The Gunman and Other Stories

The Gunman and Other Stories
Studio album by Prefab Sprout
Released	2001
Genre	Pop
Label	EMI Liberty
Producer	Tony Visconti
Prefab Sprout chronology
Andromeda Heights (1997) The Gunman and Other Stories (2001) Let's Change the World with Music (2009)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The Gunman and Other Stories is the seventh studio album issued by the English pop band Prefab Sprout. Released in June 2001, the album was the band's only release for the EMI Liberty label.^[2]

Album history

Following on from 1997's Andromeda Heights 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,^[2] and other work commitments with her new music therapy career.

The album was produced by Tony Visconti, and made use of session musicians, including Carlos Alomar, Jeff Pevar and Jordan Rudess.^[2] 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 songs 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Paddy McAloon unless noted otherwise:

1. "Cowboy Dreams"
2. "Wild Card In The Pack"
3. "I'm A Troubled Man"
4. "The Streets of Laredo" / "Not Long For This World" (Traditional; arranged and adapted by Paddy McAloon/Paddy McAloon)
5. "Love Will Find Someone For You"
6. "Cornfield Ablaze"
7. "When You Get To Know Me Better"
8. "The Gunman"
9. "Blue Roses"
10. "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.

References

1. Allmusic review
2. "Album review by Stewart Mason". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 433. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.