MYTHS, MELODIES & METAPHYSICS: - Prefab Sprout

forthcoming gigs with the band. Autumn 1984 saw recording commence for Steve
McQueen, Kitchenware's third album.
A video is made to promote When Love Breaks Down, being remixed by Thomas Dolby
for the new album only, the original version of which is intended will be a hit single the
second time round in the following year. CBS issue
a 'Preview' promo compilation on vinyl including the song, in search of further airplay
on radio.
The only other Sprout-like offering of 1984 was The Daintees' I'm A Hypocrite (A
Crocodile Cryer), which was included in NME's cassette compilation 'Raging Spool',
produced by Paddy McAloon. 1985 was to prove a very busy and a very successful year
for the Sprouts, following the first cuts of Steve McQueen in January at London's Trident
Recording Studios.
In March, CBS gave When Love Breaks Down a second shot, this time with the B-side
The Yearning Loins and slightly different packaging. The single was offered in a few
double-packs, the first offering a free 7" of The Devil, the second a free 7" of 'Lions', in true
Kitchenware style. This time, they had the video to promote the single and the band had
finished their studio work so they were free to 'run the press'. Disappointingly, the single
only reached number 88, to the amazement, and disappointment, of CBS A& R man Muff
Winwood.
At the same time, Polygram Video, in association with Kitchenware Records released a
Kitchenware compilation video (SK-ONE) which included When Love Breaks Down but
no other Sprout visuals. They preferred to slant emphasis on the chart success of The Kane
Gang and 'late developers' The Daintees and The Linkmen on the collection, entitled A
One Way Ticket To Palookasville.
Neil Conti and Kevin Armstrong go into the studio with David Bowie and Mick Jagger
to record their cover of Dancing in the Streets. Meanwhile, Wendy Smith, beginning to set
trends in fashion, is pictured by the local Evening Chronicle parading down the catwalk!
Steve McQueen was released in June 1985 and reached number 21 in the album charts,
residing in the top 100 for a healthy 35 weeks, eventually earning platinum status.
The music press threw open its arms and embraced the album, hailing it "without a
shadow of a doubt the finest album you will ever hear" (Record Mirror), a collection of
"some of the most beautiful and rewarding songs ever laid down in the name of pop"
(NME) and "the finest, most harmonious run of tunes since, oh, Dylan arranged his ration
of chords for Blood On The Tracks" (Sounds).
In America, EPIC were planning on the album's release (the advance cassette
introduced PREFAB SPROUTS), saying that the band's name suggested a blend of the hitech
and the organic, a fair characterization of the album Two Wheels Good.
Despite both Martin and Wendy offering to change their names by deed poll to Steve
McQueen and dropping the suggestion of naming the album after one of the band's loyal
followers, Jo Grimes of Liverpool, they changed it to
Two Wheels Good in America and Canada, after the McQueen estate (his daughter)
objected. But why Two Wheels Good? In Orwell's Animal Farm the phrase "four legs good
and two legs bad" was used, so Paddy had the idea of the motorbike (two wheels good)
on the front of the album sleeve and using a car (four wheels bad) on the reverse. They