THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

840-Sparks-This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.

1974-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.54. If Ron Mael, with his menacing demeanour tells you that there isn’t room for both of you, you’d better leave. After watching Ron Mael sitting motionless at the keyboards, throwing out chilling looks, while Sparks were performing on ‘Top of the Pops,’ John Lennon quipped,’It’s Hitler on telly.’

‘Sparks’ were formed in 1966, in Pacific Palisades, California, United States, by the brothers Ron Mael, (keyboards) who was born Ronald David Mael, on August 12th, 1945, in Culver City, California, and his younger sibling Russell Mael, (vocals) who was born Russell Craig Mael, on October 5th, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. The brothers first recordings were made using the name ‘Urban Renewal Project,’ in 1967, only the song ‘Computer Girl,’ has ever been released officially from that session. In 1968 they changed their name to ‘Halfnelson,’ after the wrestling hold, and in 1971 they released their debut studio Album called ‘Halfnelson.’ In 1972 they finally settled on the name ‘Sparks,’ which was a play on the ‘Marx Brothers.’

‘Sparks’ are one of the most critically acclaimed acts of all time. In the early 1970’s their sound was defined as ‘Glam Rock,’ but fearing that they were going musically stale, in 1978 they changed styles radically, when working with the legendary music producer Giorgio Moroder (see also best songs 78 and 11) on the Album ‘No. 1 in Heaven,’ making them forerunners of ‘Synthpop,’ and influencing the next generation of musicians, such as ‘New Order,’ and ‘Depeche Mode.’ The discography of ‘Sparks’ includes 26 studio Albums released between 1971-2023, and 76 singles issued between 1972-2023, there are also two Soundtrack Albums, 12 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In America there commercial success has been very limited, with only their fourth studio Album, ‘Propaganda,’ (1974) making a dent on the Billboard chart, when reaching Number 63. Their greatest success has been achieved in Europe, where in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 singles chart on 12 occasions, with this song peaking the highest at Number 2. Seven of their studio Albums have also made the UK top 40 Album chart, with ‘Kimono My House,’ charting the highest at Number 4.

‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us,’ was written by Ron Mael, with the production being by Muff Winwood. The song was the first of four singles released from ‘Kimono My House,’ which was the third studio Album from ‘Sparks,’ from May 1974. Muff Winwood, who would also produce the next ‘Sparks’ Album ‘Propaganda,’ also in 1974, was born Mervyn Winwood, on June 15th, 1943, in Erdington, Birmingham, England, he was nicknamed ‘Muff,’ after the popular 1950’s children’s television character ‘Muffin the Mule.’ Prior to moving in to music production, Winwood had been the bass player in the very successful 1960’s ‘R&B outfit ‘The Spencer Davis Group,’ of which his brother Steve Winwood was also a member. Muff Winwood’s other notable production work includes the Sutherland Brothers original version of ‘Sailing,’ (1972) and the debut studio Album from Dire Straits, in 1978 (see also best songs 829.)

‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us,’ like many of the songs written by Ron Mael has very ‘quirky,’ but clever lyrics. In the song the main character is very shy, but keeps on trying to work up the nerve to ask out girls, but he always ends up chickening out. In order to make himself feel better he watches old cowboy movies, where he invents imaginary hero scenes to boost his weak self confidence. Ron Mael has spoken about the song,’This town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ is a movie cliché, a challenge from one gunfighter to another. But having a song that was the opposite of a cliché, but used a clichéd line, really interested me. The vocals sound so stylised because I wrote it without any regard for vocals and Russell had to adapt. We were shocked when the record company thought it was a single, but doing Top Of The Pops had a tremendous effect. Suddenly there were screaming girls. We recorded it during the energy crisis, and we were told that because of the vinyl shortage it might never come out.’

‘Zoo time, is she and you time, the mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight. Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat, you hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers. This town ain’t big enough for the both of us, and it ain’t me who’s gonna leave.’