Great to see some love for the Ice Maiden - my favourite on Jordan - the Comeback. Just a word on Andromeda Heights - it’s an album I had to listen to at least 10 times before I could get past the saccharin that you described well. When I did it was rewarding. And in the end I found Swans to be such a beautiful song (even if it was like putting 10 sugars in your coffee).
Nice!. I've been a longtime fan of Prefab Sprout. I might have Protest Songs "Pearly Gates" played at my funeral. Heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics, yet sprinkled with some levity.
Hi James, Great video. I differ with you A LOT on your song choices, but that's just personal choice and anything that promotes Prefab Sprout is fine with me. They are definitely in my top 10 bands of all time. Your analysis about occasionally being too saccharine is spot on. I hooked on to them with "Swoon" due to an appearance on The Tube on channel 4, but not long after "Steve McQueen" blew me away and I've been there ever since. For me Paddy as a writer has echoes of the likes of the greats such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin etc. As an interesting future topic for you - in my humble opinion "Crimson Red" is the greatest contractual obligation album of all time. Thanks again for a great post.
Thanks Wayne...honestly, on a different day the list could have been different. Contractual obligation albums is an interesting thread idea. Balance of Power by ELO springs to mind.
Great appreciation of Prefab Sprout. I came to the band through Protest Songs, and it's still my favourite album of theirs to this day. Cheers Black Diamond.
That was a great story about how Thomas Dolby learned about the band and how they contacted him. One of my favorite bands - indescribably good. I was a little worried that you hadn't heard Swoon - it was deep into the video before you mentioned my favorite of their albums. Except for Steve McQueen. Well, I haven't heard them all. Here's my top three songs: Moving The River, I Never Play Basketball Now, Cruel. I enjoyed the video James! (or maybe "When Love Breaks Down" should be my #1....lol...I haven't even mentioned Horsin' Around)
Thanks Randy...great to hear your a Sprouts fan, I didn't realise. I decided to say the two Swoon tracks for the top 3...almost had you fooled for a minute!
@@jamesgriffithsmusic lol Five years ago James - my 54th video was a time-tested record: Two Wheels Good. I think it may have been the first video of mine that you commented on, but I can't say for sure. Still sounds great today!
Loved this band for so so many years. I’m currently trying to get my vinyl collection complete in addition to my CD’s. McAloon is the English Neil Finn. Forever made legends by Jessica Stevenson singing the wrong lyrics in Spaced. Jimmy Nail sold quite a few records up here in Norway, the tv series Crocodile Shoes was very popular round these parts. Anyhow, always happy to see anything about Prefab Sprout so thank you James 😊 Oooh, why didn’t I buy Crimson/Red on vinyl when I last saw it! 😫 Cheers from Morten
@@jamesgriffithsmusic «You got paint on you..» 😄 Cool, such a funny actor. There’s 3 different releases of Crimson/Red and 1 of Let’s Heal The World With Music. They hover around the 40-80 £ mark on discogs but tend to be from UK sellers which ads cost post Brexit. I saw a very nice copy on Norwegian «eBay» but I had to wait until I got back from Denmark and by then someone bought it. Only the Gunman and other stories have yet to ever see a vinyl release far as I can tell.
Got to revisit Jordan: The Comeback. Found the CD secondhand several years ago, threw it on the player and thought it was utterly gorgeous, cinematic even in a sense. A band I totally missed at the time but I did catch up with later to some degree. I do have Steve McQueen on vinyl, under the North American title of Two Wheels Good. Soundtracking your life - just got done watching the new Amazon documentary on the Tragically Hip, a band that touched many people across my country in that way, with songs that seemed to become part of the national psyche or DNA over the years. Very honest and emotional. Cheers!
Thanks Doug. I didn't know you had Sprout knowledge! It is heartening their music reached your part of the world. I need to properly check out The Tragically Hip, I've heard a lot about them.
