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)
I Love Music
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
from Clair de lune, to that mother...'cker Miles.
I love music, I love music, the things she says.
I have to hang on, her every enigmatic phrase.
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I'm playing this game.
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
I love music, I love music, she holds the keys
to unlock heartaches, and silver stardust memories.
When that sweet angel sings
I believe that
I have wings too
I believe that
I have wings too
I beli-ee-eve I have wings
I love music, she knows how
to bring the past into the here and now.
The song that was playing, the night that you fell,
for someone from heaven, who put you through hell,
The song that was playing, will help you recall
the feeling of falling, the thrill of it all...
I hate music.
When that sweet angel sings
I believe that
I have wings too
I believe that
I have wings too
I beli-ee-eve I have wings.
I love music, and when I die
I'll tell Saint Peter, if he's the one asks me why:
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I played in the game
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I played in the game...
The song that was playing, the night that you fell,
for someone from heaven, who put you through hell,
The song that was playing, will help you recall
the feeling of falling, the thrill of it all...
I love music, I love music, she's my heroine.
Who's my hero? The unnerving, unswerving Irving Berlin!
Richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I'm playing this game
Richer than money, and bigger than fame,
love is the reason I'm playing this game...
I love music, Nile and 'Nard,
Pierre Boulez, guru of the avant-garde.
In "I Love Music," Prefab Sprout frontman Paddy McAloon expresses his deep admiration and appreciation for music, spanning from classical compositions like Debussy's "Clair de Lune" to jazz legend Miles Davis. McAloon describes music as being more important than material wealth and fame, as it holds the power to evoke emotions and memories, to transport the listener to another time and place. He compares music to a heroine, a nod to both its addictive quality and its ability to inspire and uplift.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of music being a universal language with the power to connect people, as evidenced by the line "when that sweet angel sings, I believe that I have wings too." McAloon goes on to describe the nostalgia-inducing power of music, noting how a particular song can help one to recall the intense feelings of falling in love.
However, the song ends on a twist as McAloon abruptly shifts from singing "I love music" to "I hate music." This dramatic change in tone and sentiment is left open to interpretation, but it could represent the intense and sometimes complicated emotional relationship people have with music.
Line by Line Meaning
I love music, in every style
The songwriter has an undeniable love for the art of music, regardless of the genre.
from Clair de lune, to that mother...'cker Miles.
The range of music appreciated by the songwriter is vast, covering a beautiful classical piece by Debussy, to the music of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, even in spite of his sometimes difficult personality.
I love music, I love music, the things she says.
Music speaks to the songwriter, who finds that the messages conveyed can be powerful, mysterious, and often open to interpretation.
I have to hang on, her every enigmatic phrase.
The songwriter is so enraptured by the power of music that they very much pay attention to even the most cryptic messages.
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I'm playing this game.
For the songwriter, music is a form of expression that transcends material wealth and offers a deeper, more fulfilling experience.
I love music, I love music, she holds the keys
to unlock heartaches, and silver stardust memories.
Music has the power to evoke emotions in the songwriter, including memories and heartache.
When that sweet angel sings
I believe that
I have wings too
I believe that
I have wings too
I beli-ee-eve I have wings...
Music can make the songwriter feel transcendent, giving the feeling of soaring on angelic wings.
I love music, she knows how
to bring the past into the here and now.
Music can have a powerful effect of bringing back memories and moments from the past, allowing the songwriter to experience them anew in the present.
The song that was playing, the night that you fell,
for someone from heaven, who put you through hell,
The song that was playing, will help you recall
the feeling of falling, the thrill of it all...
Certain songs can be so powerful that they are associated forever with a particular moment or person in one's life, and can cause an intense emotional and physical sensation even years later.
I hate music.
This line is both a joke and a recognition that not all music speaks to everyone the same way.
I love music, and when I die
I'll tell Saint Peter, if he's the one asks me why:
The love of music is so great that the songwriter plans on telling heaven's gate keeper how important it was to them during their life.
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I played in the game
She's richer than money, and bigger than fame,
and love is the reason I played in the game...
This line is repeated to emphasize that music was always a more important motivator than money or fame for the songwriter.
I love music, Nile and 'Nard,
Pierre Boulez, guru of the avant-garde.
The songwriter loves not only the popular music of the moment, but also musicians and composers that often exist outside the mainstream.
Contributed by Eliana K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ted Wrinch
The spiritual healing power of music manifested through Paddy’s art!😌
Nick Burns
i remember seeing them on The Tube in 1984, my life has never been the same since, just the most amazing talent ever, thats Paddy.
Do you mind
Love this track
federsmiths
Prefab Sprout rules! Very robust song
music cool
superbe morceau, mélodie envoutante
dommage quand meme qu'il ne soit pas composé avec son vrai groupe : basse, batterie, guitares (au lieu de nous imposer que des synthés)
blackgargamel
Si le disque était sorti à lé'poque, au début des 90s il aurait été mieux produit je pense.
João Almeida
Absolutely perfect!!!!
Massimo Rossi
Prefab Sprout the best I love this music
edgardo gregorini
We all love P Sprout!!
nmm2122
Never heard this, but this is cool!