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 Yearning Loins
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All his dreams unspoken
Now in her arms, he'll quickly heal
The yearning loins have woken.
Take out and wave
Your ankle socks
The white flags of surrender.
She tried so hard not to let it show
But he's the first one, first one to know
He makes a vow to stay fancy free
But that's the last thing, last thing he'll be
She knows his name but she asks him who,
That's the worst thing, worst thing to do
Sha-da-da-da-da-day
You college boy, you've read it all
All your questions loaded
Describe for me, the point at which
The yearning loins exploded.
Take out and wave
Your ankle socks
The white flags of surrender.
She tried so hard not to let it show
But he's the first one, first one to know
He makes a vow to stay fancy free
But that's the last thing, last thing he'll be
She knows his name but she asks him who,
That's the worst thing, worst thing to do
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh
Who lets you go out untidy?
Who lets you sit very near?
Who lets you fancy her mother?
Who puts her tongue in your ear?
What makes that girl, the lovely swirl
Here where the poor are hurtin'
Not her shoes, not their shine
The yearning loins are stolen
And what they say, hope you're not shy
Will get you swift and swooning
She tried so hard not to let it show
But he's the first one, first one to know
He makes a vow to stay fancy free
But that's the last thing, last thing he'll be
She knows his name but she asks him who,
That's the worst thing, worst thing to do
She tried so hard not to let it show
But he's the first one, first one to know
He makes a vow to stay fancy free
But that's the last thing, last thing he'll be
She knows his name but she asks him who,
That's the worst thing, worst thing to do
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh
The lyrics to Prefab Sprout's "The Yearning Loins" tell the story of a young man who has unspoken dreams and desires. When he meets a girl who he is attracted to, he quickly falls into her arms and his "yearning loins" are awakened. Despite his vow to remain "fancy free," he can't help but be drawn to her. The chorus encourages the listener to take out their "ankle socks" and wave the "white flags of surrender," implying that it's okay to give in to temptation and desire.
The second verse brings in another character, a college boy who has read and questioned everything, but still can't explain the moment his yearning loins took over. The third verse asks a series of questions, hinting at the idea that the girl the young man is attracted to is not necessarily the most conventionally beautiful, but there is something about her that is irresistible.
The overall theme of the song seems to be the inevitability of desire and the difficulty of fighting against it. The metaphor of the yearning loins is used throughout the song to represent this intense longing and passion that cannot be suppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
You see that boy, so simply pale
Observing a boy who appears frail
All his dreams unspoken
His aspirations are kept hidden
Now in her arms, he'll quickly heal
Being held by her will make him feel better
The yearning loins have woken.
His sexual desires have been aroused
Take out and wave
Display openly
Your ankle socks
A symbol of surrender
The white flags of surrender.
Giving up or giving in
She tried so hard not to let it show
She attempted to hide her emotions
But he's the first one, first one to know
But he can perceive her feelings
He makes a vow to stay fancy free
He promises to remain uncommitted
But that's the last thing, last thing he'll be
However, he will eventually become attached
She knows his name but she asks him who,
She is playing games by pretending not to know him
That's the worst thing, worst thing to do
This is the least desirable approach
You college boy, you've read it all
You think you know everything
All your questions loaded
Your inquiries are insincere
Describe for me, the point at which
Explain precisely when
The yearning loins exploded.
The sexual urges became too intense to ignore
Who lets you go out untidy?
Who allows you to be disorderly?
Who lets you sit very near?
Who permits you to be so close?
Who lets you fancy her mother?
Who allows you to be attracted to her mother?
Who puts her tongue in your ear?
Who openly flirts with you?
What makes that girl, the lovely swirl
What causes that beautiful woman
Here where the poor are hurtin'
To be in this place of suffering
Not her shoes, not their shine
Her appearance has nothing to do with it
The yearning loins are stolen
Her sexual desires have been taken from her
And what they say, hope you're not shy
And if they speak openly, I hope it doesn't embarrass you
Will get you swift and swooning
Will make you fall in love quickly
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh
Musical refrain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind