Sparks are the brothers Ron and Russell Mael, a legendary duo from Los Angeles. Over the last 50 years, they’ve released 25 albums. They’ve collaborated with Giorgio Moroder and Franz Ferdinand, and they’ve influenced bands like Joy Division, Faith No More, Björk, and countless others. Director Edgar Wright, whose films include Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver, and Scott Pilgrim vs the World, has made a documentary about the band called The Sparks Brothers. It premiered at Sundance, and comes out in theaters on Friday, June 18th. In this episode, Ron and Russell break down their hit, “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us," which came out in 1974, and changed their careers forever.
To learn more, visit songexploder.net/sparks
Radiotopia's annual fundraiser is going on right now! To support Song Exploder and the mission of independent, creative story-telling through creator-owned shows, please donate at radiotopia.fm/donate.
Death Cab for Cutie - El Dorado
Sylvan Esso - Coffee
U2 - Cedarwood Road
Will Butler - Anna
Ramin Djawadi - Game of Thrones
Brian Tyler - Avengers: Age of Ultron
tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain
My Morning Jacket - Spring (Among the Living)
Toro y Moi - Half Dome
RJD2 - Games You Can Win (feat. Kenna)
How to Dress Well - Pour Cyril
White Hinterland - Ring the Bell
Warpaint - Love Is to Die
Jeremy Zuckerman - The Legend of Korra
The Long Winters - The Commander Thinks Aloud
Blonde Redhead - Penultimo
Ghostface Killah - The Battlefield
The National - Sea of Love
Tycho - Awake
Stars - No One Is Lost
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Stuff You Should Know
On Being with Krista Tippett
TED Radio Hour
Planet Money
The Dinner Party Download