Discography

Maybe other grass is greener and if it is, I belong here WHERE THE HEART IS

Prefab Sprout´s discography is not very long: 6 CDs, but they are a selected sample fo the delicious mixing of the most refined pop with a little touch of jazz, and with a lyrics plethoric with references of cultural icons.

I began to enjoy the music of the Sprouts since when a friend lent me a cassette of "Steve McQueen" and from then on, the energetic "From Langley Park ....", the wonderful "Jordan" and the other records. "Andromeda Heigths" was the most difficult to get but well worthed it.

This record sounds rather experimental, which is fine for a first recording. I see it as a record of exploration, with many changes of rhythms and taking risks in several themes until they get their "sound". But there are good songs, like "Don´t Sing", "Green Isaac", "Couldn´t bear to be special", "I Never Play Basketball Now" and "Technique". The songs that I like the most are "Cruel" and "Elegance". "Cruel" is the kind of songs that for which the Sprouts stand out and "Elegance" has a lyrics that me in spite of my limited vocabulary could appreciate it.

Launched in England as "Steve McQueen", was renamed in United States as "Two Wheels Good". With the production of Thomas Dolby, manage to achieve a lot better theis sound, and this time we have a record in which nothing is dispensable. Even the first song "Faron Young" doesn´t look out of place. But the next songs: "Bonny", “Appetite”, “When Love Breaks Down”, “Goodbye Lucille # 1”, “Hallelujah” and “Desire As” will become classics for the group. “Horsin´  Around” looks more this rare mix of pop and jazz and “When the angels” is the grand finale.

The CD edition of "Two Wheels Good" adds three themes: "He´ll have to go", "The Yearning Loins" and a remix version of "Faron Young". "He´ll have to go" is a wonderful song and "The Yearning Loins" has a cathcy rhythm. 

It is been said that it was recorded on the same year as "Steve McQueen" but was freezed because the label didn´t want to launch two releases on the same year. And then, Protest Songs was offered as a promo on the tour of "From Langley ....".

Who cannot adore with "Dublin" and their portrait of loving relationships in "Talking Scarlet", "Tiffanys" brings us back to a rendezvous at a New Orleans-type of saloon and an ending with rolling of drums in "Pearly Gates". The best song is "Life of Surprises" saying It´s no help growing older or wiser because life is full of surprises.

This record sounds like a transition recording, more like "Steve McQueen" that "From Langley ..." and it requires some polished, but has good songs and no fan of the Sprouts will be disappointed.

This record is the most emblematic of the group. I like all the songs, beginning with this intriguing verse of "The King of Rock´n´Roll": hot dog, jumping frog, Albuquerque. Elvis, move your pelvis ! And we feel that atmosphere with "Cars and Girls". In "Enchanted" they ask, how do you recognize a king ? (Elvis, again ?), "Nightingales" is a romantic ballad with a brilliant lyrics. "Hey Manhattan !" is a mixture between fascination and disillusion to Manhattan seen by an outsider. "Knock on Wood" tells a tale that reminds us that we must not do that we don´t want others to do to us, "Nancy" is a beautiful ballad where the traditional roles of the job change, where the boss is a she. And the closing with a chorus is "The Venus of the Soup Chicken" is a direct reference to Florence Nightingale.

And that is not all, Stevie Wonder has the kindness to play the harmonica in "Nightingales" and in "Hey Manhattan !" Pete Townshend plays the acoustic guitar !.

One of their most ambitious records, Jordan is a rare mixing of themes, from biblical to american icons like Jesse James and more. In "Looking for Atlantis" they search for the Atlantis and the Holy Grail, while they look for "Wild Horses". "Carnival 2000" is one of those songs about the change of the millenium, in their own style. With "Jordan: The Comeback" begins the group of biblical themes. This is complemented with the dialog with God in "One of the Broken", and from Lucifer to "Michael", asking what if I pray ?, and "Mercy" could be this prayer. And we cannot wait for the "Scarlet Nights". 

About Jesse James there are two beautiful themes, a symphony and a bolero. We also have of those love songs that for another group would be clumsy but with the Sprouts is a delight. In "All the world loves lovers" they talk about love trying to not exceed, but it doesn´t matter. Like when they say "All boys believe anything". "The Ice Maiden" is about love in its maximum expression even when they have to pay with their life. "Paris Smith" is an elegant theme that makes you float in its delicate compasses. While "The Wedding March" is metaphorically speaking, difficult to dance ?, well, I Agree !

The last record of the group, is a mixing of themes about the stars and with several ones about what is love. It is not like they intent to but there are many songs about visions of love as an Avenue of Stars, as the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalipsis, feeling Weightless in a space adventure, defining the Mystery of Love, which is of course, a Miracle. A different theme is "Electric Guitars", a reminiscence about The Beatles.

“A Prisoner of the Past” deals with a not returned love, is not a song of submission or despair but says that the ghost of love will stay. "Whoever you are" is about the search of love knowing that is there out there somewhere and "Steal your thunder" tell us that there is only one great love in a lifetime. Is it true ?

“Andromeda Heights”, which gives the title to this record, makes you remind of that lack of understading of may people when dealing with great works, having to beat the indiference of the simple-minded and how they flatter you when it is completed. But, what the heck, at the end, it is yours that building near to the stars, isn´t ?

As a bonus to the japanese edition, it bring us "Just Because I Can" a variant of the Little Red Ridinghood and the fierce wolf, this time with a prince and a wolfman, but where the girl is not so innocent . . . 

There are two official compilations: "Life of Surprises:Best Of Prefab Sprout" and the double CD "38 Carat Collection".   Both offer a selection of the best known songs plus a couple of new songs. Well, almost.

"Life of Surprises:Best Of Prefab Sprout" contains one of the most beautiful songs of the group: "Sound of Crying" and that song only is worthy to buy this record. "If you don´t love me" may be the only dancing song of the group that is very nice and is a material for the remixes.

The first disc of "38 Carat Collection" is a collection of the A-side singles and the most known songs, where the second has other songs from the records. "Sound of Crying" and "If you don´t love me" also can be found here so if you get this 2CD, you won´t require the other compilation. The compilation is very good, although there are some omissions. One of the "new" songs is "Lions in my own garden" that was their first recording. I hope this is not like closing a full circle and we can enjoy more songs from the Sprouts, and the other theme "Where the heart is" is a wonderful melody with piano accompaniment.