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)
Earth : The Story So Far
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The story so far
The story so far
At first there was a vacuum
Where creation came to be
Singing, save me, save me
Were we abandoned in the ether
Or did someone set us free?
Earth, Earth
The story so far
Welcome to Earth
The story so far
The story so far
There was a baby in a stable
Some say it was the Lord
Singing, save me, save me
Why if it's no more than a fable
Should it strike so deep a chord?
Love me, love me
Earth, Earth
The story so far
Welcome to Earth
Science broke the news
The only absolute is light
Save me, save me
Wasn't that the message
Of the star on Christmas night?
Love me, love me
Earth, Earth
The story so far
Welcome to Earth
The song Earth: The Story So Far by Prefab Sprout is a lyrical exploration of the creation of the world, the birth of Jesus and the scientific discoveries that have helped us understand the world we live in. The opening lines "Welcome to Earth, the story so far" imply that there is much more to come, but what has happened thus far is a tale of wonder and mystery. The song is an invitation to reflect on that mystery, to wonder at the beauty and complexity of the universe, and to seek deeper truths behind our existence.
The first verse speaks of the vacuum that preceded creation, and the sense that someone or something was responsible for our emergence into being. The repeated refrain "singing, save me, save me" suggests a longing and a vulnerability, a desire to be known and loved. The second verse moves to the story of Jesus, asking why this tale should resonate so deeply with us if it is merely a fable. The third verse invokes the discoveries of science, which have opened up new vistas of understanding but also left us with more questions than ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to Earth
Greetings and introduction to the planet.
The story so far
A summary of what has happened up to this point.
At first there was a vacuum
The beginning was empty or void of matter.
Where creation came to be
The universe formed and became what it is today.
Singing, save me, save me
Asking for help or assistance during the process of creation.
Were we abandoned in the ether
Questioning if we were left alone in the vastness of space.
Or did someone set us free?
Wondering if a higher power helped to bring about the universe.
Love me, love me
Desiring to be loved or accepted.
Earth, Earth
Referring to the planet.
There was a baby in a stable
A reference to the Christian story of Jesus' birth.
Some say it was the Lord
Acknowledging the religious belief that Jesus is the son of God.
Why if it's no more than a fable
Questioning the truth of the story of Jesus' birth.
Should it strike so deep a chord?
Expressing wonder at why the story still resonates with so many people.
Science broke the news
Referring to scientific discoveries.
The only absolute is light
Light is the only constant in the universe.
Wasn't that the message
Asking if the message of science is similar to the message of the star on Christmas night.
Of the star on Christmas night?
Referring to the star that was said to have guided the wise men to Jesus' birthplace.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GazingatStars
Earth: The Story So Far
Welcome to Earth, the story so far,
the story so far
At first there was a vaccum
where creation came to be
singing 'save me'
'save me'
Were we abandoned in the ether
or did someone set us free?
Love me, love me.
Earth, Earth, the story so far
Welcome to Earth, the story so far,
the story so far
There was a baby in a stable,
some say it was the Lord.
Singing 'save me', 'save me'
Why if it's no more than a fable
should it strike so deep a chord?
Love me, love me.
Earth, Earth, the story so far
Welcome to Earth
Science broke the news
the only absolute is light.
Save me, save me.
Wasn't that the message
of the star on Christmas night?
Love me, love me.
Earth, Earth, the story so far
Welcome to Earth
Diego Palavecino
Me emociona tanto esta canción...
Prefab Sprout es una banda terrible!! Una de las que más cantidad de lindas canciones tiene. En esta época vengo a descubrirla recién...en los 80 era solo un bebé.
Thomas Slattery
Is there ANYONE who doesn't listen to any Prefab Sprout song without instantly thinking they are the best band EVER???
Abraham Govaerts
Yes, they are the best pop band ever.
jim hutchison
@the pinDrop if you say so
the pinDrop
@jim hutchison this post deserves some sort of award for being the most pointless expression of mediocre dullness ever expressed by a barely alive human being.
Kjell Siimon
British bands, Prefab Sprout was absolutely great. So was 10cc, ELO, Squeeze, Yes, Budgie, ELP, Sweet, Slade, Pet Shop Boys, Mud, Al Stewart, Gerry Raferty and many many many others. So pleased I grow up in the 70s when vinyl was the media for listening to music.
Steffan Hoffmann
One of
Manuel Samuel
This is a quintessential masterpiece only made possible by divine inspiration that surely came upon Paddy. Prefab Sprout at its best. I endorse Daniel Troch - I also propose this song as an Universal Christmas anthem.
sproutyDP
This is one of Paddys finest songs and equally as good as his earlier stuff. It's only an improved demo too !! amazingly talented man
Graham Bex
this track is so mind blowing that it tells a story in any language and relaxes the spirit after a hard days work, simply great