Prefab Sprout

NTS aired an episode dedicated to the music of Prefab Sprout on 22 December 2023. Prefab Sprout has been played on NTS over 250 times, featured on 224 episodes and was first played on 2 June 2014.

Prefab Sprout is an English pop band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham formed in 1976, who rose to fame during the 1980s. Though critically acclaimed, and considered by many to have released some of the best pop albums of the decade, the band never matched this acclaim with commercial success. The band's best known lineup comprised Paddy McAloon (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Wendy Smith (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Martin McAloon (bass), and Neil Conti (drums).

Their biggest commercial and critical success came with 1990's Jordan: The Comeback (one of two albums produced by Thomas Dolby), which was a hit in the UK and nominated for a BRIT award. The band also had a UK Top 10 hit with their 1988 song The King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Perhaps their finest album, Steve McQueen (originally released in June 1985) was re-released in August 2007 as a 2-CD deluxe edition, with a bonus disc of eight acoustic reinterpretations of some of the original tracks. Of the release, the record company said: "Digitally remastered by original producer Thomas Dolby, the album is sounding even better than ever. As if that weren't enough it is complemented here with a second disc containing eight sublime acoustic versions, which have been specially re-recorded for this release by Paddy McAloon."

Steve McQueen was released in the US under the title Two Wheels Good following pressure from the late actor's estate.

Prefab Sprout released Let's Change the World With Music - The Blueprint in 2009 on the Kitchenware Records label (website). See also Sprout Trivia below.

Discography: Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) / Radio Love - Feb 25, 1982 (their first record, released on their own label Candle) The Devil Has All the Best Tunes / Walk On - Oct 1983 (Kitchenware) (feat. Wendy Smith and Fiona Attwood) Swoon - Mar 1984 Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (US) - Jun 1985 From Langley Park to Memphis - Mar 1988 Protest Songs - Jun 1989 Jordan: The Comeback - Aug 1990 The Best of Prefab Sprout: A Life of Surprises - Jul 1992 (compilation; exit Conti hereafter) Andromeda Heights - May 1997 38 Carat Collection (disc 1) - Oct 1999 (compilation) 38 Carat Collection (disc 2) - Oct 1999 (compilation) The Gunman And Other Stories - Jun 18, 2001 (sans Smith)

Chronology of Bandmembers: Paddy McAloon (born Patrick Joseph McAloon, Jun 7, 1957, Durham); vocals / guitars / keyboards Martin McAloon (born Jan 4, 1962, Durham); bass guitar Michael Salmon; drums / percussion Wendy Smith (born May 31, 1963, Middlesbrough); vocals / guitars / keyboards Neil Conti (born Feb 12, 1959, Luton); drums / percussion Fiona Attwood (Chester-le-Street); backing vocals