The reason that Paddy wrote about Faron Young's Four In the Morning is that the Lyrics of that song are about a break up and this song is also about being dumped by his love hence you give me Faron Young Four In the Morning meaning that she gave him a similar kind of break up mentioned in the song, but realises he loves her and she does not love him back, he wanted sunshine and she gave him the fake sunshine of infrared (ie what you get on a sunbed), and the paper spoons and bubble gum about not wanting anything lasting. Paddy was a very clever song writer with a penchant for melancholy and metaphors
I am so surprised to see you discover Prefab Sprout. And pleased that you are so obviously taken with them. I have been a HUGE fan of their music since 1985. This is a rabbit hole that you will be very happy to float down. There is good reason why their "best of" compilation was titled "A Life of Surprises". You are the best too. You will soon be ready for bands like The Style Council and Aztec Camera.
I expect quite a lot of people are going to be along to say "but he hasn't even got to When Love Breaks Down and Goodbye Lucille #1" yet!" Paddy McAloon is one of the great British songwriters and still going today.
Please, continue with the rest of the album, it's one of my favorites!! And in the next songs i think you'll enjoy a lot too! I think Prefab Sprout is very underrated, along with the band Deacon Blue, and they write marvelous songs! By the way, this format with two songs in one video is very good!
It’s great you’re being exposed to the arguably the greatest 3 pop geniuses of the 80’s in Paddy McAloon, Andy Partridge and Mark Hollis. I think you’re going to love their output Justin
Hi Justin, Paddy Mcaloon is a song writing genius....one of the finest of his generation. His vocal style is quite brilliant and unique. So glad you like him...there's lots more from him to discover.
Prefab Sprout have been a hugely important part of my life since I was 13. That was 33 years ago!. In the early days I didn't really understand it all, I just FELT a connection with this music in a way I'd never connected with music before. As I grew older, elements began to reveal themselves to me. The music never stops giving. They are a blessing.
I'm glad you liked it, Justin. Paddy McAloon is a genius songwriter and a magician with metaphores. The horse (desire) and the thief (lust) are two examples that will pop up again in later songs. Put Horsin' Around from this album next to Wild Horses from the 1990 album Jordan: The Comeback. Or put Bonny next to The Best Jewel Thief In The World from Paddy's back to old form 2013 album Crimson / Red. But please first fulfill your journey through Prefab Sprouts 1985 classic album Steve McQueen. The comparison with XTC is a good one. But when XTC's roots can be found in the late 60's psychedelic Britpop and flower power, Prefab Sprout goes way back to the jazz and musical styles of the 40's and 50's. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thanks again for a band of I've never heard. From the rockabilly first song to smooth jazz, very adept! Faron Young has that Nashville bass shuffle and chicken- pickin' guitar and Bonny is a jazzy gem! Further listening is necessary! ☮️
Released in America as "Two Wheels Good" due to legal issues with the Steve McQueen estate. The whole album is freakin' amazing. I'm still listening to it on a fairly regular basis over 30 years later. Sounds as fresh today as it did when I first bought it. "Hear you got a new girlfriend...how's the wife takin' it?"
That estate of his really had its head up its butt. I bet Steve McQueen would have been proud to have such a gem of an album named after him. After all he was also reportedly flattered when the Stones namechecked him in "Star Star".
Added to my playlist today so thanks to the JustJP community! I’m fond of 80’s bands like Squeeze, Split Enz, Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Thomas Dolby, etc. It can certainly be complex but most of it just has that boppy feel-good groove that makes you want to dance and sing along. Prime example would be “Ever changing Mood” by Style Council. Its impossible not to dance when you hear it.
Some of my favourite artists in that list, Stephen! Squeeze's Difford & Tilbrook have rightly been described as heirs to Lennon & McCartney, while Neil Finn (Crowded House & Split Enz) is another great writer in that Beatles / sixties vein, albeit updated for the new wave and post punk era.
@@jeremyb5640 it was such a great era, New Wave/post Punk. Under appreciated and maybe for some decent reasons (less technical, more shallow in depth maybe, etc) but we wanted a new sound and the scene was just so refreshing. Heavy Metal and Dino Rock was played out. Very hard to keep up with everything but I sure tried. Missed a few so it’s great coming here and still finding some “new-to-me” music to add to my listens.
@@stephenpesta1550 I always say if 1977-85 had been a decade instead of 1980-89, it would widely recognised as one of the very best eras in music. Someone once coined the term 'Eightventies' to cover it! Such great memories growing up listening to music at that time. Agree there was some shallowness, although the Difford & Tilbrooks, McAloons, Costellos and Wellers could all write great melodies & hooks and covered some big themes in their lyrics.
Finally some Prefab Sprout! Thanks Justin for this and how nice you liked it. The rest of the album is also great, so you may have some reviewing to do :). Paddy McAloon is a great songwriter. The album was produced by Thomas Dolby and you can really hear his importance. These two guys together makes this album the best pop album of the 80's, in my opinion. "Cruel" from their first album Swoon is a also a must for you. Both musically and lyrically. Happy listening.
@@JustJP Swoon is a great album that really showcases Paddy's lyrical creativity. 'Elegance' a good case in point. Akin to Elvis Costello, his songs are always interesting.
Hallelujah. Both as a comment for you doing this, and as a song recommendation. It's my favorite in this record. Man, this takes me back. When people say "80s music" to me, I don't think of Duran Duran or hair metal. I think of this band or Waterboys.
Justin, you beauty! Glad to have been of some service. The rest of the album is pretty darn good as well. Produced by our old friend Thomas Dolby, by the way. Take care, stay safe.
