Prefab Sprout – this is one of those bands which emerged in the early 80s, along with Deacon Blue (see D) and Aztec Camera (see A).  Lead singer, songwriter and musician was Paddy MacAloon, a superbly talented guy who revered the music of McCartney, Gershwin and Bacharach; he had a unique ‘pop’ sensibility.  Their first album 1984s Swoon (which Paddy insisted stood for Songs Written Out Of Necessity) was pretty good, but a bit rambling and unfocussed, though songs such as ‘Don’t Sing’, ‘Elegance’ and especially ‘Cruel’, the last being their first really classic song.  A great start which only got better with their next Steve McQueen in 1985.  A much better album which contained classic songs such as ‘Faron Young’, ‘Appetite’, the hit single ‘When Love Breaks Down’ and my favourite ‘Desire As’ – with the brilliant line “Desire is a sylph-figured creature that changes her own mind.”    I rebought the album on CD and it included a bonus disc of 2007 re-recordings; completely acoustic versions, sparse and almost demos – I couldn’t see the point as the original Thomas Dolby produced album was such a gem – but Paddy has always been an eccentric, he has apparently recorded whole albums and never released them as his muse, or for whatever reason he has moved on – he is a notorious perfectionist.  Their third was titled From Langley Park To ,Memphis – but took 3 years to appear.  It was a much more rounded and commercial album, more varied and more successful – if losing some of the charm of the first two idiosyncratic records.  I really like it and the songs are excellent, especially – ‘The King Of Rock and Roll’, Cars and Girls’ and ‘Hey Manhattan’.  This may be almost my favourite of the early records.  In late 1985 Paddy had self-recorded and produced a batch of songs meant for release the following year.  But the album Steve McQueen was such a slow burner that it was held over and only released as Protest Songs in 1989.  These songs are quite stripped back and seem a bit undeveloped, as indeed they were.  Still – not such a poor album really though not a favourite of mine I must admit.  The only really good track is ‘A Life Of Surprises’. Much better was 1990’s Jordan – The Comeback.   The only trouble with this admittedly superb collection of songs is that it is a double album and consequently far too long.  Very few double albums really work; The Beatles managed it because they had 3 quite different songwriters so there was a great mixture of styles and textures; concept albums often work as they are telling a story – but Roddy’s songs all have a similarity of style and sound and even song structure – and with 19 songs it does get a bit boring towards the end.  Saying that most of the songs are really good, if not some of his best.  I particularly like ‘Wild Horses’, ‘Machine Gun Ibiza’, ‘All The World Loves Lovers’ and ‘The Ice Maiden’; tough there is really not a poor song on the record.  Then, as so often seems to happen after 6 successful years we had a hiatus of seven years.  In reality the albums, splendid as they are, which have followed have been Paddy MacAloon solo efforts; he has occasionally used session and old Prefab Sprout members, and credits the records as Prefab Sprout – but he plays almost all the instruments; piano, guitars and synths and even backing vocals.  Still, saying that the records are pretty damned good.  He has suffered from severe hearing problems and is a temperamental guy, having apparently recorded and then shelved several albums over his later years.  But, fans like me scour the music press to hear of new releases which often slip out with a minimum of publicity; Roddy preferring to sit on his laurels and just make the music he obviously loves.  2007 saw the first of these releases with Andromeda Heights – also the name of the studio he built for himself.  Well, although it got a cool reception from the critics, who love nothing more than treating an old favourite as a has-been, I loved it.  A somewhat quieter record with a lot of slower tunes it still has that Prefab Sprout magic and is, as one has come to expect, immaculately produced.  Best tracks are ‘Electric Guitars’ and ‘Anne Marie’.    Then came a really great album – The Gunman – (2001).  This was written around the time of Jimmy Nail’s Crocodile Shoes (see N), and a couple of the songs were sung by Jimmy on his albums.  But these versions are simply knockout; the familiar sounds with a country twist and Paddy’s sublime vocals.  Every song is superb but I particularly love opener ‘Cowboy Dream’, ‘Wild Card in The Pack’ and a surprise cover of ‘Streets Of Laredo’.  2009 saw the release of Lets change The World With Music.  Not quite one of his best; still some lovely songs but somehow it sounds a bit flat and uninspired to my ears – best are ‘Ride’ and ‘Last Of The Great Romantics’.  His latest (so far) is 2013 (and that is nine years ago!) Crimson Red.  And another classic, so if we have to wait even ten or more years if they are this quality, well, I will wait.  The album though is almost his best…just lovely, and the words so astute and clever.  Best songs – ‘Adolescence’, ‘Billie’ and ‘The Old Magician’.  I also of course have a Greatest Hits collection, which is sublime.