PREFAB SPROUT E_MAIL NEWSLETTER ISSUE #9 01/31/97 Editor/Moderator: Ryan Bassler basslerp@musu2.slu.edu http://www.prairienet.org/~bassler ****************************************************************************** Surprise, surprise, guess what found its way into your mailbox today? Another issue of the Prefab newsletter, chock full of latest album info/ fan introductions and all the typical faire you expect from such a timely and punctual e-mail newsletter. First off, a hearty welcome to all those who are neophytes to this newsletter. At the end of this newsletter is a series of questions for all newbies to answer, if you so desire, to give an idea to other Prefab fans out there just how you got into the band, what you like about the band, what else you listen to, etc. Also included at the end of the list is a list of pertinent URL's for you to check out on the web. Speaking of the web, as I've been promising for a very long time, accomodations are being made in order to get the back issues of this newsletter placed on a web site. This'll be happening on one of the pages listed at the bottom very, very soon. Honest. I will send out e-mail once this happens. Anyway, on with the show. NEW ALBUM NEWS Here's a couple of e-mails on the upcoming release of "Andromeda Heights": *************************************************************************** Subject: reply to e-mail Ryan, The news on Andromeda Heights is true. The only release dates planned so far are in the U.K - single mid march, album in April. All the best Phil Mitchell *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** Subject: New Prefab Sprout album I understand you're the maintainer of the Prefab Sprout newsgroup, so I thought you might be interested in the following information about the new album which I got from Kitchenware, whom I visited in december (living in N.E. england has it's advantages...) The album is called "Andromeda Heights" It's due for an [April 14th] release. It'll (probably) be preceeded by a single in February (but Sony hadn't picked one when I spoke to them). Paddy wrote a song called "God watch over you" which was recently NO.1 in australia. Paddy's got enough songs written for another 3 albums. There probably won't be a tour (according to Martin mcAloon, who is a friend of a friend). Kitchenware have recently taken on the "Lighthouse Family" another Newcastle based chart act. Hope this is of some interest to you Stewart Gregg poufn@csv.warwick.ac.uk **************************************************************************** Ed. note - I've got a sinking feeling that the release of "Andromeda Heights" in the UK will precede its American release by a good deal of time. :/ I'll keep the list up to date on any official dates I hear (both UK and US). Either way, it might be time to shuffle on down to your local import record store and see how quickly they can get new releases in from the UK. Casey Blick (nhlpens66@aol.com), subscriber to the list and apparent frequeny CD import buyer, suggest CD Bar up in Canada. PADDY IN MOJO A certain Mr. Paddy McAloon was once again asked about his favorite music of the past year in January's MOJO. Last year, he had mentioned a work by Constant Lambert (father of Who producer/engineer Kit Lambert and early-mid 20th century British composer, not dissimilar to George Gershwin). "Paddy McAloon - Still up the Sprout The thing I've enjoyed most recently is Harmonium by John Adams. I believe it was released in the early '80's. It's an orchestral piece - Emily Dickinson poetry set to music. It really is remarkably beautiful. To be honest, I've been so busy working on the next Sprouts album, "Andromeda Heights", that I've had little time to listen to anything else!" PREFAB CD-ROM Thanks to John Edmunds for the following information regarding a CD-ROM in the works, as well as other Paddy news: ***************************************************************************** Ryan, I have been keeping contact with John Birch and keeping him up-to-date on the information provided in the Newsletter. He is hoping to put together a CD-ROM on Prefab Sprout to coincide with the new album when it eventually arrives. Are you aware of the 2 new Paddy McAloon compositions on Crocodile Shoes II? Regards, John Edmunds 101521.70@compuserve.com ***************************************************************************** Ed. note - John Birch is the author of the excellent "Myths, Melodies, and Metaphysics: Paddy McAloon's Prefab Sprout." Mr. Birch is currently in the process of moving, so e-mail me for ordering info. Mr. Birch also used to maintain a Prefab Sprout fanzine in the UK. As for the Crocodile Shoes II album, from what this American can tell (British readers, be sure to correct me if I'm wrong), Crocodile Shoes II is a soundtrack to a British TV movie starring Jimmy Nail (whom Paddy has worked with before). This album was recently reviewed in Q magazine, I do believe. PHASE SHIFTIN' "SWOON" **************************************************************************** Subject: the echoey half mix of Swoon Hi Ryan I think I have a little something worth including in your next Prefab Sprout newsletter. I discovered today that Swoon is one of those albums where if you pull a pair of headphones halfway out, it's like you're hearing a new mix of the songs. The lead vocals are almost gone, and sometimes you can hear Wendy parts that were deep in a harmony before. It really stands out on "Cue Fanfare" and "Ghost Town Blues"-- you will smile when you hear just Wendy sing 'we win or we lose at his hand..' in a dainty, wonderful way. I bet it puts a new spin on a lot of songs. Kevin -> kevin@carhart.com ***************************************************************************** READER'S INTERVIEWS ***************************************************************************** From: "Cattell, David" Subject: RE: Prefab Sprout E-Newsletter #8 Prefab Sprout Mailing List Questionnaire NAME: David HOW YOU GOT INTO PREFAB SPROUT: Heard "Steve McQueen" raved about when it first came out, but never actually heard it. Bought it cheap 10 years later on