Prefab Sprout
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1977-82) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Michael Salmon -- drums, percussion
line up 2 (1982-83) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Michael Salmon -- drums, percussion NEW - Wendy Smith -- vocals
line up 3 (1983-84) NEW - Graham Lant -- drums, percussion (replaced Michael Salmon) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Wendy Smith -- vocals
line up 4 (1984) NEW - Steve Dodler -- drums, percussion (replaced Graham Lant) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Wendy Smith -- vocals
line up 5 (1984-92) NEW - Neil Conti -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Dodler) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Wendy Smith -- vocals
line up 6 (1997) - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Paul Smith -- drums, percussion - Wendy Smith -- vocals
- David Brewis -- guitar, mandolin - Alan Clark -- groan - Jim Hornsby -- mandolin, guitar - Calum Malcolm -- keyboards - Martin McAloon -- bass - Paddy McAloon -- vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, synthesizers - Paul Smith -- drums, percussion - Tommy Smith -- sax - Wendy Smith -- vocals - Frazer Spiers -- harmonica - Martin Taylor -- guitar
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- Level 42 (Neil Conti) - Paddy McAloon (solo efforts) - Swimmer Leon (Michael Salmon)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Swoon Company: Epic/Kitchenware Catalog:
BFE 39872 Country/State: US Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: stickers on cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 40004 Price: $25.00
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There is a lot of Prefab Sprout biographical material on the web so I'm not going to try to repackage most of it.
Having started playing live back in 1979, it only took brothers Paddy and Martin McAloon three years to record their debut 45. Produced by Terry Gavaghan and backed by drummer Michael Salmon, the debut was released on their own Candle Records label:
With a title that was apparently an homage to a-girlfriend studying in France (take the first letter of each word and you'll figure out what city she was living in), the tune reflected an okay folk-rock feel and introduced everyone to McAloon's unique way with lyrics..
- 1982's 'Lions In My Garden: Exit Someone' b/w 'Radio Love' (Candle catalog number SRTS 82 CUS 1376)
The band's initial breakthrough came when Keith Armstrong heard their single being played at a local record store. He tracked the band down signing them in late 1983 to the Kitchenware label he operated with Paul Ludford. Kitchenware first reissued the band's self-financed debut single in 7" and 12" formats:
7" format - 1984's 'Lions In My Garden: (Exit Someone)' b/w 'Radio Love' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 4)
12" format - 1984's 'Lions In My Garden: (Exit Someone)' and 'Radio Love' b/w 'The Devil Has All the Best Tunes' and 'Walk On' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 8)
Kitchenware then released the 1984 single:
'The Devil Has All the Best Tunes' b/w 'Walk On' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 7)
To my ear it was notable for the lack of much a melody.
First an acknowledgement - I'm one of those fans who got into the Prefab Sprout discography ass backwards. Instead of starting with the debut, it was actually one of the last LPs I heard. That's going to have an impact on my view of this album.
Five years after they'd started playing live, the McAloon brothers along with backing vocalist Wendy Smith and sessions drummer Graham Lant, recorded their debut LP. Produced by The Kane Gang multi-instrumentalist David Brewis, "Swoon" (supposedly standing for "songs written out of necessity"), reflected material Paddy McAloon had written over the past seven years. The album was reportedly recorded quickly, with the basic tracks completed in a single day, for a total cost of less than $7,000.
Responsible for all eleven tracks, like the entire Prefab catalog, the debut aptly showcased Paddy McAloon's awesome voice, his love for classic George Gershwin-meets-Brian Wilson/Burt Bacharach styled sophisticate pop and his hyper-literate lyrics. Prefab Sprout was never going to be a band for folks into AC/DC-styled subtleties. I actually once saw a review of the album where the person said they liked the album, but felt like they'd been given a reading assignment where they had to turn in a summary of the book the next morning. Some of these tunes are pretty dense packed. At the same time their were some noticeable differences comparing the debut to their later catalog. Songs like 'Cue Fanfare' (who writes a song about chess players ?), 'Here on the Eerie' and the jazzy 'Cruel' were certainly catchy, but there was a certain roughness to the sound (perhaps attributable to the fact the album was recorded quickly and without a lot of resources). And while you were never going to lump them with the new wave crowd, songs like the UK single 'Don't Sing' and 'I Never Play Basketball Now' seemed to reflect a little of Andrew Partridge and early XTC's spiky energy. Elsewhere, McAloon and company seemed to have simply run out of time to develop the strong melodies so common on later albums - that's particularly true on side two where my ears didn't perk up for a single tune.
In a disagreement over compensation, drummer Lant quit shortly after the album was released. He was briefly replaced by Steve Dodler. Dodler was around long enough to appear in a promotional video for 'Don't Sing' and supported the band during a series of tours in advance of and after the album was released. Several of the dates found them opening for Elvis Costello who became a major advocate for the group. Ironically, McAloon had previously expressed a dislike for Costello's music. Dodler subsequently quit over musical direction and was replaced by Neil Conti.
"Swoon" track listing: 1.) Don't Sing (Paddy McAloon) - 3:53 rating: **** stars Paddy McAloon's voice makes it clear this a Prefab Sprout offering, but if you came to this one late in the discography, it's a little jarring compared to what came later in their career. Mind you. the song was certainly catchy with the chugging, harmonica propelled melody sounding like XTC having caught a pop virus. The lyrics reflected a set of McAloon's standard everything-but-the-kitchen sink scope. Actually, after all these years I still don't have a clue what it's about ... Supposedly inspired by Graham Green's The Power and the Glory, McAloon was later quoted as saying the song had too many words. LOL. May have to check it out of the library someday. The song was tapped as the album's first single and released in a number of formats::
7" single: - 1984's 'Don't Sing' b/w 'Green Isaac II' (Kitchenware catalog number SK-9) 12" single: - 1984's 'Don't Sing' b/w 'He'll Have To Go' and Green Isaac II' (Kitchenware catalog number SK-9) Released in the midst of MTV/VH1 mania, of course there was a promotional video. Interestingly, the video featured drummer Steve Dodler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IpBRMm_QAg 2.) Cue Fanfare (Paddy McAloon) - 4:06 rating: **** stars The secret sauce on the funky 'Cue Fanfare' came in the form of Martin McAloon's jazzy bass line. Besides, how could you not love a song dedicated to chess - "When Bobby Fischer's playing, he'll take those Russian boys and play them outta town ...' 3.) Green Isaac (Paddy McAloon) - 3:31 rating: *** stars The first two minutes of 'Green Isaac' offered up a smooth, almost supper club lounge tune, before blowing up into an out-and-out rocker. After all these years I don't have a clue what McAloon and company were going on about. Given the multiple religious references including an apparent nod to Joan of Arc, perhaps a reflection on McAloon's time training to become a priest? The song and harmonies with Wendy Smith are lovely. 4.) Here on the Eerie (Paddy McAloon) - 4:00 rating: **** stars The jittery 'Here Comes on the Eerie' served as a nice showcase for McAloon's guitar chops. Brother Martin again shined on bass. It was another track that reflected a jittery, XTC--ish energy, or anxiety. I quite like it though it was apparently intended as a jab against musical acts that inject overt politics into their music !!! 5.) Cruel (Paddy McAloon) - 4:20 rating: **** stars On first spin 'Cruel' comes off like something The Free Design might have recorded in a Holiday Inn lounge - a marginally tuneful jazzy number. But once you got acclimated to what was a surprisingly funky groove, the song's genius revealed itself and the lyrics ("my contribution to urban blues"), could have been turned into some sort of college thesis. YouTube has a nice live performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_9Nkecd-2o
(side 2) 1.) Couldn't Bear To Be Special (Paddy McAloon) - 3:49 rating: *** stars 'Couldn't Bear To Be Special' was a pretty ballad, but it was also quite strange. The refrain was genuinely irritating. McAloon once offered up they tune would have been a nice cover for the late Michael Jackson. The song was tapped as the album's second single:
7" format - 1984's 'Couldn't Bear To Be Special' b/w 'Spinning Belinda' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 10) 12" format - 1984's 'Couldn't Bear To Be Special' b/w 'Spinning Belinda' and 'Donna Summer' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 10 12) 2.) I Never Play Basketball Now (Paddy McAloon) - 3:40 rating: *** stars 'I Never Play Basketball Now' was another track where the skitterish opening reminded me a bit of XTC. Nice sports metaphor wrapped in a really dark lyric about all of us having to pass on. As a teen McAloon apparently did like to play basketball. 3.) Ghost Town Blues (Paddy McAloon) - 3:21 rating: *** stars Powered by Martin's bass, 'Ghost Town Blues' introduced a weird mixture of barrelhouse piano and reggae rhythm. Another tune that's a mystery to my ears. 4.) Elegance (Paddy McAloon) - 3:21 rating: ** stars Fans fawn over 'Elegance' but to my ears it is an also ran effort - pretentious and basically a tuneless jazzy number. Not sure why McAloon thought it would be a great tune for Luther Vandross. 5.) Technique (Paddy McAloon) - 3:45 rating: *** stars Drummer Graham Lant's moment in the spotlight, though it's largely wasted on a song that just seems to bounce all over the place and is another lyrical challenge to my ears. 6.) Green Isaac II (Paddy McAloon) - 4:38 rating: *** stars Can't say I found the reprise any more appealing that the original tune ...
