Director Edgar Wright's new film The Sparks Brothers (in theatres now) rewrites the book on music documentaries.  The film about cult band Sparks - a.k.a. brothers Ron and Russell Mael, long more popular in Europe than in the U.S. - doesn't have much in the way of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.  As for what it does have of "rock and roll," it's something altogether more outré, not to mention endlessly inventive. The Sparks Brothers sheds little light on Ron and Russell Mael's personal lives and truth to tell, it doesn't depict much conflict at all.  The movie has no thieving managers, stints in rehab, or interpersonal squabbles.  What it does have is an engrossing album-by-album, year-by-year journey about, narrated by, and starring two uncompromising (and seemingly well-adjusted) musical travelers.  Wright uses talking heads, animation, vintage photos, archival clips, music videos, and live footage of the band's onstage performance art to bring the Maels' story to life as an imaginative, cinematic romp.  If you're a fan of Sparks, The Sparks Brothers will remind you why. And if you've never heard of Sparks, it will leave you anxious to dig into all two dozen of their stylistically varied albums to hear and learn more.  Happily, a soundtrack album is on the way.

In the fall, Waxwork Records will release the official soundtrack to The Sparks Brothers as a 4-LP vinyl set.  With 42 career-spanning songs, the soundtrack is a truncated version of the official 50-song companion playlist curated by Edgar Wright which is currently streaming on Spotify.  The 42 songs take the listener from 1971's Halfnelson (reissued in 1972 as Sparks) all the way through 2020's A Steady, Drip, Drip, Drip with all but three of Sparks' albums represented.  The vinyl release features an eight-page booklet with liner notes from Wright and the brothers Mael plus an 11 x 17" poster.  It's all housed in a deluxe heavyweight four-pocket book-style gatefold jacket coated with matte satin.  Bernie Grundman has remastered the audio.  As no CD iteration has been announced, this is the only opportunity to own the soundtrack in a physical format.  It's pressed on heavyweight 180-gram black-and-white marbled vinyl; a pink variant is already sold out as of this writing.

In addition to songs from Sparks' prodigious studio output, the soundtrack has exclusive items such as the film's newly-composed fanfare, live tracks, and a lyric reading of "Amateur Hour" by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman (Sandman, American Gods).  Gaiman is just one of the many Sparks admirers appearing in the film. He's joined by the eclectic likes of Fred Armisen, Jason Schwartzman, Mike Myers, Beck, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino (who featured Sparks on The Gilmore Girls), Patton Oswalt, Jack Antonoff, Bjork, and the late Gary Stewart who's seen speaking insightfully about Sparks' place in the broader musical culture.  Many of Sparks' collaborators also appear in the film, including producers Todd Rundgren, Tony Visconti, Muff Winwood, and Giorgio Moroder (but unfortunately not Rupert Holmes and Jeffrey Lesser, the team who helmed 1976's Big Beat, Sparks' first U.S. album after three recorded in the U.K. with Winwood); The Go-Go's Jane Wiedlin; and numerous musicians who have supported Ron and Russell Mael over the years.

Sparks' various incarnations are represented in the film and on its soundtrack.  The Maels had their own spin on everything from avant-pop and art-rock to glam, power pop, electronica, synthpop, dance, new wave, post-punk, and even grand (pop) opera.   The only constants have been charismatic frontman Russell and enigmatic keyboardist/primary songwriter Ron (he's the one with the moustache resembling Hitler or Charlie Chaplin, depending on your point of view), both of whom have never been content to rest on their considerable laurels.  While the Maels' music was and is unconventional, that's not to say it's inaccessible.  The film and soundtrack are chockablock with memorable melodies, infectious hooks, and usually offbeat, often comic lyrics that render Sparks as far more than just an esoteric cult band.  In 1994, Sparks asked the musical question "When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'?"  In fact, the Mael brothers have been doing it their way all along.

You can hear for yourself.  The Sparks Brothers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available now for -pre-order from Waxwork Records at the link below.  It's due to ship in the fall.

The Sparks Brothers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Waxwork Records, 2021)

1. Sparks Documentary Film Fanfare
2. This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us (from Plagiarism, 1997)
3. Fa La Fa Lee (from Halfnelson/Sparks, 1971/1972)
4. Slowboat (from Halfnelson/Sparks, 1971/1972)
5. Wonder Girl (from Halfnelson/Sparks, 1971/1972)
6. Girl From Germany (from A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing, 1973)
7. Talent is an Asset (from Kimono My House, 1974)
8. This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us (from Kimono My House, 1974)
9. Amateur Hour (from Kimono My House, 1974)
10. Never Turn Back on Mother Earth (from Propaganda, 1974)
11. Something for the Girl with Everything (from Propaganda, 1974)
12. Get in the Swing (from Indiscreet, 1975)
13. Under the Table with Her (from Indiscreet, 1975)
14. Everybody's Stupid (from Big Beat, 1976)
15. Those Mysteries (from Introducing Sparks, 1977)
16. La Dolce Vita (from 1 in Heaven, 1979)
17. Beat the Clock (from 1 in Heaven, 1979)
18. The Number One Song in Heaven (7" Version) (Single, 1979)
19. When I'm with You (from Terminal Jive, 1980)
20. Tips for Teens (from Whomp That Sucker, 1981)
21. Angst in My Pants (from Angst in My Pants, 1982)
22. I Predict (from Angst in My Pants, 1982)
23. Cool Places (With Jane Wiedlin) (from In Outer Space, 1983)
24. I Wish I Looked a Little Better (from In Outer Space, 1983)
25. Change (from Music You Can Dance To (North America), 1985)
26. Music that You Can Dance to (from Music You Can Dance To, 1985)
27. The Race for President (source TBD, version included on In Entertainment We Trust EP, 1999)
28. When do I Get to Sing 'My Way'? (from Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins, 1994)
29. Balls (from Balls, 2000)
30. The Rhythm Thief (from Lil' Beethoven, 2002)
31. My Baby's Taking Me Home (Live in London 2018)
32. Dick Around (from Hello Young Lovers, 2006)
33. I Can't Believe that You Would Fall for all the Crap in this Song (from Exotic Creatures of the Deep, 2008)
34. Johnny Delusional (Performed by FFS) (from FFS, 2015)
35. Edith Piaf (Said it Better than Me) (from Hippopotamus, 2017)
36. All That (from A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip, 2020)
37. The Number One Song in Heaven (Live 2012) (from Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe, 2013)
38. Computer Girl (first released in Sparks Guide Book, 2006)
39. Hospitality on Parade (Live at Fairfield Halls 1975) (first released on Indiscreet reissue, 2006)
40. What the Hell is it This Time? (Live in London 2018)
41. My Way / When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way' (Live in London 2018)
42. Amateur Hour (Lyric Reading by Neil Gaiman)​

Tracks 1, 31, 40-42 previously unreleased