Fantastic video James, Prefab Sprout were a bit of a difficult band for me to get into, I just couldn't instantly connect with the slightly off the wall viewpoint of tracks like Cue Fanfare, Don't Sing and Couldn't Bear To Be Special which I had on my uncles old copy of Swoon. Like you it was Protest Songs where they clicked into place form me and I've become a big fan since. I'd probably say now that Swoon is my favorite album of their closely followed by Steve McQueen, but that entire 5 album run to Jordan The Comeback is something to behold. It's also fascinating that they had many of the Steve McQueen tracks dating back to the late 70's. Look up Faron Young live in 1980, a much more punky take of the track.
Thanks Ross. I remember you saying that Swoon is your favourite...I really like it though I think once Dolby enters the picture there's maybe more melodic immediacy. I really like The Gunman and Other Stories too.
The first time I heard ' When Love Breaks Down' on the radio back in the mid 80s it was one of those halt you in your tracks moments and the world stops..absolutely one of the greatest pop songs of the 80s and is still my favourite of theirs. Agree with ' Dublin' ..delicate and beautiful song. Surprised you didn't mention ' Goodbye Lucille ' ( Johnny Johnny)..that lyric..' Lifes' not complete, 'till your hearts' missed a ....beat!'..what a great hook and melody. I need to listen to Swoon again, as I recall buying it after hearing ' Steve McQueen' and was immediately dissapointed because there were no obvious hooks..I remember the song ' I Couldn't Bear to be Special' which had an odd tune , but I think I'd definitely appreciate it more now I'm older and have more patience. Nice one James, makes me want to dig out their albums and crank it up loud!!.
Hi Rob. To be honest I very nearly included Goodbye Lucille but for some reason it fell off the list. I ended up only doing 16 songs as I couldn't agree with myself over the final four! Yes, Swoon is definitely less hooky than the later albums (particularly the Dolby ones) but it's worth digging into as it's very off the wall and quirky.
Fantastic video James and an awesome devoted video to a great band 😀🍿🙌🎸🎶 Awesome rundown of your Top 20 fav songs from The Sprouts 😊 ‘Bonny’ is my fav Sprouts song; absolutely love ‘The Golden Calf’; ‘Green Issac’; ‘Appetite’; ‘Cars & Girls’; ‘Dublin’ etc; all great picks there man 👍👍 ‘Swoon’ is my fav Sprouts album; a fantastic record with amazing tracks like ‘Never Play Basketball Now’; ‘Down On The Eerie’; ‘Ghost Town Blues’; ‘Don’t Sing’; ‘Cue Fanfare’ etc 😊 Awesome stuff James; keep up the fantastic work as ever and glad you had a great time seeing Martin McAloon; hope you having a fab weekend my friend 😀🙏🍿🎸🎶
@@jamesgriffithsmusic oh quite right mate; my mistake; I couldn’t remember if it was 20 songs or something other; thanks for correcting me there James 😀🙏🍿🎸🎶 Hope you having a smashing weekend 😀👍
Thanks for the video and your choices. My relationship with Prefab Sprout is from the first two LP's. They have been in my collection for almost 30 years now and I've played them a lot. The later albums I know from Spotify, but not your number one. Must listen to that now! ❤
Hi James, I like Prefab more now than I did when I first heard them. Believe it or not, I disliked When Love Breaks Down way back then. My kids love King of Rock 'n' Roll and Cars and Girls, making this a strange area of shared musical appreciation. I am really unfamiliar with the later albums. I guess my musical interests took me elsewhere.
Thanks Brian. I recommend checking out 'Jordan - The Comeback' from 1990, it's something of a magnum opus for the Sprouts, and still has the full band in place.
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Great to see some love for the Ice Maiden - my favourite on Jordan - the Comeback.
Just a word on Andromeda Heights - it’s an album I had to listen to at least 10 times before I could get past the saccharin that you described well. When I did it was rewarding. And in the end I found Swans to be such a beautiful song (even if it was like putting 10 sugars in your coffee).
Nice!. I've been a longtime fan of Prefab Sprout. I might have Protest Songs "Pearly Gates" played at my funeral.
Heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics, yet sprinkled with some levity.
Agreed Phoebe, thanks!
