Andromeda Heights

Andromeda Heights
Studio album by
Prefab Sprout
Released2 May 1997 (1997-05-02)
GenrePop
Length47:02
LabelKitchenware
ProducerPaddy McAloon
Prefab Sprout chronology
A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout
(1992) 		Andromeda Heights
(1997) 		38 Carat Collection
(1999)
Singles from Andromeda Heights
  1. "A Prisoner of the Past"
    Released: April 1997
  2. "Electric Guitars"
    Released: July 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Uncut[2]

Andromeda Heights is the sixth studio album by the English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released by Kitchenware Records on 2 May 1997. It peaked at number 7 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] "A Prisoner of the Past" and "Electric Guitars" were also released as singles, peaking at number 30 and number 53, respectively, in the UK singles chart.[3]

The high-tech recording studio that Paddy McAloon built for himself at his home in County Durham is also called Andromeda Heights.[4]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated that "the album doesn't quite fulfill the hopes of the group's fervent followers."[1] He added, "Andromeda Heights is a solid Prefab Sprout record, filled with elegant melodies, wry lyrics and immaculate production, but after seven years, that nevertheless ranks as a disappointment."[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Paddy McAloon

No.TitleLength
1."Electric Guitars"3:41
2."A Prisoner of the Past"5:01
3."The Mystery of Love"4:37
4."Life's a Miracle"3:44
5."Anne Marie"4:35
6."Whoever You Are"2:47
7."Steal Your Thunder"3:41
8."Avenue of Stars"3:59
9."Swans"2:36
10."The Fifth Horseman"4:42
11."Weightless"3:36
12."Andromeda Heights"4:03
Total length:47:02
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Just Because I Can"3:52
Total length:51:04

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Musicians

(billed as "The Andromeda Heights Orchestra")

  • Paddy McAloon – vocals, piano, keyboards, programming, "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
  • Wendy Smith – vocals
  • Martin McAloon – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
  • David Brewis – guitars, "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
  • Paul Smith – percussion
  • Tommy Smith – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
  • Frazer Spiers – harmonica
  • Jim Hornsby – "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
  • Martin Taylor – lead guitar (on "Anne Marie"), rhythm guitar (on "Andromeda Heights")
  • Calum Malcolm – piano, keyboards, programming; Hammond organ (on "The Fifth Horseman")
  • Alan Clark – Hammond organ (on "The Mystery of Love")

Technical personnel

  • Paddy McAloon – production
  • Calum Malcolm – recording, mixing
  • Stylorouge – sleeve design
  • Stuart Douglas – sleeve photography
  • Anne Magill – cover painting

Charts

Chart Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[3] 7

References

  1. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Andromeda Heights - Prefab Sprout". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. ^ Lester, Paul (June 1997). "The Andromeda strain". Uncut. No. 1. p. 98.
  3. ^ a b c "Prefab Sprout". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  4. ^ O’Connell, Alex (6 June 2003). "Beyond the darkness". The Times. Retrieved 23 December 2019.