Album · Prefab Sprout
Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
Steve McQueen is an album by Prefab Sprout, released in 1985. 4 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 7 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “When Love Breaks Down”, on 3 lists with a best position of #87.
Steve McQueen, Prefab Sprout's second album, came out on Kitchenware on 22 June 1985, and America got it on Epic that September under the name Two Wheels Good, the label bracing for trouble with the actor's estate. The sleeve nods to McQueen's love of Triumph motorcycles and to The Great Escape.
Thomas Dolby produced, and he gives Paddy McAloon's songs a glassy, shimmering frame without smothering how clever and tender they are. Martin McAloon on bass, Wendy Smith on harmonies, guitar and keys, and Neil Conti on drums round out the County Durham band. "When Love Breaks Down" made the UK top 30, "Faron Young" kicks up its heels, and "Appetite" and "Bonny" ache beautifully. The album reached number 21 at the time, but its reputation has kept growing ever since, and it's now held up as a benchmark for indie pop.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Steve McQueen on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | When Love Breaks Down | 3 | #87 | – | 1985–2021 | |
| 2 | Bonny | 2 | #444 | – | 2003–2023 | |
| 3 | Appetite | 1 | #866 | – | 2003 | |
| 4 | Faron Young | 1 | #38 | – | 1985 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.