@JustJP Hey Justin, I’m so happy you’ve discovered the genius that is Paddy McAloon. There’s so much wonderful music to discover. Paddy’s something of a national treasure here among those who love him, while being criminally underrated at the same time. Such an effortless gift for melody, following in the footsteps of Gershwin, McCartney and Brian Wilson. A great lyricist too. Often hearbtreakingly honest insights such as that last verse of ‘Bonny’. And an inspired use of metaphor. That said there’s a lot of wit in his catalogue too (The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Cornfield Ablaze, Best Jewel Thief In The World, etc, etc). His poor health - and his own doubts about the worth of his own songs - mean that the limited (but universally excellent) Sprout recordings this century are all the more precious. He’s still a gracious, endearing and entertaining raconteur in interviews and is sitting on an archive of literally hundreds of unreleased albums in demo form. Of the songs themselves - I’ve always loved Faron Young. What a great opening couplet. The drummer challenged Paddy to write a song starting with a random word and chose ‘antiques’. Not the most obvious word for a pop song but it fired Paddy’s imagination! I believe the song was partly because at the time it was written in the ‘70s, Paddy couldn’t understand the popularity of country music in the UK, although ironically he had to come to love it by the time the song was recorded. He also wanted to capture an idea about how fame can become a commodity rather than about the artist themselves (in this case Faron Young). Bonny is more typical of eighties Prefab Sprout, jazz tinged, synths and those lovely breathy Wendy Smith harmonies. This album remains a classic 36 years later. I listen to it at least twice a month. Yes, there is a sophistication in both the music and lyrics that may have prevented the band from gaining even more success, but it’s part of what makes this record and this band so special. The music and the songs still touch me and connect with me to this day. As others have said Thomas Dolby’s production is perfect here. However, the acoustic reworkings of these songs (on the 20th anniversary reissue of the album), shorn of the eighties stylings, are arguably even more affecting.
@@HippoYnYrEira 'Crimson / Red' is a gorgeous record. 'The Songs of Danny Galway' sums up beautifully what Paddy's music means to me, even though he's writing it about his own songwriting hero.
@@jeremyb5640 guess what I'm trying to listen to now? Let's just say I'm in a Musical Time Machine and the journey's twisted my faculties. No wonder he didn't release L_ _'_ C_ _ _ _ _ T_ _ W_ _ _ _ W_ _ _ M_ _ _ _! ? at the time! (Andromeda Heights was a culture shock but eventually made complete sense.) LCTWWM is just off the scale in it's Cheese Factor but what if we love our Cheese? It's Just so Musically Naff ! But with a Warm Heart. A very warm Heart. And I'm digging it now on this JP inspired Paddy Wave...!! which brings us to the unique brilliance of I Trawl the Megahertz: a Long Song Saturday Cert in 2022 if we get there 🏴
I love this! You keep trying out my favorites, JP, favorites I thought would be incredibly obscure to an American grown up in the nineties or oddies :) Prefab Sprout is primarily the veichle of Paddy McAloon, and this albums marks the band/artist's transition from melodic new wave to an exceptionally beautiful soul-pop sound full of feels.
Thrilled that you loved this Justin on first listen, I seriously rate this as one of the best albums of the 80s and a big step up from their debut. Credit to Thomas Dolby for the superb production, I don't think the Prefabs ever bettered this one!
You really can't do anything else than love Prefab Sprout. 2 other albums that stand out with them is "Jordan:the comeback" and "Crimson Red". Great albums!!
@@jsghetler actually, the album that was recorded next was "Protest Songs". But Langley was released before it. You can tell, because Protest Songs sounds so much like Steve McQueen.
Wow I love prefab sprout!! Faron Young is so not typical Prefab. Most of their music is wistful beautiful pop and yes like XTC intelligent songwriting but Paddy’s songs grab your heart without ever being mushy. Their big hit King of rock n roll is also atypical. Their best work were the flops.
Bonny is one of the best songs I know , it has fabulous hooks timing and atmosphere . Everything fits as a whole. It's perfect , geniusly and strong and so you'll probably never get tired of it . Those songs are very very rare . The album was only one year old when it appeared in an obscure list of the top 20 best albums ever made .. so that counts for something as well
Coooool! More from PS 😉 That album deserves a whole reaction. One of few bands that only created gold. Pure sophisticated pop 😉 Maybe "Horsin' around" or "Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny)" next? You"ll be amazed by their jazzy progressions 😉
Probably my most listened to album of 1986 and 1986 had a lot of great albums. To this day I still play it monthly give or take. Picked up blindly after reading a rave review in the old Creem Magazine. They rarely raved about things so when they did it was usually something worth checking out.
Prefab is hands down my fav band ever... all albums are stellar... Paddy is a genius on every level... !!! Great you discovered them now!!! Congrats!!!
Love Prefab Sprout a band from my neck of the woods. Pleased you have liked what you have heard so far. Paddy is an awsome Songwriter. Hope you check more out from them. Great Reaction
One of my biggest influences & one of the best Produced records you will ever hear, I wish more people would do a "first time hearing" of Prefab Sprout. Paddy is one of the best songwriters we've ever had & I can remember being 17 doing what you're doing, trying to decipher his amazing lyrics & word play but in the end Paddy sums it up in his song "Couldn't Bear To Be Special" when he sings "Words are trains for moving past what really has no name."
I was so pumped that you did these songs. I knew nothing about them either when this album came out, but I read a review that said it was the best album of the year. I bought it off that recommendation, and I agreed. I wore it out over the next few months. The whole album is awesome. They have a half dozen other albums, but I don't think they hit nearly as well as this one. BTW, the album is also called Two Wheels Good, which is what I think it was called in the states for some reason.
Fun Fact: The Estate of movie star Steve McQueen didn't allow this album title to be used in North America. Here, and on my copy, the album was called "Two Wheels Good", a play on the Orwell Animal Farm thought of Animals (4 legs) Good. Humans (2 legs) Bad. They flipped it to imply 4 Wheels (cars) Bad. Two Wheels (motorbikes) Good! Clever lad that Paddy. And yes, every one here who suggested you get into Aztec Camera's album: Highland, Hard Rain are right in doing so. You will love every track. Cheers Justin!
Love this band and really respect your honest review.. most reviewers wouldn’t admit they didn’t know who Faron Young was.. so refreshing, new subscriber here.. 👏🏻👏🏻
Hi Justin. Procol Harum, Mike Oldfield, Talk Talk and now Prefab Sprout - you're really gobbling up all my favourites! I'm confident that you will fall head over heels in love with the music of Prefab Sprout. In a troublesome world they are more than a glimpse of heaven. In Paddy McAloon you have an awesome song writing talent, musically, lyrically and spiritually. The man himself, humble and thoughtful is just too good for this world. Sadly his musical output has been badly affected over the past decades by a debilitating hearing problem. The first album 'Swoon' is quite remarkable, but is like a meal that is too rich - 10 albums-worth of ideas on just one. 'Steve McQueen' ('Two Wheels Good' in the U.S, - The McQueen family resented the use of his name), their breakthrough, is one of their two classics, 'Jordon: The Comeback' being the other.....As an aside, I recall a few years after this release seeing a surprising performance on TV with Paddy duetting with one of his idols, the great jimmy Webb perfectly combining to sing the latter's 'The Highwayman'. The master and apprentice. See here. th-cam.com/video/LhZA8GuZ1SI/w-d-xo.html
I was at Uni when this album came out and it was an instant hit with students of my generation. Beautiful, delicate, wistful, with just the right amount of grit. The whole album is a classic.
I'm not lying, it's four in the morning as I watch/listen to this. Delighted you're listening to Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen. And hey, you've got the right album title, not the American version, 'Two Wheels Good'.
Cool to see you discovering Prefab Sprout, one of my favorite bands of all time. Their first six albums are all excellent and well worth multiple listens. As a lot of others have said, Paddy Mcaloon was a master songwriter with a keen sense of melody, which is what I like the most about their records. I look forward to you reacting to more of their music, but I hope you'll try something from their following album 'From Langley Park To Memphis'. It's all good whatever you pick. Thanks for the video
This is one of the best albums ever released. I am a loyal prog, Steely Dan, Radiohead fan. But this blows me away time and again and I will always be in my all time top 10.
Far out, man. Reacting to Prefab Sprout! Cheers on ya, man. This is one of my all-time favourite albums, from the day I got it when it first came out. Fuck, it's SO GOOD!!! The album is sheer perfection, from start to finish. "Bonny" being my personal fav from the album; but everything on this album is genius. Paddy McAloon is one of the world's greatest songwriters. "Life's not complete 'till your heart's missed a ____ beat."
Prefab Sprout, are a great, and not so much a known Band. They have many, many great songs. I think songs 'Appetite', 'Johnny Johnny', 'Carnival 2000', 'Cars and Girls', 'Hey Manhattan', 'The Golden Calf', 'Looking For Atlantis', are some nice songs to start out listening too.
Completely new to me. So far, the first song sounds like Squeeze's and Thomas Dolby's love child with a wee hint of indie pop. Not a bad thing. The second song is pure indie for me. My first thought was Neko Case's "This Tornado Loves You" but the lyrics about Farley made me think of the family dog from Lynn Johnston's For Better Or Worse (or wait... that was Bonnie? Doh! nvm.). Nice indie song. I could listen to these guys on a regular basis. If you like em, play em. I'll listen. Good songs, etc.
Paddy McAloon, so gifted such a shame that he has been plagued by sight & hearing issues... Love Prefab, definitely one of my favourite bands of all time, it's great to watch somebody else discover what you already know...
Great that that eventually got to Prefab Sprout - my favourite eighties jazz and sophisticated-pop band. Some songs connect personally with me from this album; especially being someone who has suffered from severe alcoholism and depression, you see the songs can be taken in another different context too. It's an album that's helped me realise that I'm not alone and helped me come through to the other side every now and then. So thank you, JP for another great album. Just wait until you get "When Love Breaks Down"...magic
So happy you did Prefab Sprout! I’ve loved them for so long. This album is one of the greatest ever! That said, I love, love, love the opening track on their next LP. Listen to “Looking for Atlantis” off of Jordan: The Comeback. Great reaction!
@@jeremyb5640 it took me a while to get into the last "side" of the album with the more spiritual/religious stuff. it still comes off a bit heavy handed (along with stuff like God Watch Over You and Ride), but most of Jordan is super on point.
I've been a fan since I first heard them on the little radio station WHFS in Bethesda, Maryland USA. From the second I heard "From Langley Park to Memphis" I was hooked for good on them and am pleased to say my 23 year old daughter recently mentioned she's been listening to them a lot, I had no idea. their music is contagious!!😏
This album was hugely popular with us hipsters in '85. Great album and every track is pure class. You've got to play "When Love Breaks Down", "Goodbye Lucille" and "Appetite" after this!!
Great choice, great band, great album......as was their previous album 'Swoon'....which happens to include possibly the greatest song recorded in the 1980's...the marvelous 'Cruel' 💗😎
One of so many albums I must shamefully admit to have never gotten around to listen to as of yet. Just what the hell was I thinking?! I must be taking care of that right away!
I watch a lot of reaction videos and have seen you before. But you absolutely won me over with this thoughtful reaction to a band I have recently rediscovered. Woefully under appreciated in the US due to there lack of touring the US even back in the 80s. (They didn’t tour much to begin with. ) Paddy is such a great songwriter and vocalist. Must do tracks: Appetite Cars and Girls When Love Breaks Down The Sound of Crying King of Rock N Roll is catchy but a bit of a novelty song (about a novelty song) and Paddy himself says it’s not really representative of the body of work. Nice work!
Hey Tim, there's a nice story that Paul McCartney told Paddy at a party that the King Of Rock 'N' Roll was his 'My Ding-a-Ling' - i.e. Chuck Berry's huge novelty hit in the early seventies! As you say, it ended up becoming the very thing he was parodying!
I wish I could remember exactly *why* I bought this album shortly after it came out. Recommendation? Review? No idea. All I can remember is being totally enthralled with it, especially "Bonny" and "Appetite." Love the alliteration in the line: "All my insights from retro-spect-but-Bonny..." Great, great record.
One of my absolute favorite Pop Album of the 1980s. Nice reaction as well. Thx Justin. Please give The Lotus Eaters-No Sense Of Sin album a listen, it's very nice. Tip:The First Picture Of You. Best wishes from Germany.
I wrote a review of 'Two Wheels Good' (the American title) for my college newspaper when this record came out in 1985 and I think that I was the only one who read the newspaper who actually ever listened to this album. :)
Fantastic. Bonny is in my top 10 of all time so I'm probably not the most objective listener - pleased you've discovered them and there's a lot more to discover - enjoy the journey!
Props for weaving 'coalesce' into the review...! Bonny is just the perfect way to get into Prefab. And so many McAloon gems for you to now discover: 'We Let The Stars Go', 'Wild Horses', 'All The World Loves Lovers', 'I Remember That'... Enjoy!
Bonny is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's very mellow sounding yet also quite moving. And as you mentioned, the production is stellar. I don't think Thomas Dolby who produced this album and their following album gets enough credit for their sound. If you can get around to it, Paddy McAloon released an EP of alternative acoustic versions of several songs on this album including Bonny. I think they're well worth checking out. ;)
JP, great you found Prefab Sprout. Be sure to consider that Thomas Dolby produced the album. Another song - Horsin Around from the same album is going to make you eat your words about listening to a new band - wondering if all songs on an album are the same. Horsin Around is a trip, man.
