― dave vire think (dave225.3), Monday, 17 April 2006 18:39 (eighteen years ago) link
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 17 April 2006 18:45 (eighteen years ago) link
I am still more interested in cheap booze than Prefab Sprout. Hurrah! were good that night though.
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 08:58 (eighteen years ago) link
Btw. Paddy McAloon's projects have been frighteningly dud lately. He hasn't released a true quality album since 1997's "Andromeda Heights".
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 13:01 (eighteen years ago) link
And x-post, count me in on the lobby for a 10+ disc boxset.
Shame that all the b-sides Stewart lists above were already "collected" on the _Silhouettes_ bootleg. I'd like to see a bonus disc with some of the tracks that John Birch included on his fanzine cd-rs. "Cherry Tree", "The Glass Slipper", "Constant Blue", etc.
― scamperingalpaca (Chris Hill), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 15:23 (eighteen years ago) link
― ronchito, Monday, 1 May 2006 12:30 (seventeen years ago) link
― fandango (fandango), Monday, 7 August 2006 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link
http://www.prefabsprout.net/media.html
probably. but anyway...
i've never heard any of the 90's b-sides and such. still have a bunch of 80's 12 inches, so those aren't as unknown to me.
― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 8 February 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link
― Booper Soul (Bimble...), Thursday, 8 February 2007 06:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Thursday, 8 February 2007 22:18 (seventeen years ago) link
― keyth (keyth), Friday, 9 February 2007 04:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― john. a resident of chicago. (john s), Saturday, 10 February 2007 01:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 10 February 2007 01:22 (seventeen years ago) link
I've also figured out that it's the Jordan album I remember from the early 90's, so I will give that a go very soon. Would you believe I wrote 'Prefab Sprout' down on a list of stuff to check out not more than a week before this thread was revived?
― Twenty Special Offer Stickers (Bimble...), Saturday, 10 February 2007 04:35 (seventeen years ago) link
― henry s, Saturday, 21 April 2007 13:55 (seventeen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 21 April 2007 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link
I was about to buy The Collection, when I discovered there's a NEW best of that just came out called "The Kings of Rock 'n' Roll": http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Rock-Roll-Prefab-Sprout/dp/B000WTNDOO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197444424&sr=8-2
I've got Steve McQueen and Jordan: the Comeback; which one should I pick up?
― mr. falcon, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 07:29 (sixteen years ago) link
38 songs for £6.99? Go for it.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 07:43 (sixteen years ago) link
@ Geir: Those acoustic renditions are really quite nice, not tossed-off afterthoughts at all like a lot of acoustic re-recordings tend to be.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 07:46 (sixteen years ago) link
"From Langley Park To Memphis" obv. Their most underrated album, IMO just as good as the two "classic" ones.
― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 09:15 (sixteen years ago) link
I bought the deluxe edition without having heard the album before and I have to say I like the acoustic versions better.
― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 09:47 (sixteen years ago) link
THE SWEET SEPTEMBER RAIN
― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Saturday, 31 May 2008 08:32 (fifteen years ago) link
I picked up the 38 Carat Collection used. One of my best bargain finds. Makes me want to check some later stuff I've overlooked.
― leavethecapital, Saturday, 31 May 2008 17:56 (fifteen years ago) link
I've just recently realized how amazing this band is. Was always aware of them, but now it's all I want to listen to. What else should I check out along these lines? Bear in mind I don't mind 80s production but can't handle Scritti Politti or anything that makes Prefab Sprout sound like Chrome in comparison. In other words, less or AS wimpy as Prefab Sprout, but no wimpier.
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 04:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Scritti Politti! Dude, come on. PS themselves'd say Steely Dan, if they were feeling cocky. Occasional bits of Orange Juice, Pet Shop Boys, Smiths, but noone I can think of right now was all that much like them
― Niles Caulder, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 09:38 (fifteen years ago) link
I've been meaning to get into Orange Juice for years...I only know a few stray tracks and Edwyn Collins solo stuff!
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 10:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Couldn't go far wrong with the first two Thomas Dolby albums. There's plenty of others who treaded the fairlight ridden path of sensitive singer songwriter in the 80's but few as good as them.
If I was being mischievous I'd suggest Momus as a more rococo alternative, but fear of being struck down by lightning prevents me.
― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 10:50 (fifteen years ago) link
Aztec Camera's first LP fits nicely alongside Prefab Sprout...Go-Betweens up to/including 16 Lovers Lane...
― henry s, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 13:13 (fifteen years ago) link
DEACON BLUE
THE SCOTTISH PREFAB SPROUT
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 13:55 (fifteen years ago) link
I hope you're jesting.
― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 14:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Aztec and Go-Betweens're excellent suggestions. Maybe Blue Nile too, "Hats" is perfect, similar vibe to slow PS
Y'know what a few Prince songs're pretty close too actually, things off Parade and Sign O the Times, round that
― Niles Caulder, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 14:33 (fifteen years ago) link
well, Deacon Blue do sound more like Prefab Sprout, and perhaps vice versa, than any other band I can think of.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 15:00 (fifteen years ago) link
I concur with the Go-Betweens suggestion. I'd also recommend Microdisney as Prefab Sprout-type fodder - similar mixture of sophiscated melodies and enjoyably glutinous 80s production, except with Pol Pot on vocals. Their Best Of "Big Sleeping House" is a good introduction.
