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" 🤣
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.
@@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 😮
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!
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! !
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.
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
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
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
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.
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 RU-vid 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?
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! :-)
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
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 RU-vid, but I think they were mostly taken down by bloody bastard copyright people- ie the “BBC” haha.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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..
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.
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 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
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.
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
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!!
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!
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 !
Interesting, Entertaining,and very Unique ! Thumbs Up and a Tripple AAA+ for an Outstanding one of a kind Excellent Performance !!!!! God Bless ! Peace Always ! Chaz
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 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
