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)
Music Is A Princess
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a boy, in rags
I would gladly spend my life
carrying her flags.
From the first time I heard her
the sound of her voice
and her beauty completely bewitched me,
I was given no choice
ever since, there's been no peace for me.
You see,
music is a princess
I'm just a nobody
who'd gladly give his life
for her majesty.
If in dying I'd move her or make her heart stir
if I thought for one moment I'd be missed...
but extravagant gestures are wasted on her
she's a princess, I'm Oliver Twist.
Music is a princess
I'm just a boy, in rags
I'd gladly spend my life
carrying her bags.
If their weight is much greater than I first supposed
I'd remember my oath of allegiance
true love is a monarch who won't be deposed,
treason hasn't a chance.
Music is a princess
I'm just a boy, in raaa-aags
Music is a princess
I will remain unknown,
falling asleep at night
dreaming of her throne.
But her jewels are brighter than my eyes can bear
and although she is something to die for,
I do not have the slipper she's waiting to wear
so my dreams remain dreams nothing more.
Her jewels are brighter than my eyes can bear
yes, she is something to die for,
but I don't have the slipper she's waiting to wear
I'm a boy dressed in rags at her door.
Music is a princess
I'm just a boy, in raaaaaags
In raa-aaaa-aags
In rags
The song "Music is a Princess" by Prefab Sprout talks about the euphoric feeling that music brings to us. The singer of the song compares music to a princess and himself to a boy in rags who is smitten by her. From the first moment he listened to her, he was enraptured by her voice and beauty. He doesn't care that he's just a nobody and would gladly dedicate his life to her, even dying for her if it meant to move her or make her heart stir. However, he knows that his extravagant gestures are wasted on her, and he will remain unknown, dreaming of her throne.
The song's chorus repeats the idea that music is a princess, and the boy is just a nobody. Despite that, he will gladly spend his life carrying her bags if the weight is much greater than he first supposed. He remembers his oath of allegiance, and true love is a monarch who won't be deposed, showing his commitment to serve music as his queen. The singer is willing to continue to dream of her, although he doesn't have the slipper she's waiting to wear, and she's out of reach for him.
In summary, the song tells us about the emotional impact that music has on people's lives, especially those who are passionate about it. Music connects directly to the emotions of the listener, making them feel alive, happy, sad, or any range of emotions that the melody can evoke. The singer's unrequited love for music resonates with anyone who puts a particular song or artist on a pedestal and feels that their feelings are not reciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
Music is a princess
Music is something special and majestic, while I am just a regular person.
I'm just a boy, in rags
I am a nobody and don't have much to offer, just like a poor boy who is poorly dressed.
I would gladly spend my life
carrying her flags.
I am willing to dedicate my life to music, like a soldier who carries a flag representing his country.
From the first time I heard her
the sound of her voice
and her beauty completely bewitched me,
I was lost then and there
I was given no choice
ever since, there's been no peace for me.
Since I first fell in love with music, I have been completely captivated by its sound and beauty, with no chance to escape the hold it has over me.
If in dying I'd move her or make her heart stir
if I thought for one moment I'd be missed...
but extravagant gestures are wasted on her
she's a princess, I'm Oliver Twist.
Although I would be willing to die for my love of music, I realize that big, showy gestures don't really affect it in the way I'd want, and that my love for music is a bit hopeless like Oliver Twist's love for wealth.
I'd gladly spend my life
carrying her bags.
If their weight is much greater than I first supposed
I'd remember my oath of allegiance
true love is a monarch who won't be deposed,
treason hasn't a chance.
I am willing to devote my life to music, even if it is difficult or heavy to carry, because I am loyal to my love of it and believe it is not something that can be easily deposed.
I will remain unknown,
falling asleep at night
dreaming of her throne.
Despite the fact that I may never receive recognition or fame for my love and dedication to music, I still dream about it and love it deeply.
Her jewels are brighter than my eyes can bear
yes, she is something to die for,
but I don't have the slipper she's waiting to wear
I'm a boy dressed in rags at her door.
Although music is amazing and worthwhile, it is beyond my grasp, just like a boy in rags would never be able to compare to a princess in terms of status or appearance.
Music is a princess
I'm just a boy, in raaaaaags
In raa-aaaa-aags
In rags
In the end, it comes down to the fact that music is something majestic and important, while I am just a nobody in comparison.
Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RoofLight00
Bloody hell, we should look after this lad. He's got songs that have been given to him by the universe itself.
.
80s Music
I'm not religious but if they're playing this in heaven, count me in. I've got my money for the jukebox.
marc somson
" From the first time I heard her
the sound of her voice
and her beauty completely bewitched me... " . That is what Paddy sings in the 1st verse. The thing is I lived exactly the same thing when I discovered this song years ago and I do live exactly the same every time I hear it. Blown away ! Not of this world... Thank you Paddy
Lawrence O'Donnell
One of the most underrated Sprout songs...think I'll do an acoustic cover :-)
Carlos Eduardo Garcia
Música maravilhosa !!!
Carlos Eduardo Garcia
Música maravilhosa !!!
nordinemed
Prebab Sprout. De la poésie enchantée que nous offre ce merveilleux groupe. Avec Curtis Mayfield, je suis comblée. Curtis et Paddy me touchent profondément. Music, text, voice. Ils sont touchés par la grâce et nous transmettent leur message d'amour.
Merci Prefab and Paddy.
antonio ruiz
The incredible thing about music is that when you think that is impossible to hear a song better than the one you like most, suddenly you come across with a jewell like this. What a marvellous song!! oh my god.
Luis Garcia
FUCK !!!! Absolutely Astonishing ! Above this, there is nothing. Thank you, Prefab Sprout .
mgpy
Prefab Sprout (Paddy McAloon) en su versión más depurada.