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: From Langley Park To Memphis Company: Epic Catalog:
D Country/State: S Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1 Price: $15.00 |
Okay, unlike '60s and '70s music, for the most part '80s bands still haven't reached the point where they're being rediscovered and considered cool by the next generation. Shame, since Prefab Sprout is one of the acts that deserves rediscovery.
In the band's discography their third studio album, 1988's "From Langley Park To Memphis" is largely seen as paling in comparison to "Steve McQueen / Two Wheels Down". Technically it wasn't even a follow-up to "Steve McQueen / Two Wheels Down". The planned follow-up "Songs of Protest" was shelved when their label expressed concerns over the quickly release and the caliber of material. Reunited with producer Thomas Dolby, "From Langley Park To Memphis" to my ears the set may be their most outright commercial offering. Four of the tracks were released as singles and I heard at least three other tracks with strong radio potential - 'Enchanted', 'Knock On Wood' and 'Nancy (Let Your Hair Down for Me)'. It's also the album where McAloon abandoned all efforts to hide his affection for the MOR- 1960s pop that folks like Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Jimmy Webb excelled at. McAloon's lyrics are always hard for me to decipher, but the set seemed to be somewhat of a concept piece; McAloon using the ten songs to showcase his fascination with Americana (with a couple of detours to take on the tribulations of love).
"From
Langley Park To Memphis" track listing: 1.) The King of Rock 'n; Roll (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars The band's brush with breakout commercial success, 'The King of Rock 'n Roll' had everything late-'80s radio was looking for - catchy tune; non-sensual lyrics ("hot dog, jumping frog Albuquerque ...") and a promotional video that was ideal for heavy MTV rotation. Interestingly I've read interviews where McAloon has largely disavowed the song, seeing it as a burden that left countless listeners with the wrong impression of who Prefab Sprout were. In spite of it's flaws, the song is pure ear-candy; bound to put a smile on your face. The track was released as the album's second 45 in both 7" and 12: formats:
UK 7" format - 1988's 'The King of Rock 'n Roll' b/w 'Moving the River' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 37) UK 12" format - 1988's 'The King of Rock 'n Roll' and 'Moving the River' b/w 'Dandy of the Danube' and 'Tin Can Pot' (Kitchenware catalog number SKX 37) Here's a link to the promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T6e3GJCjow 2.) Cars and Girls (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Okay, it was apparently written as a dig at what the band saw as Bruce Springsteen's mid-career world view (some things hurt more than cars and girls), but seriously, this may be the best song McAloon ever wrote ... A melody that was like a perfect summer morning - bright, whispy, and full of promise. YouTube has a 1988 lip synching performance on Irish Television's Late, Late Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjkNgje_joM The song was tapped as the album's leadoff single with a picture sleeve that seemed like an obvious nod at Bruce Springsteen::
- 1988's 'Cars and Girls' b/w 'Vendetta' (Epic catalog number 34-07922) 3.) I Remember That (Paddy McAloon) - 3:14 rating: *** stars Yeah, the chorus was patently sweet, but elsewhere 'I Remember That' found Paddy McAloon and company playing it too adult contemporary-ish for my tastes. And by the time they'd discovered their soul groove, the song was almost over. Curiously, even though it wasn't originally released as a single, in 1993 it surfaced as a 45 released in conjunction with the band's best of "A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout" package. Epic also financed a promotion video for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VurhK2kos 4) Enchanted (Paddy McAloon) - 3:47 rating: **** stars 'Enchanted' was one of those songs that doesn't instantly strike you as being funky, but kicked along by Paul Wicken's stunning synthesizer bass line, assorted synthesizer bleeps, and some of Paddy's slinkiest vocals, it's a track that's almost impossible to sit still through. I've heard it hundreds of times over the years and ever ytime I hear McAloon slide into those higher notes it still makes me smile. You had to wonder how this one was skipped over as a single. 5.) Nighingales (Paddy McAloon) - 5:51 rating: **** stars Okay, 'Nightingales' is a song I really wanted to dislike, but somehow managed to overcome my initial feelings about it. Maybe it was the Stevie Wonder harmonica solo ... The track was released as the 4th single in the UK and Spain.
- 1988's 'Nightingales' (edit) b/w 'Nightingales' (full version) (Kitchenware catalog number SK39)
(side 2) 1.) Hey Manhattan! (Paddy McAloon) - 4:45 rating; ** stars I've always taken it as a love song to the city (not sure about the JFK references). I'm not the only person to hear echoes of Steely Dan in the jazzy 'Hey Manhattan!'. The problem is it's bad Steely Dan - way too orchestrated and MOR-ish. Even having Pete Townshend on acoustic guitar couldn't save it ... Here's a link to the promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDDJPbWq22E The song was released as the third single:
7" format: - 1988's 'Hey Manhattan!' b/w 'Tornado' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 38) 12" format: - 1988's 'Hey Manhattan!' / 'Tornado' b/w 'Hey Manhattan! / 'Donna Summer' (Kitchenware catalog number SKGT 38) 2.) Knock On Wood (Paddy McAloon) - 4:15 rating: **** stars I always thought the Martin McAloon and Bill Conti rhythm section was the band's secret sauce and that was seldom as apparent on the bouncy 'Knock On Wood'. It was also another one of those tunes where McAlon managed to mix a deeply pessimistic lyric with a commercial melody. Sprinkled with cheesy '80s synthesizers, Latin percussion and a charming Caribbean lilt, this one should have been a massive hit for the band. 3.) The Golden Calf (Paddy McAloon) - 5:05 rating: **** stars For folks who didn't think they could rock ... Is it just me, or did McAllon sound like Jeff Lynn on this one? Another track that was released as a European single. In the UK it was released as the album's 5th single in both 7" and 12" variants:
- 1989's 'The Golden Calf' b/w 'Venus of the Soup Kitchen' (Kitchenware catalog number SK41) - 1989's 'The Golden Calf' b/w 'Bonny (live' and 'Venus of the Soup Kitchen' (Kitchenware catalog number SKX41) And thanks to YouTube there's a promotional video as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SvzhKltoAU 4.) Nancy (Let Your Hair Down for Me) (Paddy McAloon) - 4:01 rating: **** stars Always wondered what it was about, but for some reason the silky smooth 'Nancy Let Your Hair Down for Me' always makes me draw comparisons to Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Another track that I probably would deny appreciating in public, but stands as a guilty pleasure. 5.) The Venus of the Soup Kitchen (Paddy McAloon) - 4:29 rating: *** stars Another one of McAloon's patented melodies, devoted fans will know the album title was drawn from the lyrics, though after all these years I still don't have a clue what he was crooning about. The late Andrea Crouch and the Andrea Crouch singers provided the odd Gospel backing.
EPs never caught on the US market, but were popular in the UK. "Nightingale" was released as part of a four track UK EP:
"Nightingales" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Nightingales (edit) (Paddy McAloon) -
(side 2) 1.) Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) (Paddy McAloon) - 2.) The Devil Has All the Best Tunes (Paddy McAloon) -
"Nightingales" opens like
it's just about to have two generic late-80's/early-90's crooners slather a
female-male duet all over it, but it actually turns out to be a pretty
gorgeous and wistful ballad. "Hey Manhattan!" lays a few too
many Broadway theatrics on me for me to really give much more than a passing
acknowledgement. "The Venus of the Soup Kitchen" meanders too much
for my liking, and I'm not a big big fan of the pseudo-choir in the song's
climax. "I Remember That" stars Paddy McAloon as the (late) great
Sir Paul McCartney. Really, I don't know how he got away with this one. It
drags on for far too long to justify its length. "Knock on Wood"
(obviously, about the dangers of love and loss) is easily my favorite, the
groove is easy and effortless. The only turkey that stands out to me is
"The Golden Calf", and I'll let you listen to that one to figure
out why for yourself.
Opening with two of the band's greatest singles - the sleek, sexy Cars and Girls and, of course, the gloriously absurd The King of Rock 'n' Roll - From Langley Park to Memphis is sophisti-pop of the breeziest, smoothest variety. The thing which saves it from reverting into soulless easy listening pap is that there's this compelling air of sincerity to it; Paddy McAloon delivers the vocals with a real sense of emotional verisimilitude and the album feels real and alive to an extent which belies the occasionally rather plastic production. Admittedly the album does begin to bog down after the opening numbers - Nightingales outlasts its welcome a little in particular - but it's still a great effort and when it's on form there's nothing better. (And I can't listen to the opening track without wanting to skip around and sing along to the backing vocal.)
At
the date it was released, I was truly disappointed with "From Langley
Park to Memphis" and in many times I considered this Prefab Sprout's
worst body of work. I remember saying "they sold their souls to the
americans, damn!". Two decades passed and I must recognize one thing:
the album aged well, and appart one misstep ("The Golden Calf"),
it is a charming late 80's album, when the world was dangerously drowning
into nightmares like Metallica and the Grunge dullness. Period thing,
thankfully, and to be called 'period' isn't a bad thing.
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Songs of Protest Company: CBS Catalog:
465118 1 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes lyric insert Available: 1 Catalog ID: 40004 Price: $30.00 |
In the Prefab Sprout discography "Songs of Protest" is an oddity. The album was actually recorded as a follow-up to their 1984 breakout collection "Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good". Initial plans called for collection to be issued as a limited quantity LP sold to audiences attending their 1985 Winter UK tour. Label executives feared releasing a follow-up would cut into ongoing "Steve McQueen" sales so those plans were abandoned and the recordings were shelved in favor of what became their third studio set - 1988's "From Langley Park To Memphis". It wasn't until a year later, amid delays in completing what would become "Jordan: The Comeback" that the set was finally released by Kitchenware Records. Distribution was limited in that the album did not see a US release.
And if you were expecting a collection of activist protest songs, don't hold your breath. The title seemed to have something to do with the band's return to a stripped down, rawer sound as opposed to the commercial washes their record label was pushing for. Recorded over a two week period, the self-produced collection found the band proudly shunning most of the polish and sheen found of "Steve McQueen". In it's place Paddy McAloon and company delivered a set of stripped down, rather stark tunes. Even though most the previous gloss was missing, to my ears, exemplified by tunes like 'Life of Surprises', the rocker 'Wicked Things' and the bouncy 'Tiffanys' their patented sound remained instantly recognizable. Admittedly, for folks in love with the band's more commercial sound, dark, introspective performances like 'The World Awake', 'Horsechimes', 'Diana' and 'Til' the Cows Come Home' were not going to be instantly rewarding. That was certainly the case when I heard the album. I literally had to set it aside and come back to it several times before it began to open up and reveal some of its charms to me. Yeah, 'Life of Surprises' should have been a single, but the bouncy 'Tiffanys' and 'the ballad Pearly Gates' were wonderful. In spite of somewhat clunky lyrics, the stark 'Dublin' (just McAloon and acoustic guitar) was another highlight. Worth the effort of powering through it several times ...
Released without a lot of enthusiasm from the label, or the band (who were in the studio working on "Jordan: The Comeback"), they didn't bother touring to support the set. Interestingly that didn't stop it from going top-20 in the UK.
"Songs of Protest" track listing: (side 1) 1.) The World Awake (Paddy McAloon) - 4:26 rating: *** stars 'The World Awake' started out sounding like one of McAloon's most commercial tunes, but somewhere along the road turned into one of his strangest offerings. The refrain was simply bizarre ... It's one of those tracks that's grown on me over time ... chorus and all. 2.) Life of Surprises (Paddy McAloon) - 4:08 rating: **** stars Probably the album's most commercial and radio-friendly tune, 'Life of Surprises' was a demo from the earlier "From Langley Park To Memphis" sessions. Awesome melody with a thoughtful lyric "Never let your conscience be harmful to your health - let no neurotic impulse turn inward on itself ..."; sweet guitar solo, propulsive bass line and McAloon's voice just kicking the crap out of the song ... One of my favorite Sprout tunes. Hard to understand why it wasn't initially tapped as a single, though in conjunction with a 1992 greatest hits compilation "A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout" it finally was released as a single. There was also promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXmkmDkQDe0
7" format - 1992's 'Life of Surprises' b/w 'The King of Rock and Roll' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 63) 12" format - 1992's 'Life of Surprises' and 'If You Don't Love Me' (Stateside Mix)' b/w 'If You Don't Love Me (Deep Field Mix)' (Kitchenware catalog number SKX 63) 3.) Horesechimes (Paddy McAloon) - 4:24 rating: *** stars Certainly one of the prettiest melodies McAloon has ever written, though the lyrics are lost on my American ears. How often do you hear a tune that includes the word "salacious"? The tune had previously appeared as the "B" side on their 'Nightingales' single. 4.) Wicked Things (Paddy McAloon) - 3:12 rating: **** stars Opening up with a surprisingly raw edge, 'Wicked Things' was an unexpected delight. As much as I love sophisticated McAloon, this one showed the band could flourish in a rawer environment. Shame the song faded out so early. 5.) Dublin (Paddy McAloon) - 3:42 rating: **** stars Apparently written and planned for "Steve McQueen", 'Dublin' was a beautiful acoustic piece; just McAloon accompanying himself with guitar. Talk about barebones Sprouts. As usual, the lyrics were tough for me to figure out, though I've always thought the tune was a reference to conflict that wracked Northern Ireland for decades. Simply mesmerizing ...
(side 2) 1.) Tiffanys (Paddy McAloon) - 3:50 rating: **** stars A tribute to a Newcastle nightclub where the band occasionally performed, the bouncy 'Tiffanys' was another atypical performance. The song was one of the first written by McAloon, dating back to 1977. Delightful. 2.) Diana (Paddy McAloon) - 4:10 rating: ** stars Dating back to the "Swoon" sessions, the ballad 'Diana' was another track that had previously been released - in this case a slightly different version had served as the "B" side to their 1984 single 'When Love Breaks Down'. McAloon has gone on the record as saying the song was inspired by press treatment of the late Princes Diana. Given it was one of the few Sprout songs without a strong melody, this one never made much of an impact on me. 3.) Talking Scarlet (Paddy McAloon) - 4:34 rating: ** stars As you can tell from the BadCatRecords website, I'm a big Sprout fan, but 'Talking Scarlet' was another one of the exceptions. There was a melody buried in this mess, but it never fully came into focus and the combination of the disturbing lyric seemingly about living with forbidden lust, Wendy Smith's sharp, brittle little girl voice and a drab performance made this one bland and forgettable. 4.) Til' the Cows Come Home (Paddy McAloon) - 4:12 rating: *** stars With a big, open, almost theatrical vive coupled with strange industrial background sounds, 'Til' the Cows Come Home' was another track seemingly dating back to the "Steve McQueen" sessions. The song was apparently a reflection on the poverty in England's North East. Odd concept for a song, but then so are a lot of McAloon's songs. 5.) Pearly Gates (Paddy McAloon) - 5:28 rating: **** stars Born and raised Catholic, those roots seem to have been the basis for 'Pearly Gates' which was simply one of the band's prettiest ballads.
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Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Jordan: The Comeback Company: Kitchenware Catalog:
E 46132 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 40002 Price: $30.00
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Having somehow crunched 19 tracks on a single album, I couldn't help but think in a perfect world Prefab Sprout's "Jordan" The Comeback" would have been expanded with a couple of additional tracks and spaced out over a double LP. Naturally music business economics were not about to let that happen ...
Reunited with producer Thomas Dolby, 1990's "Jordan: The Comeback" may be my favorite Prefab Sprout album. Spread across nineteen songs, the album was certainly more complicated, broader and more ambitious than anything the band had released before. It may have been intended as a concept piece. If so the concept was lost on me, though part of the narrative seemed to deal with American culture in the form of songs showcasing Jesse James and Elvis Presley. Elsewhere tunes like 'One of the Broken', 'Michael' and 'Mercy' had distinctive religious overtones. Regardless, song for song it featured some of Paddy McAloon's strongest compositions - two thirds of the performances standing as potential 45s. It was also one of the most musically diverse albums in my collection, covering everything from top-40 pop ('Looking for Atlantis'), to heart-tugging ballads ('We Let the Stars Go'), with stops along the way for funky dance-tinged numbers ('Machine Gun Ibiza'), doo-wop ('Doo-Wop In Harlem') and even Brazilian flavored Samba ('Carnival 2000'). As always, McAloon had a voice that was very appealing to my ears (check out the barebones ballad 'Mercy'), but the icing on the cake remained Wendy Smith. Smith really wasn't much of a singer and for most of the album she was relegated to the background. But when her sweet, little girl voice was brought up in the mix, she added a hard to describe sweetness to the proceedings. Always wondered why it didn't make them major stars in the States ...
"Jordan: The Comeback" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Looking for Atlantis (Paddy McAloon) - 4:03 rating: **** stars The title track is one of those songs I've come to hate. Powered by one of Paddy McAloon's brightest and most propulsive melodies and brother Martin McAloon' thundering bass line, it's a great tune. The problem is every time I hear it, the damn thing lodges in my head for days. The chorus is as sticky as honey. The tune served as the album's leadoff single. There are about a dozen variants across formats and countries.
- 1990's 'Looking for Atlantis' b/w 'Michael' (CBS/Kitchenware catalog number 6561417)
The band also released a promotional video for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBafyosi4Pg
Finally, YouTube has a 1990 clip of the band lip synching the tune on Terry Wogan's BBC television show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gst4XEUcZqw
2.) Wild Horses (Paddy McAloon) - 3:44 rating: **** stars 'Wild Horses' was easily one of the prettiest ballads McAloon has ever penned. Always loved the song's haunting lyrics seemingly about the clash between an old man and desire for young love. As good as the song was, producer Thomas Dolby deserved as much credit for the unique arrangement and the weird, stabbing keyboard effects. Strange that it wasn't tapped as a single. Tidbit: British actress Jenny Agutter provided the female voice. 3.) Machine Gun Ibiza (Paddy McAloon) - 3:43 rating: **** stars McAloon's lyrics are frequently cryptic to my ears and seldom more than the hyper-catchy 'Machine Gin Ibiza'. Could it really be about nightlife on the Spanish island of Ibiza? That didn't stop this from being my favorite performance. Surprisingly funky and another tune that would have made a dandy single. 4.) We Let the Stars Go (Paddy McAloon) - 3:39 rating: ***** stars Years ago the Navy sent me to leadership training at the Darden School of Business. One of the things I went through was a battery of personality tests. For someone who had been a single dad and thought I was fairly empathetic, I was horrified to learn I had the sensitivity of a brick. I remember calling my wife to talk about the training and almost crying. As you can imagine, I don't let feelings take over very often, but this beautiful and mournful ballad gets to me very time I hear it. Simply stunning.
The album's second single, it was also released in a number of countries and formats including conventional 7", 12", CD and cassette formats.
UK 7" pressing: - 1990's'We Let the Stars Go' b/w 'Cruel' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 48)
The band also released a promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbpVP1qc96Y
5.) Carnival 2000 (Paddy McAloon) - 3:22 rating: **** stars Sporting a bouncy Samba flavor, 'Carnival 2000' was very different than the rest of their catalog, but all the better for the change in direction. The song was released as a UK single
- 1991's 'Carnival 2000' b/w 'One of the Broken' (Kitchenware catalog number Columbia/Kitchenware catalog number 656688)
There was also a promotional single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdYNJKZ9RDU
YouTube also has a clip of a live performance of the song from a 1991 appearance on the BBC's "Going Live" children's television series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wwLNQDX_I
6.) Jordan: The Comeback (Paddy McAloon) - 4:13 rating: **** stars Was he trying to sound like Elvis on the spoken word introduction? Elvis alive and living in hiding in the desert? Always been a mystery to me ... but when the song's melody popped out, it was pretty amazing. YouTube has a live clip of the song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN4faK43_J0 7.) Jesse James Symphony (Paddy McAloon) - 2:15 rating: ** stars It didn't have much of a melody and was a but heavy in the lyric department, so 'Jesse James Symphony' was the first song that didn't wipe me out ... 8.) Jesse James Bolero (Paddy McAloon) - 4:10 rating: **** stars After the spare keyboard-propelled 'Jesse James Symphony' the fully orchestrated 'Jesse James Bolero' hit me with force of a baseball bat. Lyrically this one was simply odd, but that quirkiness made it entertaining and I've always loved the banjo segment (about two minute sin). 9.) Moondog (Paddy McAloon) - 4:12 rating: *** stars Yeah, I won't pretend to have an idea what 'Moondog' was about. It started out as a standard ballads before picking up speed and morphing into a catchy pop tune with some cheesy '70s synthesizers and though incredibly weird lyrics.
(side 2) 1.) All the World Needs Lovers (Paddy McAloon) - 3:50 rating: **** stars Another beautiful and thought provoking ballad where Smith's backing vocals pushed the results into a different level. Two years later, in conjunction with the release of a "greatest hits" album (1992's "The Best of Prefab Sprout: A Life of Surprises"), the song was released as a UK single.
- 1992's 'All the World Loves Lovers' b/w 'Machine Gun Ibiza' (Kitchenware catalog number SK 62)
There was also a promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07RoD2mD_WI
2.) All Boys Believe Anything (Paddy McAloon) - 1:34 rating: ** stars 'All Boys Believe Anything' sounded like an unfinished song fragment and was notable for featuring drummer Conti and Smith on vocals. 3.) The Ice Maiden (Paddy McAloon) - 3:19 rating: **** stars With a great melody and some of the album's most intriguing lyrics, 'The Ice Maiden' was another standout performance and one of Smith's standout moments. 4.) Paris Smith (Paddy McAloon) - 2:55 rating: ** star Pretty ballad, perhaps inspired by Wendy's newborn child ... 5.) The Wedding March (Paddy McAloon) - 2:50 rating: ** star Old fashion, English big band swing tune. I suspect Paul McCartney would have approved. 6.) One of the Broken (Paddy McAloon) - 3:55 rating: *** stars Starting out with the voice of God (I'm not kidding), 'One of the Broken' was another pretty ballad with lyrics that were definitely out of the mainstream. 7.) Michael (Paddy McAloon) - 3:02 rating: *** stars McAloon and Thomas Dolby collide with a bunch of monks who are members of a Gregorian choir ... Strange, dark and haunting tune with lots of bizarre religious imagery - the Devil trying to get back into God's good graces?. 8.) Mercy (Paddy McAloon) - 1:23 rating: **** stars Clocking in under two minutes, 'Mercy' was the album's prettiest performance and also the album's starkest performance - just McAloon accompanied by an acoustic guitar 9.) Scarlet Nights (Paddy McAloon) - 4:17 rating: **** stars Anything that starts with church organ captures my attention ... And just when you started thinking "another pretty ballad", it blew up into an '80s-flavored rocker. Love the '80s guitar effects and McAloon and Smith's smooth harmonies on this wonderful anthem. 10.) Doo-Wop In Harlem (Paddy McAloon) - 3:44 rating: **** stars One of the great truths that most of us don't want to confront ... Somehow this four minutes makes it seem a little easier to face the final chapter that awaits us all. Yeah, this is one you can play at my final party. Neither the video or sound quality are great, but YouTube has a live television performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKvdzrSUR5U
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Andromeda Heights Company: Kitcheware Catalog:
9075945951
5 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): NM / NM Comments: sealed copy; re-mastered Available: 1 Catalog ID: 30980 Price: $40.00
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In the seven years following the release of "Jordan: The Comeback" and Prefab Sprout's next studio album, McAloon endured extended creative issues with Sony (label executives were reportedly less than excited by the planned follow-up "Let's Change the World with Music"), a period of music burnout and several years working on a sprawling, complex concept piece tentatively entitled "Earth the Story So Far".
Reality in the form of funding and time constraints ultimately saw Prefab Sprout returned to the airwaves with 1997's "Andromeda Heights". While billed as a Prefab release, this seemed much like a Paddy McAloon solo effort. McAloon produced the album and was responsible for penning all eleven tracks. Add to that original drummer Neil Conti did not participate (replaced by Paul Smith) and singer Wendy Smith was largely absent. Apparently conceived as concept album, the plotline was lost to my ears. In spite of the lengthy layoff, McAloon sounded in good form and while the collection had more than it's share of moments, it suffered from an overabundance of ballads. Side one alone featured four ballads, the exceptions being the singles 'Electric Guitars' and 'A Prisoner of the Past'. That carried over to side two which featured another five ballads - 'The Fifth Horseman' being the exception. I'll admit that I love a good ballad as much as anyone and there were plenty here (check out the gorgeous 'A Prisoner of the Past' and 'Steal Your Past'), but after a while there was a certain sounds-the-same effect across these grooves and the overabundance of heart-on-my-sleeve sentiments was overwhelming. With quite a bit of promotional support, though no tour, the album actually sold well in the UK, hitting # 7 on the charts, where it also spun off two mid-charting singles. Always loved Annie Magill's cover art.
"Andromeda Heights" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Electric Guitars (Paddy McAloon) - 3:41 rating: **** stars Isn't it a dream most boys have? A sweet performance built on one of McAloon's prettiest melodies and a set of interesting lyrics. The song was released as the album's second CD single:
- 1989's 'Electric Guitars', 'Dragons' and 'The End of the Affair' (Kitchenware catalog number SKCD 071)
There's also a cute promotional single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-KIHpU2Ly8
2.) A Prisoner of the Past (Paddy McAloon) - 5:01 rating: **** stars 'A Prisoner of the Past' opened up with a Phil Spector wall-of-sound vibe and unwrapped itself to be another one of his standout reflections on the power and pain of love. I hate the melody because it simply won't leave my head whenever I hear it. The tune was tapped as the album's leadoff single, released in CD and cassette formats and was accompanied by a promotional video.
- 1989's 'A Prisoner of the Past' (radio edit) / 'A Prisoner of the Past' (album version) / 'Just because I Can' and 'Where the Heart Is' (Kitchenware catalog number SKCD 070)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlWPvaevTCI
3.) The Mystery of Love (Paddy McAloon) - 4:37 rating: *** stars 'The Mystery of Love' was another pretty, but under whelming ballad. A little too Bacharach-David MOR for McAloon's own good. 4.) Life's a Miracle (Paddy McAloon) - 3:44 rating: *** stars The lyrics were clearly heartfelt, touching and thought provoking (words we should all strive to live by), but they were buried in another ballad that was pretty but just kind of blurred together with the previous track. 5.) Anne Marie (Paddy McAloon) - 4:35 rating: *** stars Yet another pretty ballad, though this one lacked your typical McAloon killer melody ... Nice acoustic guitar solo ... Stay away from married women ... Stay away from glockenspiel solos ... 6.) Whoever You Are (Paddy McAloon) - 2:47 rating: *** stars So why not end the side with a pretty ballad?
(side 2) 1.) Steal Your Thunder (Paddy McAloon) - 3:41 rating: **** stars And just when I bitched about the overabundance of ballads, along comes another one that makes me regret my complaining - 'Steal Your Thunder'. "I might get lucky and roll a six, there is a chance I'll get lucky and see lightening strike twice." What a great line. Add in some nice Stevie Wonder-styled harmonica and one of the prettiest sax solos I've ever heard (courtesy of Tommy Smith) and this was another album highlight. 2.) Avenue of Stars (Paddy McAloon) - 3:59 rating: **** stars The heavily orchestrated 'Avenue of Stars' has always reminded me of something a '60s big band might have recorded for a film soundtrack. Not sure why, but I really liked this one and the opening instrumental section is simply spellbinding. 3.) Swans (Paddy McAloon) - 2:36 rating: *** stars Interesting lyric seemingly commenting on faithfulness, or lack thereof. Wonder who else but McAloon come up with an analogy like this ... 4.) The Fifth Horseman (Paddy McAloon) - 4:42 rating: **** stars Guess I'd never thought of love as joining the Biblical apocalypse along with death, war, the antichrist and famine ... Awesome tune with one of those melodies that McAloon seemed to so effortlessly toss out. It should have been the album's first single. 5.) Weightless (Paddy McAloon) - 3:36 rating: **** stars Dreamy melody with some awesome synthesizers and a fascinating lyric that was was worth hearing just for the references to Yuri Gagarin ... 6.) Andromeda Heights (Paddy McAloon) - 4:04 rating: *** stars Thanks to Tommy Smith's sax solo, the title track opened up sound like something off a Gerry Rafferty album. Almost a waltz, it was another extremely pretty selection, but by this point I was ballad burned out. I believe McAloon named his recording studio Andromeda.
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Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: The Gunman and Other Stories Company: EMI/Liberty Catalog:
7243 5 32613 2 0 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: CD format Available: -- Catalog ID: 40001 Price: --
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On the heels of a brief 1999 tour of the UK, Paddy McAloon decided to go back into the studio. Though the resulting album "The Gunman and Other Stories" was released as a Prefab Sprout project, drummer Bill Conti and singer Wendy Smith were gone, leaving Paddy and brother Martin McAloon to surround themselves with various sessions players. Produced by Tony Visconti, I've also seen the collection described as a concept piece. Tracks like 'Cowboy Dreams', a cover of 'Street of Laredo', 'Cornfields Ablaze' and the title track certainly seem to reflect McAloon's long standing fascination with the American West, though there didn't seem to be much of a unifying theme. At the same time McAloon seemingly used this as an opportunity to do a little "Spring cleaning", documenting material he'd provided to outside artists - notably Cher who covered the title track and 'Cowboy Dreams' and three other tunes that were recorded by British actor Jimmy Nails for the British television series "Crocodile Shoes". Admittedly it's an odd collection that tends to get lots of criticism from Prefab Sprout fans. The over-abundance of bland ballads meant it wasn't my favorite Sprout release, but I think it's far better than what most folks think. By my count, six of the ten performances were strong with the cover of 'Street of Laredo', the rocker 'Cornfield Ablaze' and the country-tinged 'The Gunman' matching anything in the band's earlier catalog. Certainly a strange album, but worth hearing for McAloon's willingness to take musical chances.
"The Gunman and Other Stories" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Cowboy Dreams (Paddy McAloon) - 5:19 rating: **** stars 'Cowboy Dreams' was originally written for an English television series - "Crocodile Shoes" about a British country singer played by actor Jimmy Nale. As mentioned above, hearing Prefab Sprout (okay Paddy and Martin McAloon) recording a true country song was somewhat of a shock. Initially the tune didn't make much of an impression on me,, but it's one of those songs that's grown on me over time. McAloon's wistful delivery and the nifty banjo riff are pretty cool and it's hard not to like a song with a lyric as romantic and cool as "I want it written on my tombstone here lies the boy who stole your heart". By the way, released as a single, Nail's version is quite good (hitting the UK top-20 charts), though I'd have to give the nod to McAloon's version.
EMI didn't put much effort into the album, though they released the title track as a promotion single in CD format:
- 2001 's 'Cowboy Dreams' (EMI catalog number PREFAB 001)
YouTube has a copy of the promotional video and a clip of the McAloon brothers playing the song on a 2001 performance on Top of the Pops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xps2q4WKF04 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_fTb_ZNjk
2.) Wild Card In the Pack (Paddy McAloon) - 3:40 rating: **** stars For a guy who loves words, Prefab Sprout songs are a joy and that's certainly the case with 'Wild Card In the Pack'. Add in a breezy, keyboard-propelled, radio-ready melody and McAloon' sweet voice, and this was one of the album's hidden treasures. 3.) I'm a Troubled Man (Paddy McAloon) - 3:19 rating: ** stars Another tune written for Jimmy Nail's "Crocodile Shoes", 'I'm a Troubled Man' was a typically pretty ballad, but lacked that certain something that made for a classic Prefab Sprout performance. 4.) The Streets of Laredo / Not For Long This World (traditional arranged by Paddy McAloon) - 3:46 rating: **** stars If you're my age, then the Marty Robbin's version of 'The Streets of Laredo' is burned into your mind. That makes Prefab Sprout's accomplishment even more impressive - the mash-up of the traditional tune with McAloon's own 'Not for Long This World' managed to make me forget Robbin's classic version of the tune. With a wonderfully epic arrangement their version was even more tragic and memorable than Robbin's take on the tune. 5.) Love Will Find Someone for You (Paddy McAloon) - 3:23 rating: ** stars Another "Crocodile Shoes" composition", read the comments on 'I'm a Troubled Man'. They apply to this one as well. 6.) Cornfield Ablaze (Paddy McAloon) - 4:15 rating: **** stars Another Prefab song that I hate ... I hate it because it's one of those tunes that I simply cannot shake out of my head when I hear it. The one song that's liable to please "Steve McQueen" era fans ... great melody; interesting lyrics ("I saw you from the tractor. The harvest had begun. You were the love child of two gods. I was the farmer's awkward son ..."); great arrangement that manages to straddle orchestrated pop and rock with near perfect results. Should have been released as a single. 7.) When You Get To Know Be Better (Paddy McAloon) - 3:08 rating: ** stars Another nod to McAloon's fascination with Elvis Presley 'When You Get To Know Me Better' was a flat and forgettable ballad with a needless country-twang making it even less palatable to my ears. 8.) The Gunman (Paddy McAloon) - 8:41 rating: **** stars I always wondered how Cher came to record 'The Gunman' for her 1995 "It's a Man's World" collection. And while I'm not a big Cher fan, she did a nice job on her cover. She also kept it much shorter than McAloon's version. Anyhow, what about the original? Songs that start out with spoken word intros tend to end badly. Add to that, songs that extend over eight minutes tend to end badly. Between those two characteristics I didn't hold out much hope for the title track. The good news is this was another tune that took a while to grow on me, but the combination of the Western theme and producer Visconti's Jimmy Webb-flavored arrangement eventually won me over. 9.) Blue Roses (Paddy McAloon) - 3:11 rating: *** stars McAloon had the ability to effortlessly toss off pretty ballads. The problem is when you put so many on an album, they start to overwhelm the listener. 'Blue Roses' may have been the prettiest of the group, but by this point in the album, I just didn't need to hear another one ... This was the fourth "Crocodile Shoes" related song. 10.) Farmyard Cat (Paddy McAloon) - 3:13 rating: * star Yeah, I've struggled to come up with something nice to say about 'Farmyard Cat'. Well, it was relatively short ... Set to something sounding like a mixture of Saturday night hoedown and Western film soundtrack, the combination of questionable lyrics and cat sound effects made this a real questionable endeavor. Maybe McAloon was just trying to be funny?
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Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Let's Change the World with Music Company: Kitchenware/Sony Catalog:
KWLP41-10 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed copy Available: 1 Catalog ID: 30980 Price: $60.00
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Somewhat of a comeback release, 2009's "Let There Be Music" marked Prefab Sprout's first studio album since 2001's "The Gunman and Other Stories". If you want to talk about a collection with a tortured birth, then here's a good one to start with. Front man Paddy McAloon had written the majority of the eleven tracks in the 1992 timeframe, intending them for Prefab Sprout's follow-on to 1990's "Jordan: The Comeback". The demos were presented to Sony Music, but label executives were less than excited by the results. Having presented 14 demos, Sony management apparently wanted McAloon to cull down the number of tracks for the forthcoming release. McAloon walked away with the understanding the label wanted him to focus on writing new material based on two or three of the ideas reflected in the demos. Needless to say, the two sides never cleared up the misunderstanding. Over the next year and a half McAloon went back into the studio writing taking the song "Earth: The Story so Far" and expending it to a 30 concept piece. By the time the two sides cleared up their misunderstandings, McAloon had moved on, recording new material that hit the market in the form of 1997's "Andromeda Heights" and various follow-ups. These songs stayed on the shelf until 2009 when at the suggestion of long time manager Keith Armstrong and looking for some income, McAloon resurrected them, dropping the title track and adding material he'd originally written for other artists ('Ride' was recorded by Australian singer Wendy Matthews, Francis Ruffelle had recorded 'God Watch Over You')..
Recorded without the rest of the band (McAloon responsible for all of the instrumentation), the eleven performance were self-produced in McAloon's home studio. I'm probably reading too much into it, but the given the title and the numerous songs with music oriented lyrics, the collection seemed to have a modest concept feel - perhaps the joys and redemptive power of the art form. The album also sported a modest secular feel (check out tracks like 'Ride' and 'Earth: The Story So Far). It was an in-your-face type of bible thumping, rather a subtle, thoughtful approach. Regardless of whether it was a concept album or McAloon's "Christian" album, to my ears the results were thoroughly enjoyable; occasionally matching the creative heights of the band's earlier heyday. One of the few albums in my collection where I enjoyed virtually ever track (the lone exception being 'Meet the new Mozart'). McAloon's voice remained in fine form and while the collection occasionally suffered from a mid-'90s sound (some of the synth patterns were definitely dated), on song after song McAloon displayed his unabashed talents for crafting mesmerizing melodies and thought provoking lyrics ('God Watch Over You' and 'Sweet Gospel Music'). I'm probably alone in this corner, but I'd say this is my favorite Prefab Sprout collection.
"Let's Change the World with Music" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Let There Be Music (Paddy McAloon) - 3:44 rating: **** stars Hum, I never would have expected a Prefab Sprout album to start out with a religious hip hop segment ... Momentarily jarring, but it made sense in the overall scheme of things. You just have to marvel at his ability to toss off gorgeous melodies like this one. The track was briefly released as a promo CD single:
- 1997's 'Let There Me Music' (Sony - no catalog number)
2.) Ride (Paddy McAloon) - 4:04 rating: **** star McAloon's secular album? Well, judging by lyrics like "Ride, ride home to Jesus, head held high" you could easily make that connection. And if you did and found some degree of comfort in the results, what's the harm? And if you thought it was just a good pop song with a wild synthesizer line ... what's the harm? Either way, just enjoy the four minutes of bliss. 3.) I Love Music (Paddy McAloon) 4:49 rating: **** stars Any other performer and I would have just lifted the needle and moved on to the next tune ... But there was just something magnet in McAloon's honey dipped voice and this breezy, lounge act tune. The bass line was awesome and the nod to Chic always makes me smile. 4.) God Watch Over You (Paddy McAloon) - 4:33 rating: ***** stars I'll be the first to admit that I've been very blessed in my life. I frequently wonder why I've been given a wonderful family; a job I like, and a sense of physical, mental and spiritual comfort. While I seldom understand the challenges, opportunities, or experiences I'm confronted with, I try to appreciate them all. Admittedly, some experiences are better than others, but they all seem to have some purpose - what those purposes may be is part of the mystery. It may have something to do with the fact that when you turn 60, you suddenly realize that there are only so many innings in the game and then it's over. Admittedly there have been more than my share of missed opportunities and regrets. And here's the story of one of those regrets.
5.) Music Is a Princess (Paddy McAloon) - 3:31 rating: **** stars Crap, a big ballad with sappy lyrics, 'Music Is a Princess' was one of those songs that I really wanted to dislike. The problem was McAloon's melody won't leave your head once invited inside. 6.) Earth: The Story So Far (Paddy McAloon) - 5:01 rating: **** stars To my ears it was easy to see and hear why McAloon would have decided to expand 'Earth: The Story So Far'. Breezy and instantly beguiling, showcasing his magical voice, I would have listened to a 30 track concept album on the subject.
(side 2) 1.) Last of the Great Romantics (Paddy McAloon) - 4:39 rating: **** stars Bennett, Cole, Sinatra ... I imagine they all would have been happy to hear this lushes ballad. 2.) Falling In Love (Paddy McAloon) - 3:10 rating: *** stars On any other album, the glistening ballad 'Falling In Love' would have bee a center piece. Here's it was relegated to also-ran performance. McAloon's multi-tracked vocals were simply gorgeous. 3.) Sweet Gospel Music (Paddy McAloon) - 4:23 rating: **** stars The album's second best song with a piano based hook that you simply can't shake out of your head... 4.) Meet the New Mozart (Paddy McAloon) - 4:13 rating: ** stars The album's line disappointment - the concept was probably better than the actual execution. 5.) Angel of Love (Paddy McAloon) - 4:23 rating: **** stars Admittedly, initially I thought this was an anticlimactic and disappointing way to end the album. Geez, yet another heartfelt ballad ... And eventually the song's charms and sincerity got to me.
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Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Crimson / Red Company: Verycords Catalog:
6022046190 Country/State: France Grade (cover/record): NM / NM Comments: sealed copy Available: 1 Catalog ID: 30980 Price: $50.00
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As the heart and soul of Prefab Sprout, in the early 2000s Paddy McAloon stepped away from music in order to deal with a series of medical issues including severe tinnitus and the slow loss of his sight. For all intents and purposes a McAloon solo efforts, 2013's "Crimson / Red" marked Prefab Sprout's collection of new studio material since 2003s' "I Trawl the Megahertz". Co-produced by McAloon and Calum Malcolm, this one was a true solo release with McAllon writing all ten tracks and responsible for almost all of the instrumentation.
Frankly I had no idea what to expect from this comeback. Even without medical issues and a decade long hiatus, comebacks are frequently disappointing. And to his credit McAloon beats the odds, turning in one of the year's best (if largely unheard) albums. Judging by these ten tracks, McAloon's instantly recognizable voice had weathered his medical challenges without change. The guy sure didn't sound like any late 50 year old I've ever heard. Similarly his knack for crafting songs that were catchy and thought provoking remained unabated. I try not to live in the past, but at it's best, songs like 'Billy' and 'Mystereous' sound like they were written and recorded for one of Prefab's mid-'80s albums. By my count, eight of the ten songs were among the best things he'd recorded. With a classic combination of a hyper commercial melody and eclectic lyrics, 'The Best Jewel Thief In the World' opened the album with one of those should-have-been-a-massive hit tracks. And frankly, the album seldom let up afterwards. 'List of Impossible Things', 'Grief Built the Taj Mahal', 'Devil Came Calling" ... every one of these tunes had something going for it. In fact my only complaint had to do with the album's marketing. Given you can't turn on a radio without hearing some mass-produced, auto-tuned dance track, try finding a copy of this set in the States ... virtually impossible. It was almost as if the industry had decided music and talent didn't matter anymore.
"Crimson / Red" track listing: (side 1) 1.) The Best Jewel Thief In the World (Paddy McAloon) - 3:56 rating: ***** stars McAllon's lyrics have always left me at a loss - not in a bad way, but in an intriguing, challenging fashion. It's similar to trying to figure out what a Steely Dan song is about (if in doubt, sex, drugs and rock and roll are usually safe guesses). When he wraps those lyrics in a song as gorgeous as 'The Best Jewel Thief In the World', the lyrics almost don't matter. An edited version of the tune ("what do any of those assholes know?"), was tapped as a promotional CDr release in the UK and the Benelux.
A promotional video was also released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwmn7ad97Ho
2) List of Impossible Things (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Folks used to laugh at Dylan for his dense lyrics. McAloon's got the market cornered in this realm. Another example where the lyrics are impentrable to my ears, but the fact the song is wrapped in such a glorious melody overcomes that limitation. The guitar solo was simply too-die-for. 3.) Adolescence (Paddy McAloon) - rating: *** stars 'Adolescence' was the first track that didn't knock me for a loop ... Maybe the portrait of lost youth and trying to get in touch with my own adolescence was simply too personnel. Pretty song and those with a penchant for self-evaluation will undoubtedly love it. 4.) Grief Built the Taj Mahal (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Opening up with some dazzling jazzy guitar, 'Grief Built the Taj Mahal' was one of those songs where you were left to ponder where McAloon came up with his ideas. I'm not the deepest thinker you'll ever meet, but I have to admit the lyrics made me think and even look up the story of the Taj Mahal ... I had no idea. What a wonderful story. 5.) Devil Came Calling (Paddy McAloon) - 3:41 rating: **** stars Just speculation on my part, but I'm guessing the plotline might have had something to do with the costs of fame. Again, it almost didn't matter since the combination of the lyrics (an opportunity to live on "Fellatio Drive") and the upbeat, slightly folky melody was a killer combination. When I first heard it, I must have hummed the tune non-stop for a month.
(side 2) 1.) Billy (Paddy McAloon) - 4:41 rating: **** stars Classic Prefab Sprout; glistening melody and a lyric that was clever and thought provoking ... how could you not stop and ponder a lyric like "her smile is like a fairground, I'm basking in the glow"? How is it a song like this was thoroughly ignored by radio while mindless dance acts pack the airwaves? The decline and fall of Western society ... Another tune that was released as a promotional CDr:
-2014's 'Billy' (Go Entertainment GO 70551)
2.) The Dreamer (Paddy McAloon) - 6:01 rating: **** stars Sweet and sappy with some of the best harmonies he's ever recorded. It's one of those songs I would never readily admit to loving. 3.) The Songs of Danny Galway (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Supposedly a tribute to songwriter Jimmy Webb, 'The Songs of Danny Galway' was another album highlight. A pretty ballad that most bands would kill to have crafted, thinking about it I can actually see why McAloon would identify so closely with Webb. Men who worship at the alter of melody and thoughtful pop ... Hard to think of many higher callings. 4.) The Old Magician (Paddy McAloon) - 2:51 rating: **** stars Built on a simple, bouncy acoustic melody, as a 60 year old white guy who is approaching the end of his work life, I could readily identify with the lyrics reflecting on aging. Could anyone have said it better? "Death is a lousy disappearing act ..." 5.) Mysterious (Paddy McAloon) - 4:26 rating: **** stars Another tribute - this one supposedly a nod to Dylan. Love the harmonica and organ fills that make this one of the set's hidden surprises. Almost criminally addictive.
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: I Trawl the Megahrtz Company: Sony Catalog:
889854110611 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): NM / NM Comments: sealed copy; double LP Available: 1 Catalog ID: 40006 Price: $80.00 |
In 1999 McAloon
found himself temporarily blinded when both of his retinas detached.
Warning - anyone expecting to hear something along the lines of "Steve McQueen" / "Two Wheels Down" might want to walk away now. In fact, concern that Prefab Sprout fans would be disappointed by the set's atypical and high personal sound, was one of the reasons that collection was originally released as a McAloon solo album. While his outside influences had always been apparent, this project found McAloon unchaining his affection for classical composers and pop icons like Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Van Dyke Parks, Jimmy Webb and Brian Wilson. In another change from norm, the set was almost entirely instrumental; there was only one McAloon vocal on the set ('Sleeping Rough').
Against that backdrop, I'll readily admit this is not my favorite Prefab Sprout album. It's certainly an interesting project, but rife with images of isolation, loneliness, and despair, not something you'll want to slap on the turntable to get the party started. It's more likely to be something you want to hear when your heart has been broken, or on a rainy Sunday morning when the rest of the family family hasn't yet woken up.
"I Trawl the Megahertz" track listing: (side 1) 1.) I Trawl the Megahertz (Paddy McAloon) - 22:08 rating: ** stars Featuring London-based American stockbroker Yvonne Connors spoken word narrative, the heavily orchestrated title track is one of those pieces that you love, or hate with a passion. Stretching out over 22 minutes, the music was pretty (in a film score fashion), but the spoken word lyrics were going to strike you as deeply profound and thought provoking (If you have a depressive personality, this might not be something you want to listen to), or over-the-top vapid sentimentality. I can hear fans screaming now, but I found myself pushed into the latter category. And with an attention span of about fifteen minutes ... well this song stretched on for over twenty two minutes.