a whim, loved it, and bought the other albums in rapid succession. FAVOURITE ALBUM: "Jordan" and "Steve McQueen" would be the obvious options. Probably "Jordan", because it's more unified. FAVOURITE SONG(S): Don't really like to single any of them out. All of "SMcQ" and "Jordan". Plus a couple off "Langley Park", like "Nightingale", despite its insipid production. LEAST FAVOURITE SONG(S): Finding it difficult to like some of the tracks off "Protest Songs" and "Langley Park" - not so much the songwriting, more the sometimes overly-slick production. OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS YOU DIG: Scott Walker, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Costello, Curtis Mayfield, the Beatles, the Smiths, Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald, the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Style Council, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder, 60s & 70s Motown generally, Dr Dre, Suede, Pulp, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, the Kinks, Massive Attack, etc etc etc ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** Dear Ryan, My three all time favorite Sprout albums are : 1- Two Wheels Good (Steve Mcqueen)--sweet as blueberry pies. 2- Jordan : The Comeback ( Prophesying Mike's return to basketball, huh???) Play it for one of the broken and brother, they're singin'... 3- A Life of Surprises: Best of..-- Good for any occasion. My address is at pmcomm@aol.com. My name is Fab Morejon from NYC. "this is where your sleepless eyes will close.." ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** X-Sender: h961182@stud.hoe.se Subject: Questionnaire NAME:Fredrik Hansson HOW YOU GOT INTO PREFAB SPROUT: A Swedish DJ played Cars and Girls every week on his Radio show,That was enough for me to go out and buy that album and eventually all the other albums. FAVORITE ALBUM: That's gotta be Jordan:The Comeback.The best album of the 90:s FAVORITE SONG(S): Moving the river,Wild horses,Moondog LEAST FAVORITE SONG(S): Wasn't that impressed by the flip-side to Faron Young.I think it's called Silhouettes OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS YOU DIG: Beach Boys,Lloyd Cole,XTC,The Beatles,The High Llamas MISC: I really liked Paddy's songs on the Jimmy Nail album.Not many artists can give away songs as good as those ones. ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** From: John Jones Subject: Re: Prefab Sprout E-Newsletter #8 NAME: John S. Jones II (J.J.) HOW YOU GOT INTO PREFAB SPROUT: Heard "Appetite" once on MTV and I have been a fanatic ever since. It helped me through the end of a relationship and I have been thankful ever since. No one writes like Paddy, from the heart. FAVORITE ALBUM: SWOON, but this is really a hard question. FAVORITE SONG(S): Another hard question, It would have to be "Green Isaac", "Bear Park", "We let the stars go", "Venus of the Soup Kitchen", "Horsin' Around". and "Blueberry Pies" for it's honesty. LEAST FAVORITE SONG(S): Mais non! It can't be true. OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS YOU DIG: Al Stewart, Lloyd Cole, Jellyfish, Joe Jackson, Squeeze, Kate Bush. ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** From: mlangley@mediastudio.com (Matthew Langley) Subject: Re: FW: Prefab Sprout E-Newsletter #8 NAME: Matthew Langley HOW YOU GOT INTO PREFAB SPROUT: I bought Swoon on a whim on a trip to new york FAVORITE ALBUM: two wheels good FAVORITE SONG: cruel LEAST FAVORITE SONG(S): king of rock and roll OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS YOU DIG: Unrest, Galaxie 500, Saint Etienne, Astrud Gilberto, Dream Syndicate, Superchunk MISC: Does anyone have any info on the Pale Fountians? Matthew Langley http://www.mediastudio.com graphic design / new media / illustration / web design **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** From: "John Papadopoulos" Subject: Re: Prefab Sprout E-Newsletter #8 NAME: John Papadopoulos HOW YOU GOT INTO PREFAB SPROUT: I was aware of them since 1985 with "Appetite" and "When Love Breaks Down", but didn't know much about them. Then in 1988 Spin Magazine published such an incredibly funnyand clever review of "From Langley Park.." imploring everyone to buy the album, that I couldnt resist. After that I had to buy all the rest and was totally hooked. FAVORITE ALBUM: It would have to be "Jordan". Its the most complete piece of music in every respect that I have ever heard. Two Wheel/Steve McQueen comes second. FAVORITE SONG(S): Cue Fanfare, Bonny, Goodbye Lucille#1, Talking Scarlet, Cars and Girls, The Golden Calf(I have a feeling I'm in the minority on this one - but I think its brilliant), Scarlet Nights, We let the Stars go. LEAST FAVORITE SONG(S): Tough call: I guess I'm not too crazy about When the Angels. OTHER BANDS/ARTISTS YOU DIG: Lloyd Cole, Go-Betweens(and solo), Trashcan Sinatras, Lemonheads, Blake Babies/Juliana Hatfield, Sloan. MISC: Seven years is way too long for a new album (that is if the new album even comes out in 1997) Its a testament to the Sprouts greatness that there are so many people who care so much after such a long time. Personally I hope next time Paddy doesn't take as long. Like someone mentioned last newsletter, I kind of like the unpolished, underproduced sound of "Protest Songs" and " Swoon". A quickie "unplugged" album would be nice. ***************************************************************************** PREFAB SPROUT QUESTIONNAIRE Name/E-mail/URL: How you got into Prefab Sprout: Favorite album: Favorite song(s): Least Favorite song(s): Other bands/artists you dig: Misc: E-mail this to: basslerp@musu2.slu.edu PREFAB SPROUT RELATED URL's Bedford Plockton's Prefab Page -> http://users.deltanet.com/~plockton/sprout.html Elfasih's Prefab page -> http://www.xs4all.nl/~elfasih/muziek/prefabs.html Doc Savage's Prefab page -> http://www.ddm-international.com:80/savage/prefab.htm Mark Kolmar's Prefab discography -> http://www.xnet.com/~mkolmar/music/Prefab_Sprout.html Julienne's Prefab page -> http://www.draco.net/~julienne/sprout/sprout.html Thomas Dolby's page (The Flat Earth Society) -> http://www.tdolby.com/