The King of Rock 'n' POLL, completely - PREFAB SPROUT - Artist Poll #100 - VOTING THREAD

https://images2.imgbox.com/de/a0/2RF8SMbW_o.jpg

By popular demand (well, 4 or 5 people in the poll coordination thread were keen anyway) it's time for the Prefab Sprout ballot poll!

You are invited to submit either or both of the following:

(1) YOUR FAVOURITE PfS TRACKS - up to 30, ranked or unranked.

(2) YOUR FAVOURITE PfS ALBUMS - up to 5.

(I Trawl the Megahertz has been issued as a PfS album now, so I trust you'll agree that there is even less reason to exclude it, if there ever even was one.)

Ballots to vaticanroulette AT gmail DOT com, with your username. A Sprout-related subject line would also be helpful.

DEADLINE: let's provisionally schedule the countdown for the Monday after Sunday, March 15th. So ballots in before it ceases to be Sunday in every last timezone, please.

ALSO

Here's a list of every Prefab Sprout track I'm aware of. Are there more?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IQJYQxN67EHqxvIM3t-nzpEeKS9Jhgn9EpZTdYoMUl4

Proposed scoring regime:

- Albums: 5,4,3,2,1.

- Tracks:
RANKED: 40,36,33,30,28,26,25,24,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2.
UNRANKED: 17 points for each item. (ie. a 30 track unranked ballot adds up to much the same number of total points as a ranked one.)

When this was mentioned over on the other thread I smugly thought to myself how easy it would be to put a list together. After looking at the track-listing for Jordan: The Comeback again, I'm already realising I'm screwed. Everything on there (apart from The Wedding March) could be on my list.

excited for this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRQDOVSekE

i wanna strongly advocate for non-album single "if you don't love me", possibly their only foray into dance-pop. i know they have a lot of other non-album stuff that i haven't fully dug into before so i'm looking forward to going through all the b-sides etc.

I'll get in here early and remind everyone what an incredibly weird and addictive thing their first ever single was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eSboYF00I

Would a friendly passing mod care to fix my mangled bbcode 'bold' tags at the end of the original post please?

Off to a great start there. :)

I don’t know any of the post-Jordan stuff, so everyone feel free to rep for your faves!

I Trawl the Megahertz is quite a departure from usual (being a mostly instrumental classical work) but it's certainly worth a listen, the 20-minute title track especially is great. Crimson/Red is generally fine and "The Best Jewel Thief in the World" is classic PS. it's been a while since i've listened to the other post-Jordan material though so i'm interested to see how much is worth while

I only recently decided that Let's Change the World With Music is pretty great. I originally struggled to see past the slightly clunky arrangements, especially amongst the first few tracks. But the songs now linger in my head for days. It was a similar pattern with Andromeda Heights for me, so I should've no doubt have known to devote some proper time to it much earlier on. The Gunman..., on the other hand, I still struggle with.

Stella mater...light is fading

I think Crimson/Red is easily the strongest of the post-Jordan Prefab Sprout records. Let's Change... is basically demos, but the songs are pretty good.

One of my favourite Prefab Sprout songs is this very sentimental b-side from the Andromeda Heights era:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxyEc_1LgzA

. i know they have a lot of other non-album stuff that i haven't fully dug into before so i'm looking forward to going through all the b-sides etc.

found this a few months ago. hope it helps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9eSboYF00I&list=PLclePdpPCqJfhQC1NlqEn0Hmv7zA4X8mi

blimey
https://youtu.be/g9eSboYF00I

ffs, disregard that for this. sorry

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLclePdpPCqJfhQC1NlqEn0Hmv7zA4X8mi

I don’t know any of the post-Jordan stuff, so everyone feel free to rep for your faves!

― Maria Edgelord (cryptosicko)

I doubt my list will feature much from these years but I will try and find room for this gorgeous single from Crimson/Red

https://youtu.be/5WnATZLcXuA

Maybe Cornfield Ablaze from The Gunman & Other Stories too.

i POLLed the megahertz

glad the ballot is 30 songs long. i could've filled 20 with just songs from jordan and steve mcqueen.

The Sound of Crying ftw

Oh, this is going to be super tough. I expect I’ll be going to the wire before I’m satisfied with my ballot.

