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Prefab Sprout was always too good for the radio. Hearing the band's immaculate, gorgeously crafted pop songs alongside disposable, unimaginative records seemed like blasphemy. Perhaps many American radio programmers felt the same way, as most of this best-of compilation is obscure to U.S. listeners. While Two Wheels Good and From Langley Park to Memphis are superior purchases, A Life of Surprises is an engaging introduction to a group that is nowhere near as bizarre as its name. Much has been said about Paddy McAloon's warm, comforting voice, but like Paul Heaton of the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, his soothing croon can sometimes hide some pretty depressing lyrics. "When Love Breaks Down" is classic '80s new wave heartache: teary-eyed synthesizers, downtrodden basslines, and McAloon's whispery talk create a film noir atmosphere of deep sadness. The lyrics are sharpened by his adult observations. "When love breaks down/You join the wrecks/Who leave their hearts for easy sex," McAloon sings. The brutal honesty of those lines easily elevate "When Love Breaks Down" to the top class of breakup songs. Even more powerful is "Goodbye Lucille No. 1 (Johnny Johnny)," sung from the perspective of a man trying to make a close friend get over a girl who has rejected him. The words are frank and painfully realistic as McAloon doesn't sugarcoat the dialogue. McAloon rips into his buddy's futile romantic fantasies and lets the hard light of reality shine upon him: "Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you won't make it any better/Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you might well make it worse." If this sounds dreary it should be noted that Prefab Sprout isn't one of those grim British raincoat bands. The group has a number of wonderfully upbeat moments, such as on the exhilarating "Hey Manhattan!" and "Cars and Girls," a clever commentary on Bruce Springsteen's preoccupation with automobiles and women.
© Michael Sutton /TiVo
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Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Producer
(P) 1988 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Phil Thornally, Producer - Thomas Dolby, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Heff Moraes, Engineer
(P) 1992 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Associated Performer, Mixing Engineer, Producer - Brian Evans, Engineer - Tim Hunt, Engineer - Chris Sheldon, Engineer - Andy Scarth, Engineer - Dana Matt Barry, Assistant Engineer - Kathy Smith, Assistant Engineer - Sven Taits, Assistant Engineer - MIKE SHIPLEY, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Producer - Paul Cuddeford, Assistant Engineer - Karen White, Assistant Engineer - Adrian Moore, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Smith, Assistant Engineer - Derek McCartney, Assistant Engineer - Chris Puram, Assistant Engineer - Mark Williams, Assistant Engineer - Paul Gomersall, Recording Engineer - Eric Calvi, Mixing Engineer - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Associated Performer, Mixing Engineer, Producer - Brian Evans, Engineer - Tim Hunt, Engineer - Chris Sheldon, Engineer - Andy Scarth, Engineer - Dana Matt Barry, Assistant Engineer - Kathy Smith, Assistant Engineer - Sven Taits, Assistant Engineer - MIKE SHIPLEY, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Keyboards, Producer - David Leonard, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Tom Philips, Engineer - Cliff Brigden, Engineer - Tim Hunt, Engineer - David Concors, Engineer - Gonzales Espinoza, Engineer - Jon Kelly, Engineer - Richard Mookes, Engineer - Mickey Sweeney, Engineer - Michael H. Brauer, Engineer - Steve Lyon, Engineer - Mark O'donaghue, Engineer - Michael Ade, Engineer - Gary Olazabal, Engineer - Steve Van Day, Engineer - Peter Jones, Engineer - Terence Wilson, Engineer - Geoff Bruckner, Engineer - Karl Lever, Engineer - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer - Swoon, Mastering Engineer - Steve McQueen, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1988 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - David Brewis, Producer
(P) 1983 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Jon Kelly, Producer
(P) 1988 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Producer - Paul Cuddeford, Assistant Engineer - Karen White, Assistant Engineer - Adrian Moore, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Smith, Assistant Engineer - Derek McCartney, Assistant Engineer - Chris Puram, Assistant Engineer - Mark Williams, Assistant Engineer - Paul Gomersall, Recording Engineer - Eric Calvi, Mixing Engineer - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Richard Digby-Smith, Recording Engineer - Lance Phillps, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1989 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Associated Performer, Mixing Engineer, Producer - Brian Evans, Engineer - Tim Hunt, Engineer - Chris Sheldon, Engineer - Andy Scarth, Engineer - Dana Matt Barry, Assistant Engineer - Kathy Smith, Assistant Engineer - Sven Taits, Assistant Engineer - MIKE SHIPLEY, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Stephen Lipson, Producer - Heff Moraes, Engineer
(P) 1992 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Producer - Paul Cuddeford, Assistant Engineer - Karen White, Assistant Engineer - Adrian Moore, Assistant Engineer - Charlie Smith, Assistant Engineer - Derek McCartney, Assistant Engineer - Chris Puram, Assistant Engineer - Mark Williams, Assistant Engineer - Paul Gomersall, Recording Engineer - Eric Calvi, Mixing Engineer - Bernie Grundman, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Andy Richards, Producer
(P) 1988 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Prefab Sprout, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Paddy McAloon, Composer, Lyricist - Thomas Dolby, Producer - Stephen Lipson, Producer
(P) 1992 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Album review
Prefab Sprout was always too good for the radio. Hearing the band's immaculate, gorgeously crafted pop songs alongside disposable, unimaginative records seemed like blasphemy. Perhaps many American radio programmers felt the same way, as most of this best-of compilation is obscure to U.S. listeners. While Two Wheels Good and From Langley Park to Memphis are superior purchases, A Life of Surprises is an engaging introduction to a group that is nowhere near as bizarre as its name. Much has been said about Paddy McAloon's warm, comforting voice, but like Paul Heaton of the Housemartins and the Beautiful South, his soothing croon can sometimes hide some pretty depressing lyrics. "When Love Breaks Down" is classic '80s new wave heartache: teary-eyed synthesizers, downtrodden basslines, and McAloon's whispery talk create a film noir atmosphere of deep sadness. The lyrics are sharpened by his adult observations. "When love breaks down/You join the wrecks/Who leave their hearts for easy sex," McAloon sings. The brutal honesty of those lines easily elevate "When Love Breaks Down" to the top class of breakup songs. Even more powerful is "Goodbye Lucille No. 1 (Johnny Johnny)," sung from the perspective of a man trying to make a close friend get over a girl who has rejected him. The words are frank and painfully realistic as McAloon doesn't sugarcoat the dialogue. McAloon rips into his buddy's futile romantic fantasies and lets the hard light of reality shine upon him: "Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you won't make it any better/Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny you might well make it worse." If this sounds dreary it should be noted that Prefab Sprout isn't one of those grim British raincoat bands. The group has a number of wonderfully upbeat moments, such as on the exhilarating "Hey Manhattan!" and "Cars and Girls," a clever commentary on Bruce Springsteen's preoccupation with automobiles and women.
© Michael Sutton /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:24
- Main artists: Prefab Sprout
- Composer: Paddy McAloon
- Label: Kitchenware
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 1992 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.
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