantastic to this day
This song reminds me of a few Portsmouth Police officers and 1 epy IE Caroline Barton or officer Ferguson. As I have nicknamed her ather Prisoner Cell Block H
Absolutely superb. Breathtaking music. What a show! Nice one Ron
A stonkingly great song from a great band! 70s had some of the greatest songs ever written and incredible eclectic mix of bands and artists. This song alone is better than the entire current charts!!
Soooo true...Saw them first time on Don Kirshners rock concert in 74.I was 9 then.Wayyyy ahead of their time.
This one is fantastic!!! Remember this a bit as a kid but never would have found it back and now i stumble upon it. Grateful, love!!
How did you cuz same
Me too!
Sparks are a group ahead of the times. That makes them timeless. I am a sucker for dramatic rock and sheer genius.....
I love this song. Bands like Queen, Muse and many others wouldn't exist without them.
The people in the audience weren’t prepared for what they just witnessed. Sparks ⚡️ way ahead of their time
The audience were real? I thought they were cardboard cut outs! The must cringe when they see this now and their non-reaction to this classic!...
Nah that was just a bored studio audience after hours of playback recordings. Disco was recorded in bulk in one day for an entire month usually and the crowd simply lost their drive. They'd be the same after 3 hours of pop when something good like Deep Purple would show up.
Then again, there's a reason why Sparks never made it big until the jumped on the House/Dance train in 1994 and "finally" got their big break.
1973, what a great year for great music, never to be repeated
Fantastic Album ! Really Russell's singing is so intense- how can he do it for so many years ??? Great tunes with great themes- a huge influence on myself as a budding musician and everyone as grateful listeners !
Sparks should have been inducted into the hall of fame many many years ago
Hell,I agree.Im 55 and they are one of the greatest unheard of band.Dang Queen was inspired by them.Cant believe I'm sitting here in Mid Missouri talking about Sparks at 4:45 in the morning.😅😅😅Oh well.Life goes on.Lol.
That's exactly what I always thought...
@@mpatrickthomas
In full agreement with you Michael.
Bravo well said. 🤝👏
Kind regards from Ireland Kate. 👱♀️💕💕
Nice song. Was watching "Kick-Ass", this song plays and I suddenly felt the urge to pause and search up that song and buy it.
Back in the day in 1974, I was 20 and looked like the singer... Now I look like keyboard player.....
Душа молодая зато ,это выше прически
Классный коктейль....❤
Their astounding creativity and mastery of language is endlessly captivating. Bold, powerful and thoughtful.
This still as fresh as it was when it first came out. Brilliant!
This is one of the greatest hits ever !!! Fantastic !!!
It is.
As a teenager I loved the song, and we all laughed at the Inspector Blakey look a like on the keyboards. Watching it nowadays, it’s just great. The lyrics, the singing, the dancing. Love it.
I will always remind myself of this performance and how it demonstrates that audience reaction is not an indicator of brilliance. These people must have no pulse.
I was 11 years old back then loved this track and still do Great band as far as I know Ron and Russell are still touring the band my favourite musical era
I loved this band back in the 70's! the brother on the keyboards always had me laughing! thanks for posting this!
McCARTNEY MOCKS SPARKS??
Find the hidden Ron Mael!
ruclips.net/video/g5nzLQ63c9E/видео.html
Loved them from the beginning back in the early seventies! A wonderful part of the glam rock scene in the UK - streets ahead of their contemporaries, and still massively influential today. Love the Maels. Always will.
Sparks is American ( L.A.) but I think I know what you mean. 3 great albums, Propaganda, Kimono my house and Indiscreet. And some years later Beat the Clock of course
@@fcamsterdam8941 Sparks are American, but their career took off after they moved to the UK in 1973, not returning home until late 1976. The glam-rock Sparks lineup were all Brits - Bass player Martin Gordon, Adrian Fisher on guitar and Norman "Dinky" Diamond on drums. Kimono My House, Propaganda and Indiscreet were recorded during their time in London.
Massively underrated. Still a pleasure to listen to them ❤
Just masterpiece!! 👍🏴
"This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us" was written in A, and by God it'll be sung in A. I just feel that if you're coming up with most of the music, then you have an idea where it's going to go. And no singer is gonna get in my way." -- Ron Mael
Big brother getting his way, as usual
My god, this band has magic in this style of music ... Thank you Sparks, I'm in another dimension listening to you.
Always loved the sound mix and genius of this record, and Ron's look is just too good. Every pouty 80's keyboardist owes him props lol.
just... how great music in the seventies were....
+Charlie Hoyas hell yes!
Its bloody off the chain brilliant
F..K YEH!!!!!!
Beautiful voice.really hits the high notes.perfect
I send YT videos to a friend of mine who is extremely knowledgeable about rock and roll...he said "This is is weirdest thing you've ever sent me." Of course l followed this up with Dick Around, and he was amazed that after all of these decades they were never on his radar.
Since I was 13 years old, I used to listen to new wave and rock music as usual, but then I saw this video, and then I just watch and listen to this song. After I listened the whole song, the song was absolutely incredible! Since I was 14, I was a huge fan of Sparks, I listen to lot of albums from Sparks. My favorite albums from Sparks: Propaganda, Whomp That Sucker, Kimono My House, In Outer Space, Angst In My Pants and No.1 In Heaven. But that song "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" were extremely good.
74......dang good year for fab tunes like this.
I always love how so much popular music varied and changed during the 1970s. In my opinion (you don't have to agree), it was the greatest musical decade in history. It was also great for TV, sport and movies as well. Kind of wish I grew up and experienced it.
The Base in this Classic is tremendous 👏👏. I was seventeen when sparks released this classic BRILLIANT
And hitler's music career went from strength to strength after the fall of Berlin. As for the other nazis they failed to make the charts
😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂👏👏👏👏
You just broke the internet with that one my friend😆😆😆😆
Kudos👌👌👌
@Wisty Boy 😂😂😂👏👏👏👏
Take a bow son!!!!👍👍👍👍
From artist to dictator to musician. That's one hell of a job shift.
For me, as innovative and ground breaking as 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
They ripped it.
@@nasskhan4543 useless bohemian got out i 1975 ..... next time do your home work
Queen stole their music from Sparks and Bowie. Queen was fake.
Stephen Whittle I agree this band was too ahead of its time
This kicks the shite out of Queen and their overrated crap. These guys are the real deal. Sellouts get all the fame, while those with talent remain obscure (like Sparks). That's the way it goes in this rock n roll show.