The Gunman and Other Stories
Encyclopedia
The Gunman and Other Stories is the seventh studio album
issued by the band
, Prefab Sprout
. Released in June 2001, the album was the band's only release for the EMI Liberty label
.
and 1999's 38 Carat Collection
albums, Prefab Sprout conducted their first tour of the UK
for ten years. The success of the tour led singer
and frontman Paddy McAloon
to consider recording
material for a new album. Rather than opting for 'new' material, McAloon chose to record material he had previously given to other artists
as a 'tidying up operation', before moving onto newer material.
Despite drummer Neil Conti's involvement in the tour, having originally departed from the band in 1992, the studio
band operated with McAloon and his brother Martin as sole members. Fellow singer Wendy Smith was absent due to having given birth the previous year, and other work commitments with her new music therapy career.
The album was produced
by Tony Visconti
, and made use of session musician
s, including Carlos Alomar
, Jeff Pevar
and Jordan Rudess
. Mixes
were approved via e-mail
between Visconti in New York
and the McAloon brothers' base in County Durham
.
The album includes versions of five song
s which Paddy McAloon originally wrote for other performers. "Cowboy Dreams", "I'm A Troubled Man", "Love Will Find Someone For You" and "Blue Roses" were originally recorded by Jimmy Nail
in 1994 and 1996 respectively, while title track "The Gunman" was originally recorded by Cher
on her 1995 album, It's a Man's World.
The album marked the start of a new contract with EMI's Liberty label, having completed their Sony contract in 1999. The album is also the least successful of the band's output, stalling at #60 in the UK Albums Chart
.
unless noted otherwise:
Japanese cd release also features the "Cowboy Dreams" video as a "cd extra" as well as b-reel footage of video shoot.
The Japanese cd also includes liner notes by Paddy McAloon.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
issued by the band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, Prefab Sprout
Prefab Sprout
Prefab Sprout are an alternative English pop rock band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, England who rose to fame during the 1980s. Eight of their albums have reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and one of their singles, "The King of Rock 'n' Roll", peaked at number seven in the UK...
. Released in June 2001, the album was the band's only release for the EMI Liberty label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.
Album history
Following on from 1997's Andromeda HeightsAndromeda Heights
Andromeda Heights is a 1997 album by pop group Prefab Sprout. It was produced by Paddy McAloon and recorded by Calum Malcolm.- Overview :...
and 1999's 38 Carat Collection
38 Carat Collection
38 Carat Collection is a compilation album by British pop band, Prefab Sprout, released in 1999. It was released in a double CD version...
albums, Prefab Sprout conducted their first tour of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for ten years. The success of the tour led singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and frontman Paddy McAloon
Paddy McAloon
Paddy McAloon is an English singer-songwriter and member of the band Prefab Sprout. Allmusic describes him as "one of the most underrated lyricists of the '80s".-Career:...
to consider recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
material for a new album. Rather than opting for 'new' material, McAloon chose to record material he had previously given to other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
as a 'tidying up operation', before moving onto newer material.
Despite drummer Neil Conti's involvement in the tour, having originally departed from the band in 1992, the studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
band operated with McAloon and his brother Martin as sole members. Fellow singer Wendy Smith was absent due to having given birth the previous year, and other work commitments with her new music therapy career.
The album was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
, and made use of session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s, including Carlos Alomar
Carlos Alomar
Carlos Alomar is an American guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician...
, Jeff Pevar
Jeff Pevar
Jeff Pevar is an American musician who has recorded and toured with hundreds of renowned artists and is a member of CPR with David Crosby. Although primarily a guitarist, he is also a multi-instumentalist, also playing bass, mandolin, lap steel, dobro and more...
and Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
. Mixes
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
were approved via e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
between Visconti in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the McAloon brothers' base in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
.
The album includes versions of five song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s which Paddy McAloon originally wrote for other performers. "Cowboy Dreams", "I'm A Troubled Man", "Love Will Find Someone For You" and "Blue Roses" were originally recorded by Jimmy Nail
Jimmy Nail
James Bradford "Jimmy" Nail is an English singer-songwriter, actor, musician, film producer, film score composer and television writer....
in 1994 and 1996 respectively, while title track "The Gunman" was originally recorded by Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
on her 1995 album, It's a Man's World.
The album marked the start of a new contract with EMI's Liberty label, having completed their Sony contract in 1999. The album is also the least successful of the band's output, stalling at #60 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Paddy McAloonPaddy McAloon
Paddy McAloon is an English singer-songwriter and member of the band Prefab Sprout. Allmusic describes him as "one of the most underrated lyricists of the '80s".-Career:...
unless noted otherwise:
- "Cowboy Dreams"
- "Wild Card In The Pack"
- "I'm A Troubled Man"
- "The Streets Of Laredo" / "Not Long For This World" (Traditional arranged and adapted by Paddy McAloon/Paddy McAloon)
- "Love Will Find Someone For You"
- "Cornfield Ablaze"
- "When You Get To Know Me Better"
- "The Gunman"
- "Blue Roses"
- "Farmyard Cat"
Japanese cd release also features the "Cowboy Dreams" video as a "cd extra" as well as b-reel footage of video shoot.
The Japanese cd also includes liner notes by Paddy McAloon.