The original 1985 release of this, Prefab Sprout’s second album, confirmed what the previous year’s debut, "Swoon", had hinted: that the firmament had been graced by a star of singular twinkle.
More than two decades on, the material wrought by Paddy McAloon for "Steve McQueen" still has the feel of a masterclass delivered by some amiably eccentric, terrifyingly brilliant Professor of Song. He would go on to wreak further, if infuriatingly intermittent, miracles – "Jordan: The Comeback" and "Andromeda Heights" – but "Steve McQueen" remains as rich and complete a single songbook as has ever been authored.
Though often self-consciously arch, occasionally verging on too-clever-by-half, McAloon never allowed his intelligence to dominate his passions: for all the playful wittiness poured into the music and lyrics,
"Steve McQueen" remains a piercingly sincere evocation of heartbreak. The best songs here - and the quality really varies only between a million miles better than average and certifiable thundering genius - are as eloquent as anything by Leonard Cohen, as angry as Elvis Costello at his most spiteful, and accompanied by the melodic grace of Brian Wilson. “Appetite”, “Goodbye Lucille” and especially “Bonny” are supremely pretty songs, freighting some pretty ugly truths. The career-spanning characterisations of McAloon as some flouncing, floppy-fringed Fotherington-Thomas were only ever the work of people who weren’t listening.
The rawness of the emotions underpinning Thomas Dolby’s deceptively
polished production is emphasised on the acoustic recordings of eight of the tracks, which appear as a bonus disc. McAloon’s new versions of “Faron Young” and “When Love Breaks Down”, addressing the romantic folly of his youth with the weary wisdom of his middle-aged voice, are especially baleful and glorious in their desperation and desolation. That key line of “Goodbye Lucille” – “Life’s not complete/Till your heart’s missed a beat” – now sounds much more like a promise than a threat.
ANDREW MUELLER
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Leics
A veritable Desert Island Disc, Steve McQueen doen’t falter from beginning to end. Introduced to me by my mate Grahame it was an oasis amongst the ubiquitous synthetized desert of the mid-eighties. The whole of the first side is a lesson in superb lyric play and melody. How many people even knew of Faron Young up to that time? 'Appetite' was Grahame and his future wife's 'our song'. My signature song, as a recently divorced singleton, was 'When Love Breaks Down'. "When love breaks down you join the wrecks who leave their hearts fro easy sex...' Grahame copped some tickets for a gig at The Dominion and the Prefabs proved as able live as on record. Even genius producer Thomas Dolby joined them on stage for the encore.
Cardiff
I am delighted to see the re-issue of Steve McQueen, which was quintessentially one of the finest, classiest albums of the Eighties.
Teaming up with Thomas Dolby was an inspired move to take them on to the next level after Swoon, which was incomparable when it came out - I Never Play Basketball Now - who could come up with song titles like that in the early Eighties?!
Classy bands just seem to overcome the cliche of "awkward second albums" and Steve McQueen was just superb, from first note to last.
I saw them on tour in 1985, the Two Wheels Good Tour, at Reading University, with Hurrah! supporting and it was the penultimate night of the tour. It was a cracking gig, full of energy and a crowd really up for it.
I met Martin McAloon about two years later in London watching Hurrah! and I mumbled a 'thank you' for all the magic moments they'd produced. He seemed genuinely pleased to talk to a fan and mentioned some of the stuff they were working on for From Langley Park to Memphis.
There were some great albums in the mid Eighties - Songs to Remember, From Across the Kitchen Table, Spirit of Eden, Infected...
I don't live in the past, I think the music being produced today is as good as I can remember - but I think Martin McAloon summed up Steve McQueen's significance eloquently in Uncut - "I think most people's favourite record is one they hear between the ages of 13-23 and this one was the sound of a generation at university - and all those associations of freedom and starting your life..."
I haven't gushed this much since I was 17. But then that's what Steve McQueen does to you, it makes you feel (Faron) Young again.
Peace,
Stevie Disco
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