Hi James, Great video. I differ with you A LOT on your song choices, but that's just personal choice and anything that promotes Prefab Sprout is fine with me. They are definitely in my top 10 bands of all time. Your analysis about occasionally being too saccharine is spot on. I hooked on to them with "Swoon" due to an appearance on The Tube on channel 4, but not long after "Steve McQueen" blew me away and I've been there ever since. For me Paddy as a writer has echoes of the likes of the greats such as Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin etc. As an interesting future topic for you - in my humble opinion "Crimson Red" is the greatest contractual obligation album of all time. Thanks again for a great post.
Thanks Wayne...honestly, on a different day the list could have been different. Contractual obligation albums is an interesting thread idea. Balance of Power by ELO springs to mind.
Great appreciation of Prefab Sprout. I came to the band through Protest Songs, and it's still my favourite album of theirs to this day.
Cheers Black Diamond.
Thanks Black Diamond! I did a whole video on Protest Songs earlier in the year.
Thanks, I'll have to track that down.
It's part of the 'Revisiting' play-list - link in the description of this video.
Many thanks
That was a great story about how Thomas Dolby learned about the band and how they contacted him. One of my favorite bands - indescribably good. I was a little worried that you hadn't heard Swoon - it was deep into the video before you mentioned my favorite of their albums. Except for Steve McQueen. Well, I haven't heard them all. Here's my top three songs: Moving The River, I Never Play Basketball Now, Cruel. I enjoyed the video James! (or maybe "When Love Breaks Down" should be my #1....lol...I haven't even mentioned Horsin' Around)
Thanks Randy...great to hear your a Sprouts fan, I didn't realise. I decided to say the two Swoon tracks for the top 3...almost had you fooled for a minute!
@@jamesgriffithsmusic lol Five years ago James - my 54th video was a time-tested record: Two Wheels Good. I think it may have been the first video of mine that you commented on, but I can't say for sure. Still sounds great today!
Moondog barks! I love all of Jordan, James. I binge listened to my tape when the album came out! Every track a gem.
Thanks Henry. I'd forgotten we'd spoken about the Sprouts in John H's mother's garden!
@@jamesgriffithsmusic I thought we were discussing her flower beds, not her sprouts!
Loved this band for so so many years. I’m currently trying to get my vinyl collection complete in addition to my CD’s. McAloon is the English Neil Finn. Forever made legends by Jessica Stevenson singing the wrong lyrics in Spaced. Jimmy Nail sold quite a few records up here in Norway, the tv series Crocodile Shoes was very popular round these parts.
Anyhow, always happy to see anything about Prefab Sprout so thank you James 😊
Oooh, why didn’t I buy Crimson/Red on vinyl when I last saw it! 😫
Cheers from Morten
Thanks Morten! Crimson/Red on vinyl...never seen that! I used to love Spaced; in a previous lifetime I met and did some work with Mark Heap.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic «You got paint on you..» 😄 Cool, such a funny actor.
There’s 3 different releases of Crimson/Red and 1 of Let’s Heal The World With Music. They hover around the 40-80 £ mark on discogs but tend to be from UK sellers which ads cost post Brexit. I saw a very nice copy on Norwegian «eBay» but I had to wait until I got back from Denmark and by then someone bought it.
Only the Gunman and other stories have yet to ever see a vinyl release far as I can tell.
Got to revisit Jordan: The Comeback. Found the CD secondhand several years ago, threw it on the player and thought it was utterly gorgeous, cinematic even in a sense. A band I totally missed at the time but I did catch up with later to some degree. I do have Steve McQueen on vinyl, under the North American title of Two Wheels Good. Soundtracking your life - just got done watching the new Amazon documentary on the Tragically Hip, a band that touched many people across my country in that way, with songs that seemed to become part of the national psyche or DNA over the years. Very honest and emotional. Cheers!
Thanks Doug. I didn't know you had Sprout knowledge! It is heartening their music reached your part of the world. I need to properly check out The Tragically Hip, I've heard a lot about them.
Hi James I’ve been a big fan of prefab sprout since 85 .. don’t sing was my introduction and I’ve been hooked ever since ..
I’m also a fan of moon 🐶
Hi Rob. I knew you're a fan. Wish I'd got to see them live like you did. It was great to see Martin live in Manchester.
