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)
Whoever You Are
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On street after street, in bar after bar
The search for love is never ending
Whoever you are
Wherever you are I'm prepared to travel
No matter how long no matter how far
Now it may be eternity before I see you
And while I search for you
I'll leave my door ajar
Whoever you are you may well be weary
From dragging your feet round this little star
But don't despair one step you're there
You have to meet me
Whoever you are
The lyrics in Whoever You Are by Prefab Sprout are about a person on a quest for love. The song begins by expressing how the singer is searching for someone special, and has been doing so with zeal, traversing various streets and bars. The lyrics convey the message that the search for love is never-ending and that it demands patience and perseverance.
The singer is prepared to travel far and wide, no matter the distance, to find this love. The lyrics further suggest that it may take an eternity to locate the love that's desired. The chorus proffers hope that the search will eventually come to an end and the singer will find the mystery person. The singer leaves their door unlocked, as they wait for that special someone to walk right in.
Overall, the lyrics of this song convey a message of hope and determination, revealing the never-ending quest for love and the lengths one can go to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoever you are I'm looking for you
I am searching for a specific somebody, without knowing who that somebody is.
On street after street, in bar after bar
I have been traveling to many different places in my search for this person.
The search for love is never ending
I am looking for love, which is a continuous and never-ending journey.
Wherever you are I'm prepared to travel
I am willing to go to great lengths, no matter where you may be located.
No matter how long no matter how far
Regardless of the time or distance it takes to find you, I will continue my search.
Now it may be eternity before I see you
It is possible that it may take an infinite amount of time before I am able to find and meet you.
And while I search for you
As I continue my journey to find you.
I'll leave my door ajar
I have left myself open and available for you to find me, should you also be looking for me.
Whoever you are you may well be weary
I understand that your own search may have drained you and left you feeling tired.
From dragging your feet round this little star
Your search for happiness and love has led you all around the world.
But don't despair one step you're there
You do not have to give up hope, as you are only one step away from finding your true love.
You have to meet me
We need to meet and find each other, in order to fully experience love together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind