Prefab Sprout are an English pop band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, England who rose to fame during the 1980s. Formed in 1978 in Newcastle by brothers Paddy and Martin McAloon and joined by vocalist Wendy Smith in 1982, their debut album Swoon was released to critical acclaim in 1984. Their subsequent albums, including 1985's Steve McQueen and 1990's Jordan: The Comeback, have been described by Paul Lester of The Guardian as "some of the most beautiful and intelligent records of their era". Frontman Paddy McAloon is regarded as one of the great songwriters of his time and the band have been credited with producing some of the "most beloved" pop music of the '80s and '90s.
Jordan: The Comeback is the fifth studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout. It was released by Kitchenware Records on 7 September 1990. It peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. "Looking for Atlantis" and "We Let the Stars Go" were released as singles, peaking at No. 51 and No. 50, respectively, on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, Jordan: The EP peaked at No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart.
Protest Songs is the fourth studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout. Recorded in 1985, it was released by Kitchenware Records and CBS in 1989. According to the liner notes of the album, "Protest Songs was originally to be released in December 1985 and chronologically belongs between Steve McQueen and From Langley Park to Memphis." It peaked at No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart.
Steve McQueen is the second studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released in June 1985 by Kitchenware Records. The album was released by CBS in the United States as Two Wheels Good in anticipation of legal conflict with the estate of American actor Steve McQueen.
Patrick Joseph McAloon is an English singer-songwriter and a founder of the band Prefab Sprout.
From Langley Park to Memphis is the third studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout. It was released by Kitchenware Records on 14 March 1988. It peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart, the highest position for any studio album released by the band. Recorded in Newcastle, London and Los Angeles, it has a more polished and commercial sound than their earlier releases, and features several guest stars including Stevie Wonder and Pete Townshend. The album's simpler songs, big productions and straight-forward cover photo reflect lead singer Paddy McAloon's wish for it to be a more universal work than their more cerebral earlier albums.
Swoon is the debut studio album by the English pop band Prefab Sprout, released in March 1984 by Kitchenware Records. Written over a period of seven years, the record was produced with David Brewis on a low budget. The group mostly chose to avoid recording the material they had played live over the years, preferring to make a more intricate record of mostly recent material.
Andromeda Heights is the sixth studio album by English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released by Kitchenware Records on 2 May 1997. It peaked at number 7 in the UK Albums Chart. "A Prisoner of the Past" and "Electric Guitars" were also released as singles, peaking at number 30 and number 53, respectively, in the UK Singles Chart.
Knock on Wood may refer to:
A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout is a compilation album by the English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Epic Records in July 1992. The album reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart.
"The King of Rock 'n' Roll" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records in March 1988. It was the second single taken from their album of that year, From Langley Park to Memphis. It remains the band's biggest success in their native UK, reaching No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent 10 weeks.
The Gunman and Other Stories is the seventh studio album by the English pop band Prefab Sprout. Released in June 2001, the album was the band's only release for the EMI Liberty label.
"Cars and Girls" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records in February 1988. It was the first single taken from their album of that year, From Langley Park to Memphis. The single reached No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart, and spent five weeks on the chart.
Let's Change the World with Music is the ninth studio album by the English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released on 7 September 2009 by Kitchenware Records. It was the band's first album of new material since 2001's The Gunman and Other Stories and marked a return to Sony Music, Kitchenware's parent label. The album reached No. 39 in the UK Albums Chart at the end of the week of its release. Although no singles were technically released, "Let There Be Music" was sent to radio stations, and "Sweet Gospel Music" was due to be a one-track digital release to highlight the album, but received no airplay and therefore was pulled.
"When Love Breaks Down" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records in 1984. It was the first single taken from their album of that year, Steve McQueen. On its first release, the single did not chart in the UK Singles Chart, but it was reissued in 1985, reaching No. 25. The song was also the group's first chart appearance in the United States, peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart in October 1985.
Crimson/Red is the tenth studio album by English pop band Prefab Sprout. It was released in the United Kingdom by Icebreaker Records and Kitchenware Records on 7 October 2013. The album title is a reference to artist Mark Rothko.
"A Prisoner of the Past" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records on 21 May 1997. It was the first single taken from their album Andromeda Heights. It reached No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart, and is the band's final top 40 hit to date.
"The Sound of Crying" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records on 1992. It was one of two new songs included on their compilation album A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout. It was one of the band's biggest hits, reaching No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart.
Wendy Smith is an English musician, best known as being a singer and guitarist in the band Prefab Sprout, and also as being the musical director of The Sage in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England.
