Prefab Sprout

[sonic]

I picked up the album Two Wheels Good the other day. Proggers may even like this band. This is some rather sophisticated pop with quite complex chord changes at times.
Anyone else familiar with these guys?

[Reach]

Yep. Quite a few fans here. That album is otherwise known as Steve McQueen, and yeah, it's a gem.

[Progbear]

I love them, one of my fave bands of the 80s. Paddy is such a brilliant songwriter, his songs are filled with humanity and warmth. TWG/SMcQ and Jordan: The Comeback are my preferred albums, but there’s lots to like.

-------------
MIKE (a.k.a. "Progbear")

"Parece cosa de maligno. Los pianos no estallan por casualidad." --Gabriel Garcia Marquez

N.P.:“Tensegrity”-Roger Powell/Cosmic Furnace

[Sunlight Caller]

The debut Swoon contains quirky gems too, and I personally love Protest Songs, which is often overlooked. I loved them back then and still play them loads today. The lost album that came out a year or so back has not stuck in my head at all though.

[bill g]

Yeah I love Prefab Sprout. Paddy McAloon has one of the finest voices in music today, any genre. Two Wheels Good is amazing throughout. Really love 'Bonny', and 'Hallelujah' especially. 'Jordan: The Comeback' I would think would be regarded as their best album. Paddy's solo abum is also great.

[3RDegree_Robert]

LOVE Prefab Sprout. Definitely in my Top 5 best unknown bands. Better known but no less loved by me is Level 42.

[arj]

I just discovered this awesome podcast and what a delight to hear Paddy Macaloon discuss his craft. Seems like a lovely guy.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/sodajerker-on-songwriting/id479679002?mt=2&i=249762261

[progeezer]

Sonic - thank you for making me listen to a band I have heard of (never listened to) for a long time but never knew until today how good they are and how they're right in my current wheelhouse.

Ordered Two Wheels Good & Jordan the Comeback:).

Oh, and Hi Andrew!!:O

[Sunlight Caller]

I have loved this band since their first independent single release which I still have on 12".

Steve, you ordered well (though over here their second album is called Steve McQueen), get yourself the debut Swoon too and Protest Songs, both are special releases to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Progbear]

Protest Songs is a slow grower. It seems very low-key compared to the stuff surrounding it, and it didn’t really click with me when I first listened to it. I really enjoy it quite a lot now, there’s some first-rate tunes on this (“Life of Surprises,” “Tiffanys” [sic] and “Diana” are faves).

[moecurlythanu]

I recently picked up a "Best Of" CD, but haven't spun it yet. After checking them out on YouTube, I was very surprised that this band didn't break big in America during the 80s. Their sound was in line with other bands who did achieve success stateside, and the songs I sampled were very good.

[interbellum]

I only have Steve McQueen, but that one I've played a lot since it was released. Great production by Thomas Dolby!
Love this song, especially the change in singing (on the Steve McQueen-version this song is called Goodbye Lucille #1):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmiKqRlfX00

[progeezer]

Steve, you ordered well (though over here their second album is called Steve McQueen), get yourself the debut Swoon too and Protest Songs, both are special releases to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk:lol I just got an email from one of my kids, who owes me a birthday present, inviting me to lunch next weekend & a trip to the brick & mortar to buy me a cd. Will look in the PS section first, Pete.:)

[zombywoof]

Swoon, specifically the song "Don't Sing" is a huge influence on the Nick Prol album I'm working on.

[the winter tree]

LOVE their first 3 albums. After that it's not a band and Paddy uses a lot of questionable synth sounds, though there's always a few gems. A great songwriter. I wish Dolby would produce again and that Conti and Paddy's brother would return.
Conti played drums for Bowie at the Live Aid show.

[3RDegree_Robert]

I wish he'd make his albums with a real band let alone the original bandmates he had but putting that aside, his latest Crimson Red is pretty damn good.

[alucard]

Big fan, Paddy Mc Aloon is a gifted songwriter and arranger. I like nearly everything he did. My favorites are Steve MC Queen and Jordan the Comeback for the grandiloquence of musicals and pop.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7lKTVF7P-Y

[Sunlight Caller]

I wish he'd make his albums with a real band let alone the original bandmates he had but putting that aside, his latest Crimson Red is pretty damn good.