I started following your channel for the prog stuff but it's great to be introduced to a band that I never would have thought of listening to. I'd heard of them - The King of Rock n Roll was a reasonably well known hit in the UK in the 80s, but as this video demonstrates, they were so much more than a one-hit wonder.
Your instincts ! Trust them, always ! 'There is something deeper going on here' you say. Damn right. You have hit pay dirt ! Paddy McAloon and Prefab Sprout are 24 carat gold. He is a songwriter that has been on the same level as Gershwin, Brian Wilson, Lennon and McCartney. Paddy gives us a memorable melody and tune, every time. He does use though a lot of electronics, especially now that he seems he records alone (due to illness and long-drown out recording processes, I reckon). But nothing can undermine the essential and sublime melody in his music. This is pop music, but pop music crafted and honed by a tune craftsman. (Shush !....a genius, perhaps ?) Your gut instinct is so spot on. First off, there is an acoustic (real guitar) version of "Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good", listen, please I pray, to 'Desire As'. The song, stripped bare of electronics, becomes ethereal, soaring, and stunningly moving. A melody so strong that an acoustic guitar alone can carry it, renewed and redacted. The process of recording this 25th anniversary edition was drown out and excruciating for Paddy. He suffered, at the time from a retinal detachment and handicapped by Menieres disease (affecting hearing, balance and sight !) that causes such suffering that recording music is painful. He must be on the mend though, as he is often is seen in his native Newcastle wearing a characteristic white suit, red fedora, shades (therapeutic,of course) and a cane. He is apparently very sweet and will chat to fans that recognise him (who wouldn't) He has many unreleased songs on file waiting for Sony to give the OK ? Fans, like me, have to wait. We wait though, for the songwriting gods, (yeah !looking at you, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel !) there must surely be a new "The Sound of Crying'', "Appetite" and 'Looking for Atlantis' -like tune just on the horizon, for us to lift our souls with hope. Shurely ? Justin, lose yourself, get lost in the 'Sprouts' ! And keep on chuckling. So infectious. Thanks.
Got a video for you, I've just seen it. Genesis live Bataclan France, January 1973. Excellent video quality, stripped down performance in a private club. Closes-ups of everyone. Old King Cole, Musical Box, and Giant Hogweed. No light show, Phil on a tiny drum kit, more video of Mike than I've ever seen before. Funny thing is hardly any video of Steve. Interview in french afterward.
@@bobholtzmann I'm watching old shows of William Shattner, early sixties, with old commercials! But the film is so grainy it's hard to see anything. I wish someone would do a restoration on these old shows.
@@bobholtzmann A one-hour movie named "Channing", a cop series, "For the People", and another cop series (not the seventies series with the black hair!) I haven't watched it yet and forget the name, but it will pop up as soon as you search For the People. He also had a small part in which he was very good, I think it was "The Nuremberg Trial". Excellent movie.
I remember listening to the album first time, instant love! With a lot of music you like it sometimes fades in time, not this classic, still listening to the genius of paddy 36 years later!
I love this review, your reactions are priceless! Paddy to me the probably the UK's greatest songwriter. It stinks of Thomas Dolby with his excellent production! But listen to Paddy's acoustic version of the album it's awesome!
The reason that Paddy wrote about Faron Young's Four In the Morning is that the Lyrics of that song are about a break up and this song is also about being dumped by his love hence you give me Faron Young Four In the Morning meaning that she gave him a similar kind of break up mentioned in the song, but realises he loves her and she does not love him back, he wanted sunshine and she gave him the fake sunshine of infrared (ie what you get on a sunbed), and the paper spoons and bubble gum about not wanting anything lasting. Paddy was a very clever song writer with a penchant for melancholy and metaphors
I am so surprised to see you discover Prefab Sprout. And pleased that you are so obviously taken with them. I have been a HUGE fan of their music since 1985. This is a rabbit hole that you will be very happy to float down. There is good reason why their "best of" compilation was titled "A Life of Surprises". You are the best too. You will soon be ready for bands like The Style Council and Aztec Camera.
Style Council is a must!
I expect quite a lot of people are going to be along to say "but he hasn't even got to When Love Breaks Down and Goodbye Lucille #1" yet!" Paddy McAloon is one of the great British songwriters and still going today.
And what about Horsing' Around and Desire As?
Hey, you peeps forgetting Moving The River?
See my comment above 🤣
@@murdockreviews I see it. You surely are a truly gifted kid.
@@harripalomaki8796 🤓
Thomas Dolby production, playing and arrangements are vital to the greatness of this album. I can ear is input all over the album.
It's almost too Dolby, which wasn't a bad thing. This is like how Badfinger was too Beatles.
Ah, that explains it then.
JP should do "Hyperactive " by Thomas Dolby. An awesome unknown cut from the 80s.
one of my favourite albums of all time. it's a classic of sophisticated 80s pop
Prefab Sprout it’s my favorite band! They are really elegant and sophisticated. Greetings from México 👋🏻
Ty Jofiel! Hope youre having a great day!
No sabia que Prefab Sprout fueron conocidos en Mexico.
Please, continue with the rest of the album, it's one of my favorites!! And in the next songs i think you'll enjoy a lot too! I think Prefab Sprout is very underrated, along with the band Deacon Blue, and they write marvelous songs! By the way, this format with two songs in one video is very good!
It’s great you’re being exposed to the arguably the greatest 3 pop geniuses of the 80’s in Paddy McAloon, Andy Partridge and Mark Hollis. I think you’re going to love their output Justin
Hi Justin, Paddy Mcaloon is a song writing genius....one of the finest of his generation. His vocal style is quite brilliant and unique. So glad you like him...there's lots more from him to discover.
Prefab Sprout have been a hugely important part of my life since I was 13. That was 33 years ago!. In the early days I didn't really understand it all, I just FELT a connection with this music in a way I'd never connected with music before. As I grew older, elements began to reveal themselves to me. The music never stops giving. They are a blessing.
