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)
The World Awake
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's just the world awake
It's just a way of saying we're in business
It's just a lightning strike,
It's just a family row
It's just the give and take of forgiveness
Chance being a fine thing brought us together
But we're not magnets well not forever
It's just the way we are
It's just a nervous flickering of old flames
Now everybody wears the look
Of the child who wished to marry you
Who, knocking proudly on your door,
Was greeted by your pretty wife
If this is life make no mistake
It keeps the weary world awake
Chance being a fine thing brought us together
But we're not magnets well not forever
It's just the way I am,
It's just the way we are
It's just a nervous flickering of old flames
So don't you cry they're,
They're only words
They're only the saddest thing you've ever heard
Now everybody wears the look
Of the child who wished to marry you
Who, knocking proudly on your door,
Was greeted by your pretty wife
If this is life make no mistake
It keeps the weary world awake
The lyrics of Prefab Sprout's song, The World Awake, explore the idea of how the world keeps moving despite the chaos and uncertainty within it. The opening lines, "That frightening little sound, it's just the world awake," suggests that the noises and disturbances around us are just a reminder that we're alive and living in a world that never sleeps. The lyrics also touch on the idea of forgiveness and how it is a necessary part of life. Lines like "It's just a family row, it's just the give and take of forgiveness," demonstrate that there will always be disagreements and conflicts, but it is ultimately up to us to come to a resolution and forgive those who have wronged us.
The themes of chance and magnetism are also explored throughout the song, implying that our connections and relationships with others aren't always predestined. Lines like "Chance being a fine thing brought us together, but we're not magnets well not forever," suggest that our connections with others happen randomly, and that we are not always bound to stay together forever. The lyrics also touch on the idea of unrequited love, as the lines "Now everybody wears the look of the child who wished to marry you, who, knocking proudly on your door, was greeted by your pretty wife," hint at the disappointment of a love that couldn't be.
Overall, The World Awake is a reflective and contemplative song that touches on universal themes such as forgiveness, chance, and the chaos of life.
Line by Line Meaning
That frightening little sound
A small noise that can cause fear and anxiety
It's just the world awake
The world is starting a new day or beginning a new endeavor
It's just a way of saying we're in business
This sound signifies the start of something important
It's just a lightning strike
An unexpected event that can be shocking in its suddenness
It's just a family row
Conflict and disagreement within a family
It's just the give and take of forgiveness
Discussing and working through past mistakes and hurt to move forward
Chance being a fine thing brought us together
Luck played a role in us meeting and connecting
But we're not magnets well not forever
Our connection may not be strong and may not last forever
It's just the way I am
This is my natural behavior or personality
It's just the way we are
This is our collective behavior or personality
It's just a nervous flickering of old flames
A rekindling of past emotions and feelings causing nervousness
Now everybody wears the look of the child who wished to marry you
Everyone still holds a dream or hope for something unattainable
Who, knocking proudly on your door, was greeted by your pretty wife
The dream or hope is crushed by reality
If this is life make no mistake it keeps the weary world awake
Life can be difficult and exhausting, but it keeps moving forward
So don't you cry they're, they're only words
Words may be painful but they cannot physically harm you
They're only the saddest thing you've ever heard
Words can be hurtful even if they do not cause physical harm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind