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)
Goodbye Lucille #1
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you won't make it any better
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you might well make it worse
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny I advise you to forget her
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
You're not the first though it hurts, Johnny Johnny Ooh...
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny why don't you give it a rest
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny the world is a million
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny there can be no contest
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat
And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock
No you won't, no you won't
No you won't, no you won't
Johnny Johnny Ooh
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny she is a person too
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny she has her own will
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny why don't you join the foreign legion
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you're still in love with Hayley Mills
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat
And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock
No you won't, no you won't
No you won't, no you won't
Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny Johnny Ooh
The lyrics to Prefab Sprout's song Goodbye Lucille #1 tell the story of a young man named Johnny who is deeply in love with a girl named Lucille. The song is in the form of a conversation between Johnny and an unnamed advisor, who is urging him to move on from Lucille. The advisor tells Johnny that there is no point in holding onto his love for Lucille, and that he should forget about her. The advisor suggests that Johnny should give it a rest and join the foreign legion, and even makes a reference to Johnny's infatuation with Hayley Mills.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of empathy for Johnny's situation, but also a sense of pragmatism that suggests that he needs to move on from his infatuation with Lucille. The lyrics suggest that Johnny is young and has a lot of life ahead of him, and that he should focus on the world around him rather than on one person who is not interested in him. The song ends on a note of finality, with the repeated refrain of "Johnny Johnny Ooh" emphasizing the idea that Johnny needs to let go and move on with his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny there is time for tears
There's no need to hold back your emotions, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you won't make it any better
She's already gone and nothing you do can bring her back, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you might well make it worse
Trying to win her back could only make the situation worse, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny I advise you to forget her
It's best to move on and let her go, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny, Johnny, listen up.
You're not the first though it hurts, Johnny Johnny Ooh...
Others have gone through this too, Johnny, and it hurts.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny what are you twenty-one ?
You're young, Johnny, with your whole life ahead of you.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny why don't you give it a rest
Take a break, Johnny, and step away from this situation.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny the world is a million
There are so many other people and opportunities out there, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny there can be no contest
There's no point in competing for someone who doesn't want you, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny, Johnny, listen up.
Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat
Experiencing heartbreak is a natural part of life.
And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock
You can't fix the past, Johnny.
No you won't, no you won't
It's impossible.
Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny, Johnny, listen up.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny she is a person too
Remember that she's her own person, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny she has her own will
She has the right to make her own decisions, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny why don't you join the foreign legion
Maybe it's time for a change of scenery, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you're still in love with Hayley Mills
You're not over your previous relationship, Johnny.
Ooh Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny, Johnny, listen up.
Life's not complete till your heart's missed a beat
Experiencing heartbreak is a natural part of life.
And you'll never make it up, or turn back the clock
You can't fix the past, Johnny.
No you won't, no you won't
It's impossible.
Johnny Johnny Ooh
Johnny, Johnny, listen up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind