Prefab Sprout

United Kingdom, 1978–now

County Durham band built around Paddy McAloon, one of the most admired songwriters of the British 1980s and among the least commercial. Steve McQueen and Jordan: The Comeback set unusually literate lyrics against studio pop of great gloss.

MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Prefab Sprout and 0 artists Prefab Sprout influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Prefab Sprout?

• The Beatles — One of the guitar bands Paddy McAloon grew up on, before the songwriting turned toward Broadway.
• The Who — Another of McAloon's early influences, from the rock half of a list that ends in show tunes.
• T. Rex — The glam end of what McAloon listened to first.
• Burt Bacharach — The chord writing. Bacharach is why a Prefab Sprout song turns where a pop song is not supposed to.