Fans of reclusive songwriting genius Paddy McAloon spent a good part of last month debating the authenticity of a 10-song album called The Devil Came A Calling that mysteriously appeared online June 10, but now the verdict’s in: It is, indeed, a new Prefab Sprout album — although it’s actually titled Crimson/Red — and it’s due out this fall.
PrefabSprout.net has confirmed the new record will be released Oct. 7 by Icebreaker Records. The album is the U.K. sophistipop act’s first since the 2009 release of Let’s Change the World With Music, a collection that actually had been mostly recorded in the early ’90s as an aborted follow-up to Jordan: The Comeback.
Most recently, prior to Let’s Change the World, McAloon had released his only solo album, I Trawl the Megahertz, in 2003, and, before that, a Prefab Sprout record, The Gunman and Other Stories, in 2001. McAloon remains best known for Prefab Sprout’s 1985 album Steve McQueen — titled Two Wheels Good in the U.S. — and its singles “Faron Young” and “When Love Breaks Down.”
McAloon suffers from tinnitus, and the hearing issue has sidelined his performing career over the past decade. In an e-mailed interview with Slicing Up Eyeballs in 2011, he said, “Hearing problems have made the live/traditional band career path pretty much impossible.”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music
- Prefab Sprout’s ‘Let’s Change the World With Music’ receiving belated U.S. release
- Prefab Sprout’s ‘Let’s Change the World With Music’ due in September
I guess I’ll be one of the first to comment here but that is positively fantastic news! I know health has been an issue so this news is indeed a little hard to believe. Keep us updated SUE and Prefabsprout.net.
Hot dog jumping frog! A new album. Hot damn!
I will always love “Goodbye Lucille # 1”. So, welcome PREFAB SPROUT
Great news! Looking forward to the album! Hopefully, we’ll learn more about everything directly from Paddy in some form or fashion.
Steve McQueen still the best !!!!!!
So now we know what will be the best album of 2013. I just read this last night and went on to find the song “Billy” which is proof that Paddy McAloon is still a brilliant songwriter.
This is fantastic news. I’ve been a fan of theirs from the early days & doubted whether we would ever hear a new album from this genius.
They are a massively underrated band, who deserved far more success than they’ve ever had.
It’s really unfortunate that he suffers from these hearing problems considering his wizardry with pop music.
I am so happy – why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?! And its out on my birthday, October 7th. I bloody love you Paddy xxxxxxxxx
Its not fair! The UK hogs up all the great Paddy McAloons, Terry halls, Ian broudies, Stephen Duffys and nick heywards thethat come along.