Paddy McAloon's Shorts

Please forgive the clumsy punning title, but it does sum up the theme of today's Prefab Sprout selection. 14 songs, spanning their debut single in 1982 through to 2001's seventh album, which was largely made up of material Paddy McAloon had previously given to Jimmy Nail and Cher. These are also the shortest Prefab Sprout songs in my collection (hence the post title), only a couple nudging over the 3 minute mark. Most of these aren't obvious choices when thinking of a Prefab Sprout compilation, but all are tiny reminders of Paddy McAloon's genius as a songwriter and (very) occasional interpreter of other people's songs.

 

Side One (17:04)

1) Mercy (1990)

2) Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) (1982)

3) Real Life (Just Around The Corner) (NME Version) (1985)

4) Swans (1997)

5) The Wedding March (1990)

6) Oh, The Swiss! (1985)

7) He'll Have To Go (Cover of Jim Reeves) (1985)

Side Two (16:59)

1) Walk On (1983)

2) Dragons (Originally recorded by Jimmy Nail) (1997)

3) Jesse James Symphony (1990)

4) When You Get To Know Me Better (2001)

5) Spinning Belinda (1984)

6) Where The Heart Is (1997)

7) Blueberry Pies (1985)

 

A1, A5, B3 from Jordan: The Comeback

A2 from Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) 7"

A3 from Drastic Plastic (NME promo 7")

A4 from Andromeda Heights

A6 from Appetite 12"

A7 from When Love Breaks Down 12"

B1 from The Devil Has All The Best Tunes 7"

B2 from Electric Guitars EP

B4 from The Gunman And Other Stories

B5 from Couldn't Bear To Be Special 12"

B6 from A Prisoner Of The Past EP. Theme to the popular ITV series, which ran from 1997-2006

B7 from Steve McQueen

 

Side One (17:04)

Side Two (16:59)