I'm glad you liked it, Justin. Paddy McAloon is a genius songwriter and a magician with metaphores. The horse (desire) and the thief (lust) are two examples that will pop up again in later songs. Put Horsin' Around from this album next to Wild Horses from the 1990 album Jordan: The Comeback. Or put Bonny next to The Best Jewel Thief In The World from Paddy's back to old form 2013 album Crimson / Red. But please first fulfill your journey through Prefab Sprouts 1985 classic album Steve McQueen. The comparison with XTC is a good one. But when XTC's roots can be found in the late 60's psychedelic Britpop and flower power, Prefab Sprout goes way back to the jazz and musical styles of the 40's and 50's. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Some of my favourive by Prefab Sprout: "Cruel," "The best jewel thief in the world", "Cowboy Dreams", "Cars and Girls".
Thanks again for a band of I've never heard. From the rockabilly first song to smooth jazz, very adept! Faron Young has that Nashville bass shuffle and chicken- pickin' guitar and Bonny is a jazzy gem! Further listening is necessary! ☮️
Glad you liked them!😄
You have not heard anything yet:) Try some of the other albums:)
@@magiske You said it been listening to it all! Fantastic!!!
Released in America as "Two Wheels Good" due to legal issues with the Steve McQueen estate. The whole album is freakin' amazing. I'm still listening to it on a fairly regular basis over 30 years later. Sounds as fresh today as it did when I first bought it. "Hear you got a new girlfriend...how's the wife takin' it?"
That estate of his really had its head up its butt. I bet Steve McQueen would have been proud to have such a gem of an album named after him. After all he was also reportedly flattered when the Stones namechecked him in "Star Star".
Love that line. Also, "Life's not complete 'till your heart's missed a __ beat."
Interesting. Andy Partridge : backing vocals on "Cloudburst at Shingle Street". Thomas Dolby : Producer of "Steve Mcqueen".
Please do the whole album, Faron Young is the 'rockiest' track. You will love Appetite, When Love Breaks Down, Goodbye Lucille and Desire As.
Great album, great lyrics. Beautiful and sublime.
Added to my playlist today so thanks to the JustJP community! I’m fond of 80’s bands like Squeeze, Split Enz, Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Thomas Dolby, etc. It can certainly be complex but most of it just has that boppy feel-good groove that makes you want to dance and sing along. Prime example would be “Ever changing Mood” by Style Council. Its impossible not to dance when you hear it.
or drum to the drum fill...
@@HippoYnYrEira absolutely!
Some of my favourite artists in that list, Stephen! Squeeze's Difford & Tilbrook have rightly been described as heirs to Lennon & McCartney, while Neil Finn (Crowded House & Split Enz) is another great writer in that Beatles / sixties vein, albeit updated for the new wave and post punk era.
@@jeremyb5640 it was such a great era, New Wave/post Punk. Under appreciated and maybe for some decent reasons (less technical, more shallow in depth maybe, etc) but we wanted a new sound and the scene was just so refreshing. Heavy Metal and Dino Rock was played out. Very hard to keep up with everything but I sure tried. Missed a few so it’s great coming here and still finding some “new-to-me” music to add to my listens.
@@stephenpesta1550 I always say if 1977-85 had been a decade instead of 1980-89, it would widely recognised as one of the very best eras in music. Someone once coined the term 'Eightventies' to cover it! Such great memories growing up listening to music at that time.
Agree there was some shallowness, although the Difford & Tilbrooks, McAloons, Costellos and Wellers could all write great melodies & hooks and covered some big themes in their lyrics.
Finally some Prefab Sprout! Thanks Justin for this and how nice you liked it. The rest of the album is also great, so you may have some reviewing to do :). Paddy McAloon is a great songwriter. The album was produced by Thomas Dolby and you can really hear his importance. These two guys together makes this album the best pop album of the 80's, in my opinion. "Cruel" from their first album Swoon is a also a must for you. Both musically and lyrically. Happy listening.
Ty John! I'd hoped this would make you happy😄
@@JustJP Swoon is a great album that really showcases Paddy's lyrical creativity. 'Elegance' a good case in point. Akin to Elvis Costello, his songs are always interesting.
Hallelujah. Both as a comment for you doing this, and as a song recommendation. It's my favorite in this record. Man, this takes me back. When people say "80s music" to me, I don't think of Duran Duran or hair metal. I think of this band or Waterboys.
Rec'd for the Waterboys.
Loved The Waterboys
Wow. What a flashback. I used to love that song. You can hear TD's fingerprints all over this.
Congrats you dug another massively underrated band from that era.
Got my shovel always at the ready!
Brilliant Album! Time for "Aliens Ate My Buick!"
Justin, you beauty! Glad to have been of some service. The rest of the album is pretty darn good as well. Produced by our old friend Thomas Dolby, by the way. Take care, stay safe.
@JustJP Hey Justin, I’m so happy you’ve discovered the genius that is Paddy McAloon. There’s so much wonderful music to discover.
Paddy’s something of a national treasure here among those who love him, while being criminally underrated at the same time. Such an effortless gift for melody, following in the footsteps of Gershwin, McCartney and Brian Wilson. A great lyricist too. Often hearbtreakingly honest insights such as that last verse of ‘Bonny’. And an inspired use of metaphor. That said there’s a lot of wit in his catalogue too (The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, Cornfield Ablaze, Best Jewel Thief In The World, etc, etc). His poor health - and his own doubts about the worth of his own songs - mean that the limited (but universally excellent) Sprout recordings this century are all the more precious. He’s still a gracious, endearing and entertaining raconteur in interviews and is sitting on an archive of literally hundreds of unreleased albums in demo form.
Of the songs themselves - I’ve always loved Faron Young. What a great opening couplet. The drummer challenged Paddy to write a song starting with a random word and chose ‘antiques’. Not the most obvious word for a pop song but it fired Paddy’s imagination! I believe the song was partly because at the time it was written in the ‘70s, Paddy couldn’t understand the popularity of country music in the UK, although ironically he had to come to love it by the time the song was recorded. He also wanted to capture an idea about how fame can become a commodity rather than about the artist themselves (in this case Faron Young).
Bonny is more typical of eighties Prefab Sprout, jazz tinged, synths and those lovely breathy Wendy Smith harmonies.
This album remains a classic 36 years later. I listen to it at least twice a month. Yes, there is a sophistication in both the music and lyrics that may have prevented the band from gaining even more success, but it’s part of what makes this record and this band so special. The music and the songs still touch me and connect with me to this day.
As others have said Thomas Dolby’s production is perfect here. However, the acoustic reworkings of these songs (on the 20th anniversary reissue of the album), shorn of the eighties stylings, are arguably even more affecting.
Paddy is a songwriting genius. I recommend all Prefabs albums in particular Jordan The Comeback which is a 19 song masterpiece. Enjoy the ride.
Excellent idea. As a Concept album centric Channel, that's a no brainer.
Five sixths of Crimson / Red still makes me cry tears of Joy and Yearning.
@@HippoYnYrEira 'Crimson / Red' is a gorgeous record. 'The Songs of Danny Galway' sums up beautifully what Paddy's music means to me, even though he's writing it about his own songwriting hero.
@@jeremyb5640 guess what I'm trying to listen to now? Let's just say I'm in a Musical Time Machine and the journey's twisted my faculties. No wonder he didn't release L_ _'_ C_ _ _ _ _ T_ _ W_ _ _ _ W_ _ _ M_ _ _ _! ? at the time!
(Andromeda Heights was a culture shock but eventually made complete sense.) LCTWWM is just off the scale in it's Cheese Factor but what if we love our Cheese? It's Just so Musically Naff ! But with a Warm Heart. A very warm Heart. And I'm digging it now on this JP inspired Paddy Wave...!!
which brings us to the unique brilliance of
I Trawl the Megahertz:
a Long Song Saturday Cert in 2022 if we get there 🏴
I love this! You keep trying out my favorites, JP, favorites I thought would be incredibly obscure to an American grown up in the nineties or oddies :) Prefab Sprout is primarily the veichle of Paddy McAloon, and this albums marks the band/artist's transition from melodic new wave to an exceptionally beautiful soul-pop sound full of feels.
I love a sprout me, I reckon Paddy wrote Faron Young at 4 in the Morning.
"Every mother's son's romantic."
WoW! Never even heard about them! Really interesting! Definitely gone check them a little bit closer. Great Justin!
Glad you liked them!
I so love when the song Bonny kicks in. The song is both propulsive and lush at the same time. It’s so unique.
Thrilled that you loved this Justin on first listen, I seriously rate this as one of the best albums of the 80s and a big step up from their debut. Credit to Thomas Dolby for the superb production, I don't think the Prefabs ever bettered this one!
If you like Prefab Sprout you have to listen absolutely to Danny Wilson too
You really can't do anything else than love Prefab Sprout.
2 other albums that stand out with them is "Jordan:the comeback"
and "Crimson Red".
Great albums!!
Love this album and it’s follow up
You talking Langley Park? Love that one.
@@jsghetler actually, the album that was recorded next was "Protest Songs". But Langley was released before it. You can tell, because Protest Songs sounds so much like Steve McQueen.
Great band, Great songs. Your in for a treat exploring their catalog. I am a bit envious.
One of my favorite albums of all time
Wow I love prefab sprout!! Faron Young is so not typical Prefab. Most of their music is wistful beautiful pop and yes like XTC intelligent songwriting but Paddy’s songs grab your heart without ever being mushy. Their big hit King of rock n roll is also atypical. Their best work were the flops.
Bonny is one of the best songs I know , it has fabulous hooks timing and atmosphere . Everything fits as a whole. It's perfect , geniusly and strong and so you'll probably never get tired of it . Those songs are very very rare . The album was only one year old when it appeared in an obscure list of the top 20 best albums ever made .. so that counts for something as well
Coooool! More from PS 😉
That album deserves a whole reaction. One of few bands that only created gold.
Pure sophisticated pop 😉
Maybe "Horsin' around" or "Goodbye Lucille #1 (Johnny Johnny)" next? You"ll be amazed by their jazzy progressions 😉
I absolutely love Prefab Sprout. They hold a special place in my heart and I cry a little every time I hear this album.
Paddy's a lyrical genius. His work brings us all joy and great memories.
I used to play Bonny over and over again when i was 18, after a girl rejected me.......bad times.
Really love your appreciative and intellectual commentary here on my favorite band, lovely work.
Thank you so much Fenimore! :D
Probably my most listened to album of 1986 and 1986 had a lot of great albums. To this day I still play it monthly give or take. Picked up blindly after reading a rave review in the old Creem Magazine. They rarely raved about things so when they did it was usually something worth checking out.
Bonny is one of the greatest songs of all time. Paddy has such massive songwriting chops....
Prefab is hands down my fav band ever... all albums are stellar... Paddy is a genius on every level... !!! Great you discovered them now!!! Congrats!!!
Love Prefab Sprout a band from my neck of the woods. Pleased you have liked what you have heard so far. Paddy is an awsome Songwriter. Hope you check more out from them. Great Reaction
The next two tracks are awesome
One of my biggest influences & one of the best Produced records you will ever hear, I wish more people would do a "first time hearing" of Prefab Sprout. Paddy is one of the best songwriters we've ever had & I can remember being 17 doing what you're doing, trying to decipher his amazing lyrics & word play but in the end Paddy sums it up in his song "Couldn't Bear To Be Special" when he sings
"Words are trains for moving past what really has no name."
Thanks for watching VG, I definitely wanna hear more!
It’s a marvellous album. Bought it straight off originally and absolutely wore the cassette out in my car. Great review JP ❤️
I was so pumped that you did these songs. I knew nothing about them either when this album came out, but I read a review that said it was the best album of the year. I bought it off that recommendation, and I agreed. I wore it out over the next few months. The whole album is awesome. They have a half dozen other albums, but I don't think they hit nearly as well as this one. BTW, the album is also called Two Wheels Good, which is what I think it was called in the states for some reason.
Fun Fact: The Estate of movie star Steve McQueen didn't allow this album title to be used in North America. Here, and on my copy, the album was called "Two Wheels Good", a play on the Orwell Animal Farm thought of Animals (4 legs) Good. Humans (2 legs) Bad. They flipped it to imply 4 Wheels (cars) Bad. Two Wheels (motorbikes) Good! Clever lad that Paddy.
And yes, every one here who suggested you get into Aztec Camera's album: Highland, Hard Rain are right in doing so. You will love every track. Cheers Justin!
Yep I think high land hard rain would blow him away.
The King of Rock 'N roll.is another one by prefab sprouts
First time hearing this
Heard during the birth of my daughter. She died 12 days later. Such spot on poetry
They wrote perfect pop songs, and even a little bit more than this. They just sound good, I love the harmonies, the vocals, very catchy and upbeat.
Love this band and really respect your honest review.. most reviewers wouldn’t admit they didn’t know who Faron Young was.. so refreshing, new subscriber here.. 👏🏻👏🏻
Ty Youngson!
Hi Justin. Procol Harum, Mike Oldfield, Talk Talk and now Prefab Sprout - you're really gobbling up all my favourites! I'm confident that you will fall head over heels in love with the music of Prefab Sprout. In a troublesome world they are more than a glimpse of heaven. In Paddy McAloon you have an awesome song writing talent, musically, lyrically and spiritually. The man himself, humble and thoughtful is just too good for this world. Sadly his musical output has been badly affected over the past decades by a debilitating hearing problem. The first album 'Swoon' is quite remarkable, but is like a meal that is too rich - 10 albums-worth of ideas on just one. 'Steve McQueen' ('Two Wheels Good' in the U.S, - The McQueen family resented the use of his name), their breakthrough, is one of their two classics, 'Jordon: The Comeback' being the other.....As an aside, I recall a few years after this release seeing a surprising performance on TV with Paddy duetting with one of his idols, the great jimmy Webb perfectly combining to sing the latter's 'The Highwayman'. The master and apprentice. See here. th-cam.com/video/LhZA8GuZ1SI/w-d-xo.html
I was at Uni when this album came out and it was an instant hit with students of my generation. Beautiful, delicate, wistful, with just the right amount of grit. The whole album is a classic.
This was one of my go to albums back at college. It's a low key classic.
I'm not lying, it's four in the morning as I watch/listen to this. Delighted you're listening to Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen. And hey, you've got the right album title, not the American version, 'Two Wheels Good'.
Cool to see you discovering Prefab Sprout, one of my favorite bands of all time. Their first six albums are all excellent and well worth multiple listens. As a lot of others have said, Paddy Mcaloon was a master songwriter with a keen sense of melody, which is what I like the most about their records. I look forward to you reacting to more of their music, but I hope you'll try something from their following album 'From Langley Park To Memphis'. It's all good whatever you pick. Thanks for the video
This is one of the best albums ever released. I am a loyal prog, Steely Dan, Radiohead fan. But this blows me away time and again and I will always be in my all time top 10.
Far out, man. Reacting to Prefab Sprout! Cheers on ya, man. This is one of my all-time favourite albums, from the day I got it when it first came out. Fuck, it's SO GOOD!!! The album is sheer perfection, from start to finish. "Bonny" being my personal fav from the album; but everything on this album is genius. Paddy McAloon is one of the world's greatest songwriters. "Life's not complete 'till your heart's missed a ____ beat."
Prefab Sprout, are a great, and not so much a known Band.
They have many, many great songs.
I think songs 'Appetite', 'Johnny Johnny', 'Carnival 2000', 'Cars and Girls', 'Hey Manhattan', 'The Golden Calf', 'Looking For Atlantis', are some nice songs to start out listening too.
Completely new to me. So far, the first song sounds like Squeeze's and Thomas Dolby's love child with a wee hint of indie pop. Not a bad thing. The second song is pure indie for me. My first thought was Neko Case's "This Tornado Loves You" but the lyrics about Farley made me think of the family dog from Lynn Johnston's For Better Or Worse (or wait... that was Bonnie? Doh! nvm.). Nice indie song. I could listen to these guys on a regular basis. If you like em, play em. I'll listen.
Good songs, etc.
Squeeze and Neko Case as reference points, totally agree!
a great classic... and still rocking!
Paddy McAloon, so gifted such a shame that he has been plagued by sight & hearing issues... Love Prefab, definitely one of my favourite bands of all time, it's great to watch somebody else discover what you already know...
Great that that eventually got to Prefab Sprout - my favourite eighties jazz and sophisticated-pop band.
Some songs connect personally with me from this album; especially being someone who has suffered from severe alcoholism and depression, you see the songs can be taken in another different context too.
It's an album that's helped me realise that I'm not alone and helped me come through to the other side every now and then.
So thank you, JP for another great album. Just wait until you get "When Love Breaks Down"...magic
So happy you did Prefab Sprout! I’ve loved them for so long. This album is one of the greatest ever! That said, I love, love, love the opening track on their next LP. Listen to “Looking for Atlantis” off of Jordan: The Comeback. Great reaction!
amazing song :) right before Wild Horses
Jordan is a fantastic album - and a concept one at that, so right up Justin's street! ;)
@@jeremyb5640 it took me a while to get into the last "side" of the album with the more spiritual/religious stuff. it still comes off a bit heavy handed (along with stuff like God Watch Over You and Ride), but most of Jordan is super on point.
"Enchanted" is also a great song. They have many.
I've been a fan since I first heard them on the little radio station WHFS in Bethesda, Maryland USA. From the second I heard "From Langley Park to Memphis" I was hooked for good on them and am pleased to say my 23 year old daughter recently mentioned she's been listening to them a lot, I had no idea. their music is contagious!!😏
you gave yourself a gift by landing on Prefab Sprout... well done!
This album was hugely popular with us hipsters in '85. Great album and every track is pure class. You've got to play "When Love Breaks Down", "Goodbye Lucille" and "Appetite" after this!!
Learned about this band from your channel. Really enjoying their music!This is my type of music.
I’ve loved this band from day one. This album has not one dud on it but Jordon is phenomenal! Keep going!
Thanks man! Thanks for introducing me to this refreshing new band Prefab Sprout! Love it. 👍😎
Happy to Tom!😄
I've come back to this song reaction a number of times just to hear your eloquent insights into what this song says to you. Thanks.
Thats very kind of you to say David, thank you
Great choice - best two songs from a fine album.
Great record, probably the only '80s band I really really liked in the '80s.
Still listen to them today.
Bonny... masterpiece.
Great choice, great band, great album......as was their previous album 'Swoon'....which happens to include possibly the greatest song recorded in the 1980's...the marvelous 'Cruel' 💗😎
Haven't heard these in many years so a sort of rediscovery and aren't they good. Glad you did these.
One of so many albums I must shamefully admit to have never gotten around to listen to as of yet. Just what the hell was I thinking?! I must be taking care of that right away!
