{"product_id":"truly-gifted-kids-a-book-about-a-band-called-prefab-sprouts","title":"Truly Gifted Kids: A Book About A Band Called Prefab Sprout","description":"\u003cp\u003eA celebration of a much-cherished pop group and a long-overdue companion to their unique musical output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRolling Stone called him ‘the last pop genius’, while Richard Osman claimed he is ‘the most unfairly overlooked lyricist of his generation’.\u003cbr\u003ePaddy McAloon is undoubtedly one of the great songwriters of the last half-century. As the leader of Prefab Sprout, he’s overseen ten heavily praised albums,\u003cbr\u003eincluding the classic Steve McQueen, along with a trail of hit singles, among them ‘When Love Breaks Down’ and ‘The King of Rock ’n’ Roll’. His songs have\u003cbr\u003ebeen sung by Kylie and Cher. Others were written for Madonna, Sinatra and Streisand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut despite the commercial success and abundant critical acclaim, McAloon remains an enigmatic figure within the bright, brash world of pop. The semi-\u003cbr\u003ereclusive Prefab Sprout have seldom followed paths trod by others. They rarely toured. They took their time to make records. They always danced to their own drum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lifelong fan of the band, acclaimed writer Nige Tassell attempts to illuminate the mystery, to uncloak the enigma. Truly Gifted Kids is the deepest dive ever made into McAloon’s craft, exploring the motivations and methods of a man who, 13 years since the band’s last album, still obsessively marries melody to words on a daily basis, in the process building up an enormous stockpile of songs that no one will hear. Occasionally esoteric and freeform, and always original, Truly Gifted Kids pulls together stories, interviews, analysis, history and travelogue to fashion a fulsome portrait of the band, with its chief creative force at the very centre. During his investigations, Tassell both acts as an ad-hoc roadie for solo Sprout Martin McAloon and goes undercover in search of pop music’s most famous motorbike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt its beating, romantic heart, Truly Gifted Kids is a celebration of a much-cherished pop group, a long-overdue companion to their wonderful music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"New Modern","offers":[{"title":"Hardback - Exclusive","offer_id":57415373422923,"sku":"R6566-1491","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/NigeTassell-TrulyGiftedKidsFINALcover.jpg?v=1779454071","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/truly-gifted-kids-a-book-about-a-band-called-prefab-sprouts","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}