THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

718-Prefab Sprout-Cars and Girls.

1988-Number 44 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.The only sprout I ever enjoyed.

Prefab Sprout were formed in 1978 by the brothers Paddy, and Martin McAloon, in Wiion Gilbert, County Durham, England, they were joined by vocalist Wendy Smith in 1982. Since 2003 Paddy McAloon remains the only member, releasing solo material, still using the Prefab Sprout name.The band, and particularly Paddy, probably haven’t received the success that his talent deserves, although he is critically acclaimed by many music critics.

Paddy McAloon used to get bored with people asking him where the band’s name came from, making up different tall tales, including that he had misheard lyrics from the song ‘Jackson’,(see also best songs 124) (‘We got married in a fever, hotter than a prefab sprout,’) McAloon has confirmed he came up with the name when he was 13,’I thought of two odd words, put them together, and kept it.’

‘Cars and Girls’ is taken from Prefab Sprout’s second studio Album ‘From Langley Park to Memphis,’ from 1988.Such was the confidence that it would be a hit single, it was released ahead of ‘The King of Rock ,’n’ Roll'(UK Number 7,) but to McAloon’s surprise it failed to chart.The song is a dig at Bruce Springsteen’s perceived limited subject matter. Songwriter Paddy McAloon suggests that Springsteen’s worldview is too restricted, because ‘Somethings hurt more than cars and girls.’

‘Brucie dreams life’s a highway, too many roads bypass my way, or they never begin.’