(side 2) etched side
(side 3) 1.) Esprit de Corps (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 4:52 rating: *** stars The instrumental 'Esprit de Corps' was another tune that revealed a stunning melody, but to my ears this one sounded like something Aaron Copland anad Philip Glass might have collaborated on for a stage show. Even though I don't have a background in music, the string and horn orchestration was highly complex and fascinating to piece together. In an interview, McAloon mentioned he'd envisioned the tune as the opening for a movie soundtrack. 2. Fall From Grace (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 4:51 rating: *** stars My young son plays cello so the gorgeous opening sequence on 'Fall From Grace' has always resonated with me. Here's what McAloon had to say about the song: "I had this picture of some Silicon Valley entrepreneur who kind of laves home and comes to the UK. I'm not entirely sure what he's doing but he genuinely gets lost not just metaphorically." 3.) We Were Poor (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 3:39 rating: *** stars The instrumental 'We Were Poor' had a nice, swinging jazz vibe. Love the bass line on this one. More from McAloon himself: "We were poor, but we were happy" that's a common enough phrase. I split the phrase in half because the music I was writing was to accompany this proposed film [Sleeping Rough"]. 4.) Orchid 7 (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 4:22 rating: *** stars The orchestration that opened 'Orchid 7' sounded like it was lifted from the title track. The mid-song xylophone segment gave the tune kind of an IT vibe.
(side 4) 1.) I'm 49 (Paddy McAloon) - 3:46 rating: *** stars Another track stitched together from his radio explorations, there was something very disconcerting about the narratives that composed 'I'm 49'. McAloon's comments on the song: "Some guy phoning into his local radio station and clearly unable to talk to someone at home. I'm 49 divorced ... and I thought that is such a human dilemma to be thinking." 2.) Sleeping Rough (Paddy McAloon) - 3:30 rating: **** stars Another piece that seemed to borrow liberally from the title track ... 'Sleeping Rough' was also the line McAloon vocal performance. Nice to hear him again ... "Sleeping rough related to the original scenario of the entrepreneur being lost in somewhere like Scotland. I thought yea whun you're feeling pretty low as I with the eye thing." 3.) Ineffiable (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 2:40 rating: *** stars On the heels of the lone McAloon vocal performance, it was hard to go back to more highly orchestrated instrumentals. 4) But We Were Happy (instrumental) (Paddy McAloon) - 3:48 rating: *** stars 'But We Were Happy' closed the album with what was probably the most commercial of the orchestrated selections.
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (4 stars) Title: Steve McQueen Acoustic Company: Sony/Kitchenware Catalog:
18075923831 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed copy Record Store Day release Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $100.00
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As a self-confessed Prefab Sprout fan, I'm sure Paddy McAloon had a reason for deciding to re-record eight tracks from 1985's "Steve McQueen" (or "Two Wheels Down" for American fans). I've never seen him discuss the decision, but I'm sure some uber-fan will have the story. Working with producer Calum Malcom (Thomas Dolby handling the original album), the eight remakes retained the original melodies, but featured stripped down re-imaginations of what was a classic album to start with. And that puts me in an odd position. I've always loved the original album. I loved Thomas Dolby's '80s production touches. I loved Wendy Smith and the rest of the band. I can honestly say I've listened to the original album dozens of times over the years. It's that good. And against that backdrop I was hesitant to check this album out. Adding to my reluctance is the fact artists doing remakes are typically desperate; trying to resurrect, or extended their dying careers and those projects are usually depressing, if not outright embarrassing for all participants.
So what's the judgment? Well I would have preferred to hear a collection of new McAloon material (the guy's apparently stockpiled reams of unheard material), but I'll gladly hear these re-interpretations. Of the eight tracks, six struck me as being as good, if not better than the originals. The melodies remained instantly recognizable; in some cases even stronger without the busy '80s production Thomas Dolby provided. Over the ensuing twenty plus years McAloon's voice had seemingly deepened, bringing a new intensity to performances like 'Desire As' and 'When Love Breaks Down'. Side one is distinctly stronger than side two, but rather than going through all of the successes, I'll just tell you the two songs that didn't benefit were 'Goodbye Lucille #1' (where I missed hearing Wendy Smith and the rest of the band) and the lyrically dense, melodically light 'Moving the River'. A strange, but rewarding addition to the Prefab Sprout catalog and hard to track down on vinyl.
"Steve McQueen Acoustic" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Appetite (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars This a feeling that's going to be repeated across the whole album ... I love the original's '80s sheen and Wendy Smith's backing vocals, but the stripped down remake (McAloon, acoustic guitar and multi-tracked chorus) is stunning. The streamlined arrangement highlighted what a gorgeous melody the song had and the acoustic guitar was almost pastoral. 2.) Bonny (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Not to sound like a broken record, but stripping off the '80s production and slowing the song down only served to underscore what a great song 'Bonny' was. Maybe I'm just making crap up, but McAloon's vocals sounded even more urgent in this barebones arrangement. Wow, who knew heartache could sound so amazing ? 3.) Desire As (Paddy McAloon) - rating: ***** stars The extended acoustic guitar opening is stunningly pretty and after I heard it a couple of times I realized I didn't mind the absence of the studio production effects ... The song's melody is far more prominent and actually far more powerful stripped down. Damn ! It's the perfect song to play on one of those dark days when you feel a need to contemplate the pain of lost love. Perhaps my favorite remake on the album. "I've got six things on my mind; you're no longer one of them ..." 4.) When Love Breaks Down (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars I was wondering what McAloon could do with one of my favorite Prefab Sprout performances. Slowing it down, pushing the acoustic guitars to the forefront and giving it a mild folk flavor turns 'When Love Breaks Down' into a perfect rainy Sunday morning forum for mulling over what-might-have-beens. Wonderful..
(side 2) 1.) Goodbye Lucille #1 (Paddy McAloon) - rating: *** stars Known to most folks as 'Johnny Johnny' 'Goodbye Lucille #1" was the one remake that didn't stand-up to the original. This was one where I missing hearing the rest of the band - particularly Windy Smith on the refrain "oh, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny ...". 2.) Moving the River (Paddy McAloon) - rating: *** stars The lyrically dense storytelling opening has always been a lot for me to digest and that didn't change with the remake. 3.) Faron Young (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars Lyrically I've always wondered what the hell 'Faron Young' was about? McAloon's love of Americana? Just another break-up song? Beats me. Anyhow, the opening section sounded like McAloon had opted to turn this one into a true country tune. Not a good thing in my book. When the Spanish guitar segment kicked in the song bounced back into positive territory. Not sure I like it more than the original, but it was an interesting remake. It was also one of the few tracks that appeared to include some backing orchestration, or at least a synthesizer. 4.) When the Angels (Paddy McAloon) - rating: **** stars The stripped down arrangement on 'When the Angels' was a sweet way to close out the package.
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Stuck at home and unable to read while recuperating from the surgery to
reattach his retinas, McAloon started listening to audio books and radio
including talk radio and short wave frequencies. Fascinated by this
new world, he began recording some of material he heard. That led to
an idea for a concept piece. Filling in the narrative gaps and
creating his own "stories", those tapes became the starting point
for 2003's "I Trawl the Megahertz. Working with
co-producer Calum Malcolm and composer David McGuinness, the results were
quite unlike your typical Prefab Sprout album. Largely instrumental
and heavily orchestrated, the set has always struck me as a sound collage
set to some deep, but overly pompous lyrics. That was particularly
true on the side line title track featuring spoken word narratives read by
Yvonne Connors. In typical McAloon fashion, the initial plan was to
put together a concept piece with the material being used as a soundtrack
for a film project tentatively entitled Sleeping Rough.
The film project fell by the wayside, but MCAloon decided to salvage the
music. Originally issued as a Paddy McAloon solo effort, in 2019 the
collection was reissued with new cover art under the Prefab Sprout
moniker. 