The Sound of Crying
"The Sound of Crying" is a single by English pop band Prefab Sprout, released by Kitchenware Records on 1992. It was one of two new songs included on their compilation album A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout. It was one of the band's biggest hits, reaching No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart.
"The Sound of Crying" | ||||
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Single by Prefab Sprout | ||||
from the album A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout | ||||
Released | 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:44 | |||
Label | Kitchenware | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paddy McAloon | |||
Producer(s) | Steve Lipson | |||
Prefab Sprout singles chronology | ||||
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Composition
Paddy McAloon originally wrote the song in April 1990[1] for a proposed biographical album about Michael Jackson, who he was fascinated by. The verses originally listed unhappy things that had happened to Jackson,[1] while the original lyrics of the chorus were "Only the boogie music / Will never, ever let you down".[2][3][4] The song's final form has been described by McAloon as "a “Why does God allow this?” song".[1] The lyrics concern the plights of people around the world, and ask why they cannot be helped.[5] This was prompted by George H. W. Bush's references to a new world order, as McAloon felt that "no matter how well-regulated you make the world, no matter how well-regulated our affairs are, disasters are kind of there".[1]
Release
The song received significant airplay on BBC Radio 1,[6] and became Prefab Sprout's first top 30 hit on the UK singles chart since "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" reached No. 7 four years earlier. It peaked at No. 23, and remains the band's second highest charting single to date.[7] A music video featuring the band was produced and was included on the VHS release "A Life of Surprises: The Video Collection".
Reception
The song was well received, with Jim Lawn of the Lennox Herald calling it "Paddy McAloon's best chance of a hit single in ages".[8] The Times' Alan Jackson commented that the song's "lush production and glorious melody" were used "to sneak one of the oldest debates in Christendom before millions of Radio 1 listeners".[9] Similarly, David Cavanagh of Select praised how the song "manages to include ice-cool phraseology like “the music of the spheres” while still being catchy enough to be this week’s third most played single on Radio 1".[6]
Track listings
7"
Side 1
- "The Sound Of Crying (Edit)"
Side 2
- "The Sound Of Crying (Full Version)"
CD
- "The Sound Of Crying (Edit)
- "The Sound Of Crying (Full Version)"
- "Looking For Atlantis"
- "The Golden Calf"
References
- Reighley, Kurt B. "Full Interview – December 4th 1992". Sproutology. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Coleman, Nick. "Sprout on his own". Independent. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Maconie, Stuart (20 June 1992). "Fop on the tyne". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Cohen, Jason. "Unpublished Interview Transcript". Sproutology. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Toshifumi, Morita (September 1992). "Paddy McAloon Interview". Crossbeat Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Cavanagh, David (August 1992). "The Mild One". Select Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- "Prefab Sprout". Official Charts. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Lawn, Jim (10 July 1992). "Singles". Lennox Herald: 32. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- Alan, Alan (8 July 1992). "Quiet Man With Faith In His Songs". The Times. Retrieved 5 June 2019.