Yes I agree this is the best release since those early albums. I would love to see more of the stockpiled albums released, but in truth the only one to come out was a little disappointing. There are meant to be a pile of fully recorded albums sat there in chez Paddy though.

I did get to see them quite a few times when they were a real band and on the way up, good times.

I really dig Paddy's solo album too, although it is a left field offering, but is sure to appeal to open ears on this forum.

[progeezer]

Sonic - thank you for making me listen to a band I have heard of (never listened to) for a long time but never knew until today how good they are and how they're right in my current wheelhouse.

Ordered Two Wheels Good & Jordan the Comeback:).

Oh, and Hi Andrew!!:ODefinitely my new flavor of the day now!! Just ordered Swoon based on Wheels & Jordan. I'm too f*****g old to be buying new music, but I doubt I'm done sprouting.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Proggers may even like this band. This is some rather sophisticated pop with quite complex chord changes at times.

Their mainman Paddy McAloon has mentioned bands such as Turning Point and Hatfield & the North among his faves, you can at times also hear the odd Robert Wyatt motion going on.

Swoon and Protest Songs are their finest, IMO. Steve McQueen is solid as well.

You'd may want to check out Everything But the Girl (their first two albums), The Blue Nile and arguably some of Scritti Politti's work as well, as they shared some of PS' influences.

[bill g]

I really dig Paddy's solo album too, although it is a left field offering, but is sure to appeal to open ears on this forum.

His solo album is nothing at all like Prefab Sprout, but for music to wallow in on a dark, lonely night, there is not a better album I've heard. I rank it as one of my favorite albums of all time, for the mood alone. But I sure didn't think so on first listen.

[Progbear]

Their mainman Paddy McAloon has mentioned bands such as Turning Point and Hatfield & the North among his faves, you can at times also hear the odd Robert Wyatt motion going on.

There’s some almost Canterbury-esque complexity going on on a few of the tracks on Swoon. That off-kilter jazziness got smoothed out by the time of Steve McQueen.


You'd may want to check out Everything But the Girl (their first two albums), The Blue Nile and arguably some of Scritti Politti's work as well, as they shared some of PS' influences.

I agree with all those recommendations. Note that the aforementioned Robert Wyatt actually plays some keyboards on SP’s Songs to Remember.

[3RDegree_Robert]

There's some beautiful stuff on '97's Andromeda Heights too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bill g]

There's some beautiful stuff on '97's Andromeda Heights too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, AH is a very emotional album for me. 'Avenue of Stars' is gorgeous. And, man 'Swans' is so poignantly beautifully sad, someone would have to have a stone for a heart not to be at least somewhat moved by it.

[Sunlight Caller]

You'd may want to check out Everything But the Girl (their first two albums), The Blue Nile and arguably some of Scritti Politti's work as well, as they shared some of PS' influences.

I have a soft spot for all three of these, but especially for Scritti Politti and their first album "Songs To Remember" plus their earlier singles, which have now been collected on the CD "Early". Their mid-period lush pop period was good, but the early stuff is where it was more off kilter and interesting. The later albums "Anomie & Bonhomie" and "White Bread, Black Beer"are also worth hearing too.

[progeezer]

You'd may want to check out Everything But the Girl (their first two albums), The Blue Nile and arguably some of Scritti Politti's work as well, as they shared some of PS' influences.Interesting that until this thread I had never heard PS (my new find!), but have been a Tracey Thorn/Ben Watt (EBTG) fan for a long time.

Everything But The Girl's "The Language Of Life" is damn sure an album worth having, with Vinnie Coluaita on drums, and the last recorded sax of Stan Getz before his passing on the track "The Road".

[interbellum]

There’s some almost Canterbury-esque complexity going on on a few of the tracks on Swoon. That off-kilter jazziness got smoothed out by the time of Steve McQueen.



I agree with all those recommendations. Note that the aforementioned Robert Wyatt actually plays some keyboards on SP’s Songs to Remember.

Robert Wyatt also played on the EP Summer Into Winter by Everything But The Girls' singer Ben Watt (later released on the CD-version of his North Marine Drive).

[Progbear]

I have a soft spot for all three of these, but especially for Scritti Politti and their first album "Songs To Remember" plus their earlier singles, which have now been collected on the CD "Early". Their mid-period lush pop period was good, but the early stuff is where it was more off kilter and interesting. The later albums "Anomie & Bonhomie" and "White Bread, Black Beer"are also worth hearing too.

It’s hard to believe the funky sound on Songs to Remember is even the same band that made “Hegemony.” And then they completely metamorphosed again for Cupid & Psyche 85. I really enjoy them in all these phases, though. And if you need a good laugh, check out an interview with Green Gartside some time. And they say prog rockers are pretentious!


Everything But The Girl's "The Language Of Life" is damn sure an album worth having, with Vinnie Coluaita on drums, and the last recorded sax of Stan Getz before his passing on the track "The Road".

The Language of Life is awfully smooth-jazz, definitely their “trying to get airplay on VH1” album (and it worked! “Driving” was in heavy rotation there back in the day). That said, I still have a soft spot for it (great tunes), and way prefer it to their “house” phase.

[progeezer]

Well, for someone who never heard a note of PS when I looked at this thread this past February, I now have 9 albums:).

[the winter tree]

Well, for someone who never heard a note of PS when I looked at this thread this past February, I now have 9 albums:).

It's really exciting to discover a band like this! For me it was like finding The Grail.
Which ones really stand out for you?

[progeezer]

It's really exciting to discover a band like this! For me it was like finding The Grail.
Which ones really stand out for you?In recent memory, besides PS, The Dear Hunter comes to mind.

[Progbear]

A band I only discovered within the past year: The Painted Word! Someone recommended them for fans of Prefab Sprout and man, did they ever nail it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5US4vWxrsUU

[the winter tree]

In recent memory, besides PS, The Dear Hunter comes to mind.

Actually, I meant what PS music stands out for you?

[progeezer]

Actually, I meant what PS music stands out for you?

Really all of it, although I probably play "McQueen" & "Swoon" the most.

Bear - great call on The Painted Word!:up

[bill g]

Actually, I meant what PS music stands out for you?

My favorite could be 'Jordan: The Comeback', though 'Steve McQueen' and 'Andromeda Heights' I think are both excellent and very very close. The only one I didn't connect personally so much with is 'The Gunman'.

I'm gonna check out 'The Painted Word'!

[3RDegree_Robert]

So glad you guys are digging the Sprouts. I've loved them since the mid-90's. You can't go wrong with any of the albums from Swoon to Jordan. After that it's great too but I'd say get those first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[everyday]

The comeback album from a year or two ago is really good.

[3RDegree_Robert]

My only problem with his/their post ‘97 stuff is that it’s really just good demos because there’s no real drums on the stuff and only Paddy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[the winter tree]

I've heard Paddy has whole albums he's never released and literally thousands of songs. He seems to be a bit of a hermit. He has had problems with his eyesight and I think getting divorced was pretty traumatic for him. There's a cool interview with Thomas Dolby somewhere, I'll see if I can find it and post a link. He produced much of their classic stuff and in this interview he discusses how he met them and working with them in detail.
Interviews with Paddy are always interesting.

[Progbear]

My only problem with his/their post ‘97 stuff is that it’s really just good demos because there’s no real drums on the stuff and only Paddy.

The Gunman and Other Stories is a proper album, even if the “band” is mostly session musicians (including Jordan Rudess on piano!). For sure the other post-Jordan albums sound pretty demo-y (with exceptions here and there, “A Prisoner of the Past” off of Andromeda Heights is stunning!).

[pbd999]

Interviews with Paddy are always interesting.

This is so true, he's such an articulate, thoughtful, and nice guy. Love listening to interviews with him.

[the winter tree]

My recently recorded cover of Prefab Sprout's "Looking For Atlantis :-)

https://soundcloud.com/andrew-laitres-1/lookingforatlantis_mix1123