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)
Ghost Town Blues
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These days she's listless
Though that spring sky is blue.
Her parents try but it's not much use.
Her boyfriend left home,
It was late Summertime,
Life was good, they were young,
How could a future like that go wrong?
I know the Mayor
Of this hysterical town,
He worked himself up
From the dirt on the ground.
Now everyone asks him questions and so on.
People consider they've a right to be told,
He just can't imagine
What it is he should know,
People naturally wonder
What it's all leading to
Oh Anne Garland,
You can't call this heartbeat a man.
Too sad you bet
We're all caught in history's web.
But don't cry too soon,
You might as well fall
In love with the Moon.
Oh Anne Garland,
We win or we lose at his hand.
Cars collide and they kill the groom,
Death's neatly spruced for his honeymoon.
Find an answer while I leave the room.
Man made the neon
And he learned how to fly,
But God made the stars
While he fashioned the sky,
Perhaps I should learn
To shut my mouth.
The lyrics of Prefab Sprout's "Ghost Town Blues" reveal a story about Anne Garland, a young woman who sits alone, feeling listless despite the beautiful blue sky of spring. Her parents try to help her but ultimately it is of little use. Anne's boyfriend left her in the late summertime, a time when life was good and the future looked bright. The song wonders how things could have turned so wrong from what was supposed to be such a promising beginning.
In contrast to Anne, the lyrics also introduce the mayor of the town, someone who has worked himself up from the dirt on the ground to become an important figure that everyone asks questions of. Yet he is unable to answer them and is just as puzzled by what is happening in the town as everyone else is. The song touches on how people are curious, wondering where things are leading and what the future holds, yet no one really has the answers.
The song concludes by suggesting that, despite humanity's achievements, there is still a vast mystery to life that remains unsolved. Man may have made neon and learned how to fly, but God made the stars and the sky. The song encourages the listener to find their own answers while it exits the room.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting alone when her work is through,
After finishing her work, she spends time alone.
These days she's listless
Nowadays, she feels uninterested and disengaged.
Though that spring sky is blue.
Even though the sky is blue in spring.
Her parents try but it's not much use.
Her parents attempt to help, but it's not very effective.
Her boyfriend left home,
Her boyfriend left their home.
It was late Summertime,
This happened in late summer.
Life was good, they were young,
Everything was great; they were young.
But glory is purblind,
Success is blinded by its own light.
How could a future like that go wrong?
How could everything they wanted to achieve end up so badly?
I know the Mayor
I am familiar with the Mayor of this town.
Of this hysterical town,
The town is prone to extreme and uncontrolled emotions.
He worked himself up
He earned his position through hard work.
From the dirt on the ground.
He started from nothing and built himself up.
Now everyone asks him questions and so on.
Now, everyone expects him to answer their inquiries and more.
People consider they've a right to be told,
People believe that they have the right to be informed.
He just can't imagine
The Mayor is unable to comprehend.
What it is he should know,
What exactly he should be aware of.
People naturally wonder
People naturally question.
What it's all leading to
What will happen in the end?
Oh Anne Garland,
Addressing Anne Garland.
You can't call this heartbeat a man.
This individual can't be qualified as a man.
Too sad you bet
It's unfortunately true.
We're all caught in history's web.
All of us are trapped in the web of history.
But don't cry too soon,
But don't lament prematurely.
You might as well fall
You may as well love.
In love with the Moon.
Love the Moon.
We win or we lose at his hand.
Our fate is decided by him.
Cars collide and they kill the groom,
Two vehicles crash, resulting in the death of the groom.
Death's neatly spruced for his honeymoon.
Death appears all neat and tidy to him.
Find an answer while I leave the room.
Discover an answer while I depart.
Man made the neon
Humans created neon signs.
And he learned how to fly,
They developed the ability to fly.
But God made the stars
But God created the stars.
While he fashioned the sky,
Man designed the sky.
Perhaps I should learn
Maybe I should understand.
To shut my mouth.
To keep quiet.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pietrolazzari4690
There is a magical atmosphere to this song. An original sound that relaxes and makes you feel good. Great Prefab Sprout!!
@ogorman86
It's such a crime that not many people realise how important Prefab Sprout are.
@ErwinWoodedge
Again that amazing bass-playing on this album!
@millymeridan4521
A classic Album you could listen to all day
@kallek919
This is the first song I heard from "Swoon" when the album was released in 1984 ... and it's still the best 😊.
@richtrophicherbs
Couldn't bear to be special!
@hb-robo
@@richtrophicherbs lowest rated song on the album on RYM...
@richtrophicherbs
@@hb-robo So what?
@graemepitt6378
superb track. takes me back to my teen years.
@richtrophicherbs
Takes me back to my thirties!