Released on 19 June 1989, "Protest Songs" was the fourth studio album by Englisn sophistipop band Prefab Sprout, the album features minimal production style and released no singles, due this was to be released on Decemebre 1985 as a follow-up to the bands critically acclaimed second album "Steve McQueen"/"Two Wheels Good", but it was put on hold for commercial reasons and the band then moved on to their 1988's "From Langley Park To Memphis", the album reached No. 18 on the UK Albums chart.
After the critical and commercial success of "Steve McQueen" Paddy McAloon felt under pressure to deliver a worthy follow-up, so he solved to record a new one using limited production in late 1985, so McAloon then described the album a down-to-earth record, his title "Protest Songs", recorded over 12 days in Newcastle upon Tyne under relaxed session, the original released date was December 2, 1985.
But there was a fear about this record could affect the sales and loss profit on "Steve McQueen" so the label decided to shelving the record, leaving then fans without a proper follow up for nearly three years until March 14th, 1988 when "From Langley Park To Memphis" came out, the record then remained in the archives for about four years but a fistful of copies mamaging. to get into the hands of bootlegger's who widespread it in the UK.
Curiously, "Protest Songs" did what "From Langley Park To Memphis" couldn't, offered a proper sequel to "Steve McQueen", this record is arguably as good as the first one, delivered a similar sound as its predecessor without the definitive sound of "Steve Mcqueen", the record offered nostalgia, heartbreak and irony, the desolate "Dublin" is a perfect example about the IRA and its methods of spreading propaganda, "Tiffany's" an older song who has this fine tasty jangle pop, "Diana" is about the Princess of Wales weaving stories of jealousy and betrayal, "Talking Scarlet" is about a love story between the narrator and Scarlet, "Pearly Gates" is a desolately beautiful song in its wake, and vibrant and joyful "Life Of Surprises" which is in fact the only track to represent the album on the 1992 compilation of the band and also had a video.
The album never received the same praised as "Steve McQueen", no singles were released, and it's incredible but this is an album ignored by all die hard fans of the band, no wonder why?, despite following the same template and lyrical subject to "Steve McQueen", but things tend to change, and practically I think is just a matter of time before the greatness of "Protest Songs" will be discovered appealing for a new generation that can enjoy and appreciate this gem for sure.
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