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)
Green Isaac
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making such a fool of thee,
When you'd love to be someone
This is the time, I've set aside.
From selling old rope,
And telling bad jokes,
And Cul De Sac pride.
I've learnt today,
While falling apart,
The most eloquent way,
To speak or to pray,
Is straight from the heart.
Oh but to shine like Joan of Arc,
You must be prepared to burn.
Take two kinds of look,
And one wedding day,
Now isn't it clear,
There's nothing they'll hear,
That you'd want to say.
Forget the style
And choose from twelve notes,
In itself it's a joy,
Whether it soothes or annoys,
A song starts in the throat.
And if you've no new clothes to wear,
Then simply wash and comb your hair.
And little Green Isaac,
You're gonna walk backwards
Through the room,
Does that mean I won't see you?
It means you're gonna walk backwards
Through the room.
And little green Isaac,
I hear you're still wet
Behind the ears,
Isaac's a soft name,
It sounds like a pocketful of rain.
Well up that stairway he rose,
And down that stairway he goes.
Green Isaac
Green Isaac
Green Isaac.
In "Green Isaac," Prefab Sprout speaks to the illusions of life that one can be entranced by, and the way that we wish to be someone when we deem ourselves a fool. The opening lines, "Stella Matter, light is failing, making such a fool of thee, when you'd love to be someone, this is the time, I've set aside," is a way of scolding the listener, adding that there's only so much time in this particular life. Furthermore, the songwriter encourages the listener to forget about the superficial aspects of life, including style and clothes, choosing instead to focus on what makes them unique.
The singer regrets the time he has lost by selling old rope and telling bad jokes, when life should be spent on much richer pursuits. He further admits that he has learned the most eloquent way to speak or pray is straight from the heart. Then, the distinction of Joan of Arc comes into play as she is featured as an example of someone who shone brightly, like a beacon in the darkness. And finally, Green Isaac is used to symbolize the purity and innocence a person ought to possess, with the end result being that little Green Isaac walks backward through the room.
Overall, "Green Isaac" is a lyrically rich track reflecting the band's usual focus on craft and storytelling, with the song itself acting as an allegory for hope, loss and the complexities of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Stella Matter, light is failing,
It's getting dark, Stella. Your time is running out.
Making such a fool of thee,
You're embarrassing yourself, Stella. Don't you want to be someone else?
When you'd love to be someone,
Stella, you want to be a different person. You're not happy with who you are.
This is the time, I've set aside.
I've made time for this, Stella. Let's talk.
From selling old rope,
I used to sell junk material, Stella.
And telling bad jokes,
I wasn't funny, Stella. I didn't have a sense of humor.
And Cul De Sac pride.
But I'm proud of where I come from, Stella. My roots matter.
I've learnt today,
Today, Stella, I've learned something important.
While falling apart,
While I was losing my mind, Stella.
The most eloquent way,
The best way to speak or pray, Stella.
To speak or to pray,
To communicate, Stella.
Is straight from the heart.
Is to be sincere, Stella.
Oh but to shine like Joan of Arc,
To be like Joan of Arc, Stella, you must be willing to make sacrifices.
You must be prepared to burn.
You have to be willing to take risks, Stella.
Take two kinds of look,
View things from different perspectives, Stella.
And one wedding day,
On your wedding day, Stella.
Now isn't it clear,
Doesn't it make sense, Stella.
There's nothing they'll hear,
People won't listen to you, Stella.
That you'd want to say.
That which you want to express, Stella.
Forget the style
Don't focus on style, Stella.
And choose from twelve notes,
Instead, focus on 12 notes, Stella.
In itself it's a joy,
Music in itself brings happiness, Stella.
Whether it soothes or annoys,
Regardless of how it makes you feel, Stella.
A song starts in the throat.
A song comes from within, Stella. It's innate.
And if you've no new clothes to wear,
If you don't have anything new to wear, Stella.
Then simply wash and comb your hair.
Then take care of what you have, Stella. Make the best of it.
And little Green Isaac,
Green Isaac is here, Stella.
You're gonna walk backwards
You'll move backward, Stella.
Through the room,
Across the room, Stella.
Does that mean I won't see you?
Does that mean I won't be able to see you, Stella?
And little green Isaac,
Green Isaac is still here, Stella.
I hear you're still wet
I heard you're still immature, Stella.
Behind the ears,
You're still inexperienced, Stella.
Isaac's a soft name,
Isaac is a gentle name, Stella.
It sounds like a pocketful of rain.
It's like holding a pocket of rain, Stella. It's fleeting.
Well up that stairway he rose,
He climbed the stairs, Stella.
And down that stairway he goes.
And now he's descending the stairs, Stella.
Green Isaac
Green Isaac, Stella.
Green Isaac
Green Isaac, Stella.
Green Isaac.
Green Isaac, Stella.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@isact3830
Favourite lines:
'Isaac's a soft name
It sounds like a pocketful of rain'
Great songwriting
@ArtAdamson
Just love this song. Thoughout my life I have listened to, and enjoyed many other artsits. But no matter what I get into, I always seem to come back to this album again and again. Paddy McAloon is simply out on his own when it comes to totally orginal song writing. There is simply nothing like this then or now. Unique !
@George292Rainbow
This treasure never fades, the whole album is so unique with very clever lyrics. I adore everything Paddy has done but I find so often myself hiding in this odd sense of SWOON.
@ghandr11
My favorite album and my favorite song on it… so unique, refreshing w the best lyrics
@justinvalverde3635
If not one of the most original bands to come out in thee 80s
@natashabaldrian2177
best harmonies ever, just gorgeous
@sethreynolds3885
Yeah this album will take off within the next 12 months. Said it here first. Exponential growth.
@scodee
Increadable song .. From an Increadable album !!
@johntrayers2647
To my friend wolfy who got me into the great band thankyou
@paulroseen4394
Bon mot after bon mont