Their biggest commercial and critical success came with 1990's Jordan: The Comeback (one of two albums produced by Thomas Dolby), which was a hit in the UK and nominated for a BRIT award. The band also had a UK Top 10 hit with their 1988 song The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Perhaps their finest album, Steve McQueen (originally released in June 1985) was re-released in August 2007 as a 2-CD deluxe edition, with a bonus disc of eight acoustic reinterpretations of some of the original tracks. Of the release, the record company said: "Digitally remastered by original producer Thomas Dolby, the album is sounding even better than ever. As if that weren't enough it is complemented here with a second disc containing eight sublime acoustic versions, which have been specially re-recorded for this release by Paddy McAloon."
Steve McQueen was released in the US under the title Two Wheels Good following pressure from the late actor's estate.
Prefab Sprout released Let's Change the World With Music - The Blueprint in 2009 on the Kitchenware Records label (website). See also Sprout Trivia below.
Discography:
Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) / Radio Love - Feb 25, 1982 (their first record, released on their own label Candle)
The Devil Has All the Best Tunes / Walk On - Oct 1983 (Kitchenware) (feat. Wendy Smith and Fiona Attwood)
Swoon - Mar 1984
Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (US) - Jun 1985
From Langley Park to Memphis - Mar 1988
Protest Songs - Jun 1989
Jordan: The Comeback - Aug 1990
The Best of Prefab Sprout: A Life of Surprises - Jul 1992 (compilation; exit Conti hereafter)
Andromeda Heights - May 1997
38 Carat Collection (disc 1) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
38 Carat Collection (disc 2) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
The Gunman And Other Stories - Jun 18, 2001 (sans Smith)
Chronology of Bandmembers:
Paddy McAloon (born Patrick Joseph McAloon, Jun 7, 1957, Durham); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Martin McAloon (born Jan 4, 1962, Durham); bass guitar
Michael Salmon; drums / percussion
Wendy Smith (born May 31, 1963, Middlesbrough); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Neil Conti (born Feb 12, 1959, Luton); drums / percussion
Fiona Attwood (Chester-le-Street); backing vocals
Sprout Trivia:
Paddy conceived the name "Prefab Sprout" when he was just 14 back in 1972, he revealed in an interview with French magazine BEST. It was his attempt at creating an unusual name like groups that were popular at the time (eg Tyrannosaurus Rex, Moby Grape, Grand Funk Railroad, etc.).
The band has had as many as 11 drummers (including Paddy McAloon himself on programmed percussion!) in its lineup. Of these, Conti was the most closely identified with the group. (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sproutfacts.html)
Paddy had apparently conceived of an album named Let's Change The World With Music (the working title of the band's forthcoming album, due February 2009) as far back as the early 1990's:
"I actually wrote a Gulf War album called Let's Change The World With Music, and I've got a couple of beauties, but there are right and wrong times to do things, and it came after another album I wrote which is much lighter... it's called Billy Midnight, very romantic. So the Gulf War album was a more serious response to that. I keep junking things all the time." - NME June 20, 1992 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"And I have an album called Let's Change The World With Music; lots of songs about music, playing on that horrible thing where you listen to a song like "We Are The World" and the sentiment is great but it's such a cliché that it sticks in your throat. It plays on that edge between that kind of thing and real sincerity." - NME April 15, 1995 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"Look, since 1990 I've written what I think of as my best music. You can hear some of it on Andromeda Heights. But I have also - in detailed demo form - an album called Let's Change The World With Music. It was written as the follow up to Jordan." - BEST magazine (France) July 1997 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
Billy
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where d'ya find that trumpet Bill, he said
"I found it on some wasteland buried in the snow."
How d'ya learn to play it William, I said
How d'ya learn to play it Bill, he said
"Sat down on a doorstep - I practiced long and slow"
I let my feelings show,
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
I let my feelings show,
I let my feelings show
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
I'm in love with Susan, Billy, I said
I'm in love with Susan, Bill
- Her smile is like a fairground,
I'm basking in the glow
I've got no gift for music William
Got no gift for music Bill, he said:
"Sing a song of sixpence … Steady as you go"
Let your feelings show,
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
Let your feelings show,
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
(Instrumental Break)
Tell me all your secrets, Billy, I said
Tell me all your secrets Bill
Lead me to your doorstep –
There's so much I don't know
I'm in love with Susan, Billy I said
I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground,
I'm basking in the glow.
(Let your feelings show, let your feelings show)
(Instrumental Break)
Let your feelings show,
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
Let your feelings show,
Let your feelings show
Trumpets come,
Trumpets go
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
Tell me all your secrets, Billy, I said
Tell me all your secrets Bill
Lead me to your doorstep –
There's so much I don't know
I'm in love with Susan, Billy I said
I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground,
I'm basking In the glow.
The lyrics of Prefab Sprout's "Billy" tell the story of a conversation between two friends, one of whom has found a trumpet buried in the snow and learned to play it through practice. The other friend confesses his love for a woman named Susan, and despite not having a gift for music, Billy advises him to "sing a song of sixpence, steady as you go." The chorus repeats the phrase "let your feelings show" over and over again, emphasizing the importance of expressing oneself openly and honestly.
The trumpet serves as a metaphor for the beauty and unexpectedness of life's gifts, as well as the power of determination and hard work. The story of the trumpet is juxtaposed with the story of the singer's love for Susan, who is described as having a radiant smile that fills him with joy. Overall, the song encourages listeners to be true to themselves, follow their passions, and embrace the surprises that life has in store.
Line by Line Meaning
Where d'ya find that trumpet Billy, I said
I asked Billy where he found the trumpet.
Where d'ya find that trumpet Bill, he said
Billy answered that he found the trumpet on some wasteland buried in the snow.
"I found it on some wasteland buried in the snow."
Billy explained that he found the trumpet on some wasteland buried in the snow.
How d'ya learn to play it William, I said
I asked Billy how he learned to play the trumpet.
How d'ya learn to play it Bill, he said
Billy answered that he learned to play the trumpet by sitting down on a doorstep and practicing long and slow.
"Sat down on a doorstep - I practiced long and slow"
Billy explained that he learned to play the trumpet by sitting down on a doorstep and practicing long and slow.
I let my feelings show,
The singer is expressing that he is letting his feelings show.
Trumpets come,
The artist is stating that trumpets come and go.
Trumpets go
The artist is stating that trumpets come and go.
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
The artist is expressing that it is amazing what gets left out in the snow.
I'm in love with Susan, Billy, I said
The singer is telling Billy that he is in love with Susan.
I'm in love with Susan, Bill
- Her smile is like a fairground,
I'm basking in the glow
The artist is expressing how he is in love with Susan and how her smile makes him happy.
Got no gift for music William
Got no gift for music Bill, he said:
Billy is telling the singer that he does not have a gift for music.
"Sing a song of sixpence … Steady as you go"
Billy is suggesting to the singer to sing a song of sixpence and to keep practicing and improving at a steady pace.
Tell me all your secrets, Billy, I said
The singer is asking Billy to tell him all his secrets.
Tell me all your secrets Bill
Lead me to your doorstep –
There's so much I don't know
The artist is expressing that he wants to know all of Billy's secrets and is asking Billy to lead him to his doorstep as there is so much he doesn't know.
(Instrumental Break)
There is a break in the song with no lyrics.
Let your feelings show,
The singer is encouraging Billy to let his feelings show.
Trumpets come,
The singer is stating that trumpets come and go.
Trumpets go
The artist is stating that trumpets come and go.
It's amazing what gets
Left out in the snow
The artist is expressing that it is amazing what gets left out in the snow.
I'm in love with Susan, Billy I said
I'm in love with Susan, Bill
Her smile is like a fairground,
I'm basking in the glow.
The artist is reiterating that he is in love with Susan and that her smile makes him happy.
Contributed by Brody K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
OPS 2
My twin brother was called Bill. He died 3 years ago. He was an amazing bass playing. This song reminds me of him very much. I love it. Great band.
brianmillerthomas
It's a beautiful song, isn't it? Like you I lost my twin brother. It's a long road back. I hope you're ok x
Nick R O'Philiac
This is absolutely gorgeous. You can always tell a classic when you're humming a song you've never heard before halfway through the second verse. Pure, catchy & wonderous
George Ross
Absolutely brilliant, the mans a genius
Booklover
Yep
Blugg Drainor
Realizing I don't have all of PFS music and how did I let that happen? I've been a huge fan since the 80's and Paddy is one of the most gifted songwriters of this and the last century! Thank you Paddy for your gifts to us all. :) You music has marked the moments of my life and I'm so grateful. Long Live PFS!
Pablo H
Been a fan of PFS since earliest days. Paddy's music rises above everything else on the airwaves; its just so pure; it always has a way of touching you much deeper than anything else.....this latest work is so unexpected, and so special. I can't stop listening to it...the same experience I have had with every other PFS release. Wish they came more often. Its nourishment for my soul! Billy is my fav track! I grabbed my tenor and sop sax's the first time I heard it and was playing along like I have had the melody programmed in my brain my entire life and it took Paddy to help release it....hard to explain...its that way with everything he does. Wish all music could have that effect, but since it doesn't, I will just have to continue to listen to Paddy.....hope he realizes how much us die hards really connect with and love this stuff....
Pete Aves
Legend. Brings beauty to the world in increasingly ugly times.
pchazzb
I let my feelings show everytime I listen to this song. Maravilloso Paddy McAloon.
Peter Cotter
paddy mcaloon a truly gifted wordsmith ,with melodies that touch your soul ,i am in total awe