Life of Surprises: Best of

Prefab Sprout | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 6, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028QI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  VHS Tape  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,131 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though each of their studio albums is worth seeking out, this "best of" collection is a neat shorthand way of experiencing the technologically perfect, intellectually stimulating pop music Paddy McAloon and his cronies from Newcastle, England created during the second half of the 1980s. Two tracks, "The Sound of Crying" and "If You Don't Love Me" are previously unreleased. Since they have had little chart success, the rest are somebody's idea of what makes a great Prefab Sprout song. "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" has a lilting bounce; "Wild Horses" benefits from producer Thomas Dolby's computer wizardry as sounds pop up and out of the mix instantaneously; "We Let the Stars Go" is McAloon at his most emotionally sincere. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Import exclusive compilation for the alternative synth-pop band featuring 16 tracks worth of immaculate, gorgeously crafted pop songs. Sony. 1992. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Jump in the Three Foot End of the Pool, October 10, 1999

By 

Craig Riecke (East Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life of Surprises: Best of (Audio CD)

I've been a Sprout fan since way back, so hearing the songs in this order is kind of jarring. But since the strength lies in the songs, I think this is a pretty good introduction to their world ... which is to say our world. Here, love doesn't always work (When Love Breaks Down), rock idols bellow (King of Rock and Roll), and good ideas sometimes fail (Cruel). Mellow stuff, but so tuneful it'll make you hum all day. Could they have succeeded with a different band name? Yup. At least that's my theory.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE GREAT UNDISCOVERED TREASURES, April 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life of Surprises: Best of (Audio CD)

A Life Of Suprises by Prefab Sprout is testimony to the fact that there is great music out there that never sees the light of day on american radio. The cd does not contain a weak track, only strong and stronger cuts. Highlights include: A Life Of Suprises, We Let The Stars Go, Hey Manhattan, and Cars and Girls. I first heard them in the mid 1980's with "Two Wheels Good" after that came "From Langley Park Park To Memphis" and I could not understand how this band could not be superstars. To this day, "A Life Of Suprises" is one of the few cd's that I share with everybody. The only "suprise" with Prefab Sprout and this cd is that they never made it big in America.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Pop!, December 16, 2003

By 

Ian Johnston "teknokon" (Independence, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life of Surprises: Best of (Audio CD)

A wonderful collection of Prefab's materials, showcasing many of the hit tunes (in the UK) that made the band famous. In addition to the "greatest hits" aspect of this disc, the fans are treated to two new tunes "If You Don't Love Me" (my fave) and "The Sound of Crying", as well as the rare gem "A Life of Surprises" from the hard-to-find "Protest Songs" album. Great stuff! Many cool album tracks are omitted, sadly, and some b-sides or other extras would have really been nice, but there is only so much space on a disc of this kind. For newbies, you can't go wrong with this CD! Dig in and enjoy the surreal songwriting craft of Paddy McAloon and company!!