― Freedom, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 15:48 (fifteen years ago) link
The latest Pearlfishers album Up With The Larks (on Marina) is a dead-on and thoroughly enjoyable Prefab Sprout homage. "Womack and Womack" does the best job of combining bouncy white soul and world-weary lyrics.
― zaxxon25, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 16:16 (fifteen years ago) link
^^^been meaning to check them out...there's also a band called le Concorde or something like that who are supposed to recall vintage Prefab Sprout (I've never heard them), and there's Cane 141 (who are mostly downtempo electronica now, but have done very Prefab-ish stuff in the past)...
― henry s, Wednesday, 6 August 2008 16:24 (fifteen years ago) link
david scott from the Pearlfishers is an extreme brian wilson obsessive but i was about to suggest him as well as he's a genius and everything he's done since 1995 has been amazing. he's also been making great bmx bandits records the last couple of years. i always say the judybats were a poor man's american version of prefab sprout, especially on the first two records, they don't have any of that studio sheen but the same odd sense of drama and poetry of everyday life.
― keythkeyth, Thursday, 7 August 2008 02:17 (fifteen years ago) link
As far as travelling in similar orbits, Halloween, Alaska could list both the Blue Nile and Prefab Sprout as influences, both in delivery and music. Stars' _Nightsongs_ is another RIYL.
The first two Dolby albums OTM, as well as some of his later stuff ("Budapest by Blimp" has keys that sound right out of "Desire As").
But really there's no band that combines all the Prefab elements in quite the same way: witty lyrics, heartfelt delivery by Paddy & Wendy, hook-filled tunes, lofty themes, etc.
― scampering alpaca, Thursday, 7 August 2008 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Anyone heard this? Pretty weak.
― Freedom, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 18:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Heh, I dig it. The spare arrangement draws attention to the words, with the piano adding gravity.
Being an Editors fan, though, I like his voice. Would love to hear "Til the Cows Come Home" or "I Remember That" done in a similar fashion.
― scampering alpaca, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 19:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Fred Falke's dj 'mini mix' for annie mac's show (about 20 songs in 5 minutes) suddenly featured that "bap bap bah! shadoo-dad-dooda bap bap bah!" vocal riff from CARS AND GIRLS in the middle. i don't know who i was more impressed with Falke or Prefab Sprout but it brought a huge smile to the old face.
― piscesx, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 20:00 (fifteen years ago) link
OMG, I hope this true...
http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2008/09/prefab_sprout_in_new_album_sho_1.html
ADMIRERS OF PREFAB SPROUT and their singer/ songwriter Paddy McAloon - a soulful romantic with the emotional range of Bacharach and the melodic precision of Steely Dan - are by necessity a patient bunch. They have, after all, only heard two new albums since 1990, excepting Paddy’s superlative, mostly instrumental 2003 set I Trawl The Megahertz.
But that wait for new music will soon be at an end, as MOJO can joyfully report that Paddy and his bass-playing brother Martin have been back in the studio to record the long-awaited follow-up to 2001’s The Gunman And Other Stories. Tentatively entitled Let's Change the World With Music - The Blueprint, it will include the songs Let There Be Music, God Watch Over You and The Last Of The Great Romantics, and a source tells MOJO that they are “some of the best songs Paddy has written!” The band are aiming at a February 2009 release.
Ian Harrison
― Billy Dods, Friday, 3 October 2008 22:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Shame about the title, but if this is true then fab. Judging from the songs listed, this is like Gunman in being drawn from his last decade or so of songs. God Watch Over You was sung by some Australian woman ages ago. It's a splendid song, despite lyrical sappiness - but that's kind of a given with later McAloon.
― Freedom, Saturday, 4 October 2008 13:09 (fifteen years ago) link
NB: track 8.
1. Let There Be Music2. God Watch Over You3. The Last Of The Great Romantics4. Let's Change The World With Music5. Angel of Love6. Earth: The Story So Far7. Falling In Love8. I Love Music9. Meet The New Mozart10. Music Is a Princess11. Ride Home To Jesus12. Sweet Gospel Music
― Stevie T, Friday, 6 March 2009 15:06 (fifteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dq_v5kZeEM
― chesty la roux (donna rouge), Saturday, 8 August 2009 08:17 (fourteen years ago) link
An exclusive chance to hear 'Let There Be Music,' the opening track from Prefab Sprout's new album, 'Let's Change The World With Music,' due to be released 07/09/09. Brought to you by www.prefabsprout.net
I kinda like it.
Also, I don't know what I ever expected Paddy would look like in 2009, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't that.
― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 8 August 2009 08:25 (fourteen years ago) link
still love his voice...
― mizzell, Saturday, 8 August 2009 17:56 (fourteen years ago) link
eMusic has two versions of what look like the same Prefab Sprout album: Two Wheels Good and Steve McQueen. Struggling to decide if the bonus disc on Steve McQueen makes that the better of the two discs (FWIW, judging from the soundscans, the sound quality/production are better on Steve McQueen).
― Daniel, Esq., Saturday, 8 August 2009 18:05 (fourteen years ago) link
the bonus disc is just the solo acoustic versions that paddy did years and years later right? i personally found them to be of no interest.
― mizzell, Saturday, 8 August 2009 18:18 (fourteen years ago) link