Andromeda Heights

Andromeda Heights is the sixth studio album by the English pop group Prefab Sprout. It was released by Kitchenware Records on 2 May 1997. It peaked at number 7 in the UK Albums Chart.^[3] "A Prisoner of the Past" and "Electric Guitars" were also released as singles, peaking at number 30 and number 53, respectively, in the UK singles chart.^[3]

Andromeda Heights
Studio album by Prefab Sprout
Released	2 May 1997 (1997-05-02)
Genre	Pop
Length	47:02
Label	Kitchenware
Producer	Paddy McAloon
Prefab Sprout chronology
A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout (1992) Andromeda Heights (1997) 38 Carat Collection (1999)
Singles from Andromeda Heights
"A Prisoner of the Past" Released: April 1997 "Electric Guitars" Released: July 1997

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Uncut	[2]

The high-tech recording studio that Paddy McAloon built for himself at his home in County Durham is also called Andromeda Heights.^[4]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated that "the album doesn't quite fulfill the hopes of the group's fervent followers."^[1] He added, "Andromeda Heights is a solid Prefab Sprout record, filled with elegant melodies, wry lyrics and immaculate production, but after seven years, that nevertheless ranks as a disappointment."^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Electric Guitars"	3:41
2.	"A Prisoner of the Past"	5:01
3.	"The Mystery of Love"	4:37
4.	"Life's a Miracle"	3:44
5.	"Anne Marie"	4:35
6.	"Whoever You Are"	2:47
7.	"Steal Your Thunder"	3:41
8.	"Avenue of Stars"	3:59
9.	"Swans"	2:36
10.	"The Fifth Horseman"	4:42
11.	"Weightless"	3:36
12.	"Andromeda Heights"	4:03
Total length:		47:02

All tracks are written by Paddy McAloon.

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Just Because I Can"	3:52
Total length:		51:04

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Musicians

(billed as "The Andromeda Heights Orchestra")

• Paddy McAloon – vocals, piano, keyboards, programming, "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
• Wendy Smith – vocals
• Martin McAloon – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
• David Brewis – guitars, "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
• Paul Smith – percussion
• Tommy Smith – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
• Frazer Spiers – harmonica
• Jim Hornsby – "fake mandolin" & acoustic guitar (on "A Prisoner of the Past")
• Martin Taylor – lead guitar (on "Anne Marie"), rhythm guitar (on "Andromeda Heights")
• Calum Malcolm – piano, keyboards, programming; Hammond organ (on "The Fifth Horseman")
• Alan Clark – Hammond organ (on "The Mystery of Love")

Technical personnel

• Paddy McAloon – production
• Calum Malcolm – recording, mixing
• Stylorouge – sleeve design
• Stuart Douglas – sleeve photography
• Anne Magill – cover painting

Charts

Chart	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[3]	7