I’ll only say that ‘From Langley Park to Memphis’ is criminally overlooked falling between ‘Steve McQueen’ and ‘Jordan...’.

i think it's on the same level of steve mcqueen for me. the mcqueen highs are higher, but langley park has a higher baseline of quality.

side 2 of steve is a big drop-off imo, but it would be hard for any band to top or equal that incredible side one.

the acoustic versions of the Steve McQueen songs on the deluxe edition are even more top. Talk about swoon...

has the ache for infidelity ever sounded so beautiful?

acoustic versions on steve make me wish jordan got the same acoustic treatment. paddy was saying during a short interview on his instagram that he recorded the demos for 'one of the broken,' 'mercy,' and 'michael' back-to-back in one sitting.

Not sure I know enough stuff to vote, but Lions is an absolutely perfect pop single, and Cruel is a wonderful re-invention of swing era sophistication. After that, it's just all too soft focus for me.

the acoustic versions of the Steve McQueen songs on the deluxe edition are even more top. Talk about swoon

Right? I mean, usually these acoustic re-recordings are filler or unnecessary, but these take the great and make them greater! Very rare accomplishment.

XP: I didn't specify a minimum number of selections per ballot (maybe we should have minimum? 5? 10?) but one certainly doesn't need to fill it out to 30. Besides, the early (and late) eras could probably use all the support they can get. :)

should I bookmark this thread

I hope this thread has to come to triggercut's attention, seeing as I basically stole their poll suggestion!

oh shit my poll is here

Lemme rep for this b side

https://youtu.be/jlb4naMWnpU

^ Yes! Very likely on my ballot!

ohhh yeah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j4o-EyrmcU

the mourners all discuss
the POLL that caused a fuss

Very good btw

https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-53-paddy-mcaloon/

Paddy talks about the writing of songs like ‘The Best Jewel Thief in the World’, ‘Billy’, Devil Came A Calling’ and ‘The Songs of Danny Galway’ before moving on to classic Prefab Sprout songs like ‘Faron Young’, When Love Breaks Down’, The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’, ‘Hey Manhattan’ and more.

he returned recently too, though i haven't listened yet: https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-135-paddy-mcaloon/

he discusses megahertz on this one.

Donna Summer is such a great song. I like the punk-ish version they did as a three-piece.

Paddy still writes protest songs (of the subtlest kind)

https://youtu.be/0jbdjD6a-xw

Listened to Crimson Red today for the first time in ages. 1st half is strong ("jewel thief" will definitely get a vote frome me) but starts to slack off in the second half

xxxp ah yes i'd forgotten that. it was great to see Megahertz getting some love recently.

i think it's on the same level of steve mcqueen for me. the mcqueen highs are higher, but langley park has a higher baseline of quality.

― ooga booga-ing for the bourgeoisie (voodoo chili)

I've always thought Langley Park has much more of a drop off than Steve McQueen. Those last four songs do nothing for me.

Aww “the golden calf” is one of my favorites of his

Same! And "Knock On Wood" is pleasantly kooky.

'Knock on Wood' is their most Scritti-esque production.

Excited!

Maybe Cornfield Ablaze from The Gunman & Other Stories too.

otm - most of the album passes me by but Cornfield Ablaze is incredible.

i do really wish i trawl the megahertz had more of paddy singing on it, the one track where he does is so wonderful. it's still great as it is and the title track will probably be in my top 10 but it just makes me think what could have been.

Only by an extreme act of will can I avoid becoming a character in a country song

xp

agreed, but the lack of his voice does make the moment when he comes in that much more special

ballot sent, btw

It's been a joy digging a bit - never listened to the radio sessions before -
https://www.sproutology.co.uk/concerts/the-complete-radio-sessions/#

Love how both the March 1984 one and the Peel session include zilch from the albums they'd just released. eg. an ancient single, a song they would never revisit and a single from 3 years into the future. Bless. :)

Under a week to go now, hopefully. Here's a BUMP and another remainder of the sub-poll:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

(3) FAVOURITE LYRIC - Up to 5

Ranked or unranked.

(5-4-3-2-1 points or 3 points each, respectively)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

going through the b-sides today and while some are kinda interesting they all feel like b-sides for a reason so far

ok as soon as i said that i got to the FLPTM b-sides and "Real Life (Just Around The Corner)" is quite nice

still does seem like a b-side for a reason though

My ballot's tragic flaw is I started to feel I was just listing every track on SM/TWG, got SQUIRREL!ed by "Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny)", and left off "Desire As". Did include its obvious lyrical choice, though.

Voted! My ballot is quite heavily weighted towards my two favourite albums but most of the records got at least one track in there.

left off "Desire As"

me too. not that it's not an amazing song but i feel really distant from the breakup it helped me through and so it doesn't have the same weight for me anymore

i would make and/or accept the argument that "goodbye lucille" is objectively the best prefab sprout song

i think it's likely to be my #1

Okay, the number of ballots is well into double digits now. Phew! (I *know* by now that most vote fairly late but a slow start still makes me faintly anxious!)

Also: any regrets are easily remedied, if you wish. It's a trivial effort to adjust points, etc.

you're still in love with hayley POLLs

I will be submitting my list today. Got it down to 32 songs which is a relief as I was flicking through Jordan last night and it really felt like every song deserved a place.

The lyrics poll is the hardest part. They have so many incredible ones, I wouldn't even know where to start.

sorely tempted to throw a vote for the wedding march

This is difficult! Compiled my ballot. Listening through to see if I need to move anything around.

My ballot would never have been fixed in stone, so happy with the exclusion, and enjoying reading the alternate tracks you others highly rate.

Just reading through some of their lyrics and my entire top five could come from the first half of Steve McQueen alone.

93 distinct tracks have received votes so far!

i trawl the megahertz is probably my 4th or 5th favorite prefab album. but it also might be the best album ever made.

Voted and already regretting omissions, but no changes, no revisions. Sorry, Sound of Crying.
Had to stop listening to Protest Songs in run up to voting. Terrible feeling I was about to become fixated on it, and that would further confuse a confused ballot.

Voted!

Done...

was about to vote, but then i got megahertzed

will submit in a few

This Xtian-themed LCTWWM track paired with with this stock footage is way more affecting than it has any right to be!

https://youtu.be/2gxHcNtzFrU

voted!

(re)discovering so much as a result of this poll. “Nightingales”, what a song. And just found the 12” mix omg

With two-and-half days to go I count 18 ballots so far. If any lurkers have opinions certainly don't be shy. Your vote can still influence the outcome pretty drastically!

98 distinct tracks have now received votes, with many of the albums 100% represented. However idiosyncratic your list of favourites that obscure deep cut you like is probably just waiting for it's 3rd or 4th vote to secure a place in the top 50. LOL. (A countdown from 50 seems most likely at this point.)

BTW, anyone who *has* mailed a ballot should have seen an acknowledgement of receipt!

^ Er, 2 and 1/2 days. And "its" rather than "it's", while I'm correcting myself. :(

voted! looking forward to the results

Looking forward to the roll out. I only know albums 2 and 3, pulled out and have been spinning Steve McQueen daily for the last two weeks. Found Langley Park on cd really cheap but the other albums are less easily found irl around these parts. Did score the "Faron Young" (Truckin' Mix) 12" today, b-side "Silhouettes" is lovely, too.

Is the lyrics poll favourite line/couplet or the entire song?

i voted for lines

Lyrics poll is lines/couplet, but where >1 section of a given song get points (this has already happened a couple of times) I'm considering grouping the lines/points by song for the rollout. I'll post all the raw data anyway!

21 ballots now and 101 distinct tracks.

Might have to make the rollout a top 60, if only because later voters are displacing some of my own selections! :)

Also, further awesome/appalling pun suggestions are invited for the rollout thread title!

sent! wow that was.. *hard*.

Might go with voodoo chili's "I POLLed the Megahertz". I like its almost-a-plausible-sentence-ness.

Voted!

Main takeaway so far from relistens; Protest Songs is really underrated.

^ OTM

Sunday 15th is here (or long since passed where I'm sitting) so if anyone is still grappling with a ballot, submitting in the next 12 hours or so would be great!

I've seen 24 ballots now and 105 different track selections.

Voted!

Album roll-out will be interesting. I think Jordan, Steve McQueen, and Megahertz will all do well, but I have no idea what the consensus is after those three.

I've just been glancing at such matters and only this instant realised (despite kitchen person touching on it upthread) that Jordan was seemingly *never* released as a double-LP anywhere before the recent reissue?!?! I assumed the four sections delineated on the CD sleeve corresponded to actual physical sides on vinyl in at least some territories!

There seem to have been some places where they did it; here’s a South African CBS one. Weird they never did it in Britain.
https://www.discogs.com/Prefab-Sprout-Jordan-The-Comeback/release/2852928

Aha! Thanks.

Okay, I'll close the voting now. Give me a few hours to fiddle with the final numbers, etc, and I'll start a rollout thread very soon...

Rollout:
I POLLED the Megahertz - ILM Artist Poll #100 - Prefab Sprout - RESULTS