Fantastic video James, Prefab Sprout were a bit of a difficult band for me to get into, I just couldn't instantly connect with the slightly off the wall viewpoint of tracks like Cue Fanfare, Don't Sing and Couldn't Bear To Be Special which I had on my uncles old copy of Swoon. Like you it was Protest Songs where they clicked into place form me and I've become a big fan since. I'd probably say now that Swoon is my favorite album of their closely followed by Steve McQueen, but that entire 5 album run to Jordan The Comeback is something to behold. It's also fascinating that they had many of the Steve McQueen tracks dating back to the late 70's. Look up Faron Young live in 1980, a much more punky take of the track.
Thanks Ross. I remember you saying that Swoon is your favourite...I really like it though I think once Dolby enters the picture there's maybe more melodic immediacy. I really like The Gunman and Other Stories too.
The first time I heard
' When Love Breaks Down' on the radio back in the mid 80s it was one of those halt you in your tracks moments and the world stops..absolutely one of the greatest pop songs of the 80s and is still my favourite of theirs.
Agree with ' Dublin' ..delicate and beautiful song.
Surprised you didn't mention ' Goodbye Lucille ' ( Johnny
Johnny)..that lyric..' Lifes' not complete, 'till your hearts' missed a ....beat!'..what a great hook and melody.
I need to listen to Swoon again, as I recall buying it after hearing ' Steve McQueen' and was immediately dissapointed because there were no obvious hooks..I remember the song ' I Couldn't Bear to be Special' which had an odd tune , but I think I'd definitely appreciate it more now I'm older and have more patience.
Nice one James, makes me want to dig out their albums and crank it up loud!!.
Hi Rob. To be honest I very nearly included Goodbye Lucille but for some reason it fell off the list. I ended up only doing 16 songs as I couldn't agree with myself over the final four! Yes, Swoon is definitely less hooky than the later albums (particularly the Dolby ones) but it's worth digging into as it's very off the wall and quirky.
Fantastic video James and an awesome devoted video to a great band 😀🍿🙌🎸🎶 Awesome rundown of your Top 20 fav songs from The Sprouts 😊 ‘Bonny’ is my fav Sprouts song; absolutely love ‘The Golden Calf’; ‘Green Issac’; ‘Appetite’; ‘Cars & Girls’; ‘Dublin’ etc; all great picks there man 👍👍
‘Swoon’ is my fav Sprouts album; a fantastic record with amazing tracks like ‘Never Play Basketball Now’; ‘Down On The Eerie’; ‘Ghost Town Blues’; ‘Don’t Sing’; ‘Cue Fanfare’ etc 😊 Awesome stuff James; keep up the fantastic work as ever and glad you had a great time seeing Martin McAloon; hope you having a fab weekend my friend 😀🙏🍿🎸🎶
Thanks Sam! It ended up being 16 songs as I couldn't agree with myself about the last four.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic oh quite right mate; my mistake; I couldn’t remember if it was 20 songs or something other; thanks for correcting me there James 😀🙏🍿🎸🎶 Hope you having a smashing weekend 😀👍
Thanks for the video and your choices. My relationship with Prefab Sprout is from the first two LP's. They have been in my collection for almost 30 years now and I've played them a lot. The later albums I know from Spotify, but not your number one. Must listen to that now! ❤
Thanks Martin! Let me know how you get on. Jordan - The Comeback is fantastic.
@@jamesgriffithsmusic Yes I've listened to the album 2 times now and really like it.
Hi James, I like Prefab more now than I did when I first heard them. Believe it or not, I disliked When Love Breaks Down way back then. My kids love King of Rock 'n' Roll and Cars and Girls, making this a strange area of shared musical appreciation. I am really unfamiliar with the later albums. I guess my musical interests took me elsewhere.
Thanks Brian. I recommend checking out 'Jordan - The Comeback' from 1990, it's something of a magnum opus for the Sprouts, and still has the full band in place.
I have played their early albums … a lot, but not as familiar with the later ones
Definitely worth checking out some of the later ones. The Gunman and Other Stories is good, but Jordan - The Comeback is essential.