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)
Steal Your Thunder
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whose eyes may be storm cloud grey
Whose every kiss is hot as summer
With the suns every ray
But no-one's ever, ever gonna steal
Ever gonna steal your thunder
Never, ever gonna steal
Ever gonna steal your thunder
Of course, I might get lucky
And roll a six on the dice
There is a chance I'll be lucky
And see lightning strike twice
But no-one's ever, ever gonna steal
Ever gonna steal your thunder
Never, ever gonna steal
Ever gonna steal
...no ...no ...no ...no ...
No-one's ever, ever gonna steal, ever gonna steal your thunder
No-one's ever, ever gonna steal
your thunder
In "Steal Your Thunder," the singer is struggling to move on from a relationship that has ended. The song describes the possibility of finding love with someone else, a person whose eyes may be stormy and whose kisses are hot as summer. The singer acknowledges that there is a chance that they may find love again and be lucky enough to experience the same kind of thunder they had with the person they lost. However, the main message of the song is that no one will ever be able to replace or steal the thunder of the original love.
The lyrics use thunder as a metaphor for the passion and intensity of a relationship. The singer believes that although they may find another love, it will never be able to match the original intensity of their former love. The use of weather imagery in the lyrics gives the song a melancholic feel and emphasizes the complexity of the singer's emotions.
Overall, "Steal Your Thunder" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the themes of love, loss, and moving on. It is a reminder that although we may find love again, there is always a chance that it will never match the intensity of one that we have lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Perhaps one day I'll love another
I might fall in love with someone else someday
Whose eyes may be storm cloud grey
Even if that person has eyes as gray as a storm cloud
Whose every kiss is hot as summer
Even if every kiss from them is as intense as the heat of the summer sun
With the suns every ray
With every bit of passion and intensity possible
But no-one's ever, ever gonna steal
No one can take away
Ever gonna steal your thunder
The excitement and energy that belongs entirely to you
Never, ever gonna steal
It will always be yours
...no ...no ...no ...no ...
Repetition emphasizing the unlikelihood of anyone stealing your thunder
Of course, I might get lucky
Although there's a chance
And roll a six on the dice
Luck might come my way
There is a chance I'll be lucky
I might have good fortune
And see lightning strike twice
A rare occurrence of something amazing happening again
No-one's ever, ever gonna steal
Still, nobody will ever take away
Ever gonna steal your thunder
The immense joy and passion that only belongs to you
Never, ever gonna steal
It will always be yours alone
No-one's ever, ever gonna steal, ever gonna steal your thunder
Repeated statement of the fact that your thunder can never be taken away
No-one's ever, ever gonna steal
Nobody else can have it!
your thunder
The unique energy and excitement that defines you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind