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)
Carnival 2000
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To those who couldn't make it
A century has shut its eyes
And who are we to wake it ?
Cool music we play, dance and say
Carnival 2000 :
Lives come and go but life no denial
Is always in style. Welcome to :
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
We ask for any wrong we've done
The years ahead forgive us
We ask for any good we've done
That all of it outlive us
Cool music we play, dance and say
Carnival 2000 :
Lives come and go but life no denial
Is always in style. Welcome to :
Carnival 2000 :
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
Welcome to :
Carnival 2000 :
Lives come and go but life no denial
Is always in style. Welcome to :
Carnival 2000 :
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
The lyrics "Tonight let's raise a glass my friend, to those who couldn't make it" suggest that the song is a tribute to those who have passed away. The line "A century has shut its eyes and who are we to wake it?" implies that there is a sense of reverence for the past and a recognition of the transience of life.
However, the song then changes direction with the refrain "Cool music we play, dance and say Carnival 2000". "Carnival 2000" is a celebration of life, where death is not the end, but rather a time for remembering and honoring loved ones. The repetition of the lines "Lives come and go but life no denial is always in style" suggests that despite the impermanence of life, it is something to be celebrated and cherished.
The last two stanzas express a desire for forgiveness for their wrongs and a hope that the good they have done will outlive them. The song concludes with the repeated chorus, emphasizing the importance of love and celebrating life.
Overall, "Carnival 2000" is a beautiful tribute to the fragility and beauty of life. It recognizes the inevitability of death, but chooses to celebrate the joy and beauty of life through music and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight let's raise a glass my friend
Join me in a celebratory toast to those who couldn't join us.
To those who couldn't make it
Honoring those who have passed on and couldn't be here with us.
A century has shut its eyes
The passing of time is inevitable, as a century has come to a close.
And who are we to wake it ?
We don't have the power or influence to change the passage of time.
Cool music we play, dance and say
We celebrate with upbeat, festive music and joyous dancing.
Carnival 2000 :
The name of the celebration we are a part of.
Lives come and go but life no denial
People may come and go, but the essence of life cannot be denied.
Is always in style. Welcome to :
Life is always relevant and important. Welcome to the Carnival celebration.
Loves come and go but love above all
While love may also be fleeting at times, it is still the highlight of the celebration.
Is belle of the ball
It is the most important and celebrated aspect of Carnival 2000.
We ask for any wrong we've done
We humbly ask for forgiveness for any mistakes we may have made.
The years ahead forgive us
We hope to be forgiven in the future for our past mistakes.
We ask for any good we've done
We also acknowledge the good we have done in our lives.
That all of it outlive us
We hope our positive impact on the world will continue even after we are gone.
Loves come and go but love above all
Love remains the most important aspect of the Carnival celebration.
Is belle of the ball
It is the highlight and centerpiece of Carnival 2000.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@californyaeh
Carnival 2000
Tonight let's raise a glass my friend
To those who couldn't make it
A century has shut it's eyes
And who are we to wake it?
Cool music we play, dance and say...
Carnival 2000
Lives come and go but life, no denial
Is always in style
Welcome to Carnival 2000
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
We ask for any wrong we've done
The years ahead forgive us
We ask for any good we've done
That all of it outlive us
Cool music we play, dance and say...
Carnival 2000
Lives come and go but life, no denial
Is always in style
Welcome to Carnival 2000
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
Welcome to Carnival 2000
Lives come and go but life, no denial
Is always in style
Welcome to Carnival 2000
Loves come and go but love above all
Is belle of the ball
@lelabotoxique
Jordan : The Comeback is a peerless masterpiece. Period. Everyone I know who listened to it absolutely adores it. Criminally underrated band + album. I guess, like XTC's music, it's too witty, too subtle, too sophisticated, too cerebral, too "left field" for most people these days who are looking for easy, fast food entertainment.
@bernardbaker6803
Crxp. It was considered overblown mush when it came out. Not 'left field' at all, in anyway. In fact the exact opposite - totally bland and safe.........
@stoneymcmechan3210
@@bernardbaker6803 Somehow I think both of you are right...
@lema7030
@lelabotoxique 100% agree, particularly like the XTC comparison.
@placebo_yue
I don't hear the resemblance on XTC. Prefab Sprout is way more elegant, jazzy and delicate on like 80% of their songs
@johns8377
Ive seen you on other videos - Prefab Sprout are not like XTC, its just two bands you like.
@OtaconNachos
Jordan: The Comeback is a straight up masterpiece. It's just so damn good.
@dustinwilson1661
this band is a gift...production on every album is top notch as well
@philipatkins405
Mc aloon very underrated song writers on his generation a great era of music 🎵🎵🎵 that today is sadly missing
@karlbasel
Thomas Dolby producing, timeless superb sound architecture with great song