Steve McQueen, the 1985 album by Prefab Sprout, has long been an all-time favourite, and I placed at #31 in the 60 albums at 60 series last year.
Four singles were lifted from it, of which just one made it into the higher echelons of the charts, and even then it took a reissue of When Love Breaks Down to achieve that. The opening track of the album was issued on 7″ and 12″ in July 1985 and limped its way to #74. The 12″version was remixed and extended and given the title of Faron Young (Truckin’ Mix), and while I do have a digital copy of it, it’s the 7″ single that sits in the big cupboard full of vinyl and which is on offer today:-
mp3: Prefab Sprout – Faron Young (edit)
it’s about 30 seconds shorter than the album version, mainly from an early fade-out.
The b-side was an otherwise unavailable track:-
mp3: Prefab Sprout – Silhouettes (edit)
A rare lead vocal from Wendy Smith makes for a pleasant enough number, kind of typical of the band. The reason for the edit in the title is that the 12″ release contained what was described as the ‘Full Version’, one that, according to Discogs, is a full 15 seconds longer!
I think I might look to fit the Truckin Mix of the a-side on a future mixtape.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
My song of the week – a competition limited to unknown and completely forgotten songs – so far is Surf’s Up by the Beach Boys. But Faron Young easily takes second place. Thanks [sk]
I own little by Prefab Sprout but I do own tbe 12″ of this. It’s odd that the following day the Cramps were posted – as Faron Young definitely, to these ears, has more than a little rock n roll going on although admittedly not swamp rock.
Faron Young seemed to get enough airplay. It should’ve been a hit.
Flimflamfan