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)
Cars & Girls
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or they never begin. innocence coming to grief
At the hands of life - stinkin' car thief, that's my concept of sin
Does heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Life's a drive through a dust bowl, what's it do, do to a young soul
We are deeply concerned, someone stops for directions,
Something responds deep in our engines, we have all been burned
Will heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
Little boy got a hot rod, thinks it makes him some kind of new god
Well this is one race he won't win,
'cos life's no cruise with a cool chick
Too many folks feelin' car sick, but it never pulls in.
Brucie's thoughts - pretty streamers
- guess this world needs it's dreamers may they never wake up.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young ''
Look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt much more than cars and girls.
The song "Cars & Girls" by Prefab Sprout is a reflective commentary on the fleeting nature of life and the disillusionment that comes with it. The lyrics speak of the disappointment of unfulfilled dreams, missed opportunities, and the realization that there are more important things than material possessions.
The first verse speaks of a life filled with missed opportunities and disappointments. The singer laments that too many roads bypass his way or don't even begin, implying that his dreams and aspirations have been dashed. The metaphor of a "stinkin' car thief" reflects his disillusionment with the dark side of life and the concept of sin.
The second verse touches on the fragility of youth and innocence. Life is compared to a drive through a dusty desert, which can be tough on one's soul. The reference to "burned engines" and "car sick" further emphasizes the metaphor. The question of whether heaven awaits over the next horizon implies that there is always hope, but it is elusive.
The chorus repeats the refrain that some things hurt much more than cars and girls. This is a metaphor for the realization that life is bigger than material possessions, and that there is more to living than simply acquiring things. The end of the song, with its repetition of the chorus and its call to "quit driving," underscores the conclusion that we need to stop chasing distractions and focus on what is truly important.
Line by Line Meaning
Brucie dreams life's a highway too many roads bypass my way
The singer Brucie envisions life as a journey on a highway, but he feels like too many opportunities have slipped away from him.
Or they never begin. innocence coming to grief
Sometimes one doesn't get to start something new, which results in their innocence being lost as they face the harsh realities of life.
At the hands of life - stinkin' car thief, that's my concept of sin
Brucie believes that the ultimate sin is the act of stealing cars, which can be attributed to the cruelties of life.
Does heaven wait all heavenly over the next horizon '
Brucie is contemplating if there's a better life waiting for him beyond the horizon.
But look at us now, quit driving, some things hurt more much more than cars and girls.
The artist suggests that it's time to step back from the fast life and realize that some things hurt more than just the materialistic pleasures like cars and relationships with girls.
Just look at us now, start counting, what adds up the way it did when we were young '
The singer is asking us to reflect on our lives and see if they are adding up to what we dreamed of when we were younger.
Life's a drive through a dust bowl, what's it do, do to a young soul
The journey of life can be as barren as a drive through a dusty wasteland, with the potential to take a toll on the psyche of young individuals.
We are deeply concerned, someone stops for directions,
The artist is anxious about where his path in life is headed, and hopes that someone could guide him.
Something responds deep in our engines, we have all been burned
Despite his worries, there's something that pushes us forward, even though we may have been hurt in the past.
Little boy got a hot rod, thinks it makes him some kind of new god
The young boy with a fast car believes that he has a newfound power and elevated status as a result.
Well this is one race he won't win,
However, the singer believes that he won't win in the race of life with just material possessions like a fast car.
'cos life's no cruise with a cool chick
Life doesn't always go smoothly, even if one has a partner by their side.
Too many folks feelin' car sick, but it never pulls in.
Despite the issues that arise while on the journey of life, one cannot just quit and pull over.
Brucie's thoughts - pretty streamers,
Brucie's thoughts drift towards pretty and superficial things, which could be a form of escapism.
- guess this world needs it's dreamers may they never wake up.
The singer acknowledges that dreamers are essential in this world, and hopes that they never stop dreaming and seeking better lives.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@braddietzmusic2429
I’m 49 now. I just heard this song for the first time today- November 2nd, 2022. I don’t know how that happened that I went all this time without ever hearing this fantastic song before.
I know if I’d have ever heard it before, it would have caught my ear like it does now. While the music I like now has dramatically expanded, I know this song has so many elements and features of music I’ve always liked.
In addition, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song from this band before. And I lived through all of the 1980s and have memories of every calendar year in that decade, many of them music-centric.
There’s nothing about this song that is particularly alternative or edgy or outside of the musical mainstream at the time that would suggest this song wouldn’t have been all over the radio. And yet I’ve never heard it until today.
Some things cannot be easily squared or understood.
@Anne-em6dq
Sure nobody will read this as most comments are much older. The 80's were my decade. The music, the freedom the absolute joy. Even though I cannot walk anymore due to poor health I remember dancing at the disco to this song, unfettered & joyous. Those were the days and I lived them. Thankyou Prefab, your music made my life wonderful
@billstock3663
some of us still reading the comments and I'm right there with you..the 80's were also my decade the best times of my life by far inspite of a less than ideal childhood. Looking back it's kinda bittersweet but I would still go back to it in a heartbeat.
@fabricechaplin4536
I'm with you on that (from France). Same decade, same feelings... if I could go back there, I'd do it. But as Epicure/Lucrece say, you can't live in the past or the future, we live the instant. Spent part of the afternoon with Steve Mc Queen though, and I was back in time... cheers from Brittany coast !
@robertjohnson1602
I'm with you too. I'm now 62 and undoubtedly 1980-2000 were the fun times. The 80's made you feel invincible and that time would never end. But it does and it's nice to reminisce now and then.
@mortisxx5712
Some of us read, but sometimes, YouTubes algorithms are not working :) This is a wonderful song, and Prefab Sprout has made quite a few classic songs, of which this is one of them. Next time, try "Who is still listening to this in 2023" 🤣🤣
@eltiolatranca
Yo si te he leído. En su día, me compré este LP.
@victoriasage8613
Just read an interview with Rod Stewart who stated that this is his favourite song. That just made my heart soar. Happy Valentine's Day to all the Prefab Sprout lovers of the world! 💘
@thierrykormann8848
Quit driving, Start counting...
@ed1907-cl2bj
Wow, that's a serious endorsement... ❤😊
@ed1907-cl2bj
Mine too... From Italy.