Lol! Hope you enjoy itA
I watch a lot of reaction videos and have seen you before. But you absolutely won me over with this thoughtful reaction to a band I have recently rediscovered. Woefully under appreciated in the US due to there lack of touring the US even back in the 80s. (They didn’t tour much to begin with. ) Paddy is such a great songwriter and vocalist. Must do tracks:
Appetite
Cars and Girls
When Love Breaks Down
The Sound of Crying
King of Rock N Roll is catchy but a bit of a novelty song (about a novelty song) and Paddy himself says it’s not really representative of the body of work.
Nice work!
Hey Tim, there's a nice story that Paul McCartney told Paddy at a party that the King Of Rock 'N' Roll was his 'My Ding-a-Ling' - i.e. Chuck Berry's huge novelty hit in the early seventies! As you say, it ended up becoming the very thing he was parodying!
Thank you Tim!
I wish I could remember exactly *why* I bought this album shortly after it came out. Recommendation? Review? No idea. All I can remember is being totally enthralled with it, especially "Bonny" and "Appetite." Love the alliteration in the line: "All my insights from retro-spect-but-Bonny..." Great, great record.
Horsin' Around is also a great track from the album.
One of my absolute favorite Pop Album of the 1980s. Nice reaction as well. Thx Justin. Please give The Lotus Eaters-No Sense Of Sin album a listen, it's very nice. Tip:The First Picture Of You. Best wishes from Germany.
I wrote a review of 'Two Wheels Good' (the American title) for my college newspaper when this record came out in 1985 and I think that I was the only one who read the newspaper who actually ever listened to this album. :)
Thanks for reviewing this phenomenal LP. Love this band. I've worn "Bonny" out...feel it!
Bonny is so good! :D
Not a big early 80s band but I got this album! Still listen to BONNY love the way it just moves interesting choices love you
Fantastic. Bonny is in my top 10 of all time so I'm probably not the most objective listener - pleased you've discovered them and there's a lot more to discover - enjoy the journey!
Props for weaving 'coalesce' into the review...! Bonny is just the perfect way to get into Prefab. And so many McAloon gems for you to now discover: 'We Let The Stars Go', 'Wild Horses', 'All The World Loves Lovers', 'I Remember That'... Enjoy!
Haha ty Hugh!
Bonny is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's very mellow sounding yet also quite moving. And as you mentioned, the production is stellar. I don't think Thomas Dolby who produced this album and their following album gets enough credit for their sound. If you can get around to it, Paddy McAloon released an EP of alternative acoustic versions of several songs on this album including Bonny. I think they're well worth checking out. ;)
JP, great you found Prefab Sprout. Be sure to consider that Thomas Dolby produced the album.
Another song - Horsin Around from the same album is going to make you eat your words about listening to a new band - wondering if all songs on an album are the same. Horsin Around is a trip, man.
I started following your channel for the prog stuff but it's great to be introduced to a band that I never would have thought of listening to. I'd heard of them - The King of Rock n Roll was a reasonably well known hit in the UK in the 80s, but as this video demonstrates, they were so much more than a one-hit wonder.
Ty Brett! Happy to bring something unexpected once in a while😄
Faron Young is my fave by the Sprouts!!
Your instincts ! Trust them, always ! 'There is something deeper going on here' you say. Damn right. You have hit pay dirt ! Paddy McAloon and Prefab Sprout are 24 carat gold. He is a songwriter that has been on the same level as Gershwin, Brian Wilson, Lennon and McCartney. Paddy gives us a memorable melody and tune, every time. He does use though a lot of electronics, especially now that he seems he records alone (due to illness and long-drown out recording processes, I reckon). But nothing can undermine the essential and sublime melody in his music. This is pop music, but pop music crafted and honed by a tune craftsman. (Shush !....a genius, perhaps ?) Your gut instinct is so spot on. First off, there is an acoustic (real guitar) version of "Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good", listen, please I pray, to 'Desire As'. The song, stripped bare of electronics, becomes ethereal, soaring, and stunningly moving. A melody so strong that an acoustic guitar alone can carry it, renewed and redacted. The process of recording this 25th anniversary edition was drown out and excruciating for Paddy.
He suffered, at the time from a retinal detachment and handicapped by Menieres disease (affecting hearing, balance and sight !) that causes such suffering that recording music is painful. He must be on the mend though, as he is often is seen in his native Newcastle wearing a characteristic white suit, red fedora, shades (therapeutic,of course) and a cane. He is apparently very sweet and will chat to fans that recognise him (who wouldn't) He has many unreleased songs on file waiting for Sony to give the OK ? Fans, like me, have to wait. We wait though, for the songwriting gods, (yeah !looking at you, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel !) there must surely be a new "The Sound of Crying'', "Appetite" and 'Looking for Atlantis' -like tune just on the horizon, for us to lift our souls with hope. Shurely ?
Justin, lose yourself, get lost in the 'Sprouts' ! And keep on chuckling. So infectious. Thanks.
The 25th anniversary acoustic versions are indeed essential too. Take Note JP!
Got a video for you, I've just seen it. Genesis live Bataclan France, January 1973. Excellent video quality, stripped down performance in a private club. Closes-ups of everyone. Old King Cole, Musical Box, and Giant Hogweed. No light show, Phil on a tiny drum kit, more video of Mike than I've ever seen before. Funny thing is hardly any video of Steve. Interview in french afterward.
I saw that last night - very good film restoration! And rare - much of live Genesis at that time was filmed on grainy 8mm.
@@bobholtzmann I'm watching old shows of William Shattner, early sixties, with old commercials! But the film is so grainy it's hard to see anything. I wish someone would do a restoration on these old shows.
Ty! Ive seen it pop up on my feed, just waiting to get the time to sit and watch😄
@@christinerobinson9372 Really - would be interested to know what 60s shows he was in, besides Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, which were restored.
@@bobholtzmann A one-hour movie named "Channing", a cop series, "For the People", and another cop series (not the seventies series with the black hair!) I haven't watched it yet and forget the name, but it will pop up as soon as you search For the People. He also had a small part in which he was very good, I think it was "The Nuremberg Trial". Excellent movie.
I remember listening to the album first time, instant love! With a lot of music you like it sometimes fades in time, not this classic, still listening to the genius of paddy 36 years later!
I love this review, your reactions are priceless! Paddy to me the probably the UK's greatest songwriter. It stinks of Thomas Dolby with his excellent production! But listen to Paddy's acoustic version of the album it's awesome!