Editing Prefab Sprout (section)

===Paddy McAloon solo project (2003–)===
After being diagnosed with a medical disorder that seriously impaired his vision, Paddy McAloon released the album ''[[I Trawl the Megahertz]]'' under his own name in 2003 on the EMI Liberty label. Fifteen years later, in autumn 2018, the album was reissued on Sony Music as a Prefab Sprout record, as originally intended.

In early 2007 a remastered edition of ''Steve McQueen'' was released in a two-[[Compact disc|CD]] package, containing new versions of eight of the songs from the original album, in different arrangements performed by McAloon on acoustic guitar.

Prefab Sprout's first album of new material since 2001, ''[[Let's Change the World with Music]]'', was released on 7 September 2009. The album is actually a collection of McAloon solo demos originally recorded in the early 1990s, intended for an unmade full band Prefab Sprout album. Reviews in the UK press were favourable (e.g. 5/5 in ''[[The Times]]'', 4/5 in ''[[The Guardian]]'', 4/5 in ''[[Record Collector]]'').{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

''[[Crimson/Red]]'', consisting of developed versions of tracks from the vaults,<ref name="Paul Lester"</> was released on 7 October 2013 on vinyl and CD on the Icebreaker records label. A limited edition box set with an interview CD was also released. The lead single was "The Best Jewel Thief in the World". ''Crimson/Red'' was a solo project, with Paddy McAloon singing, playing and programming all of the music on the album on his own.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In a 2013 interview, McAloon explained that his health issues (in particular, the deterioration of his hearing and eyesight)<ref name=America/> now dictated the way in which Prefab Sprout music was recorded, making it impractical and even impossible for any other musicians to be involved,<ref name="Scotsman 2013">{{cite news| url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/paddy-mcaloon-on-the-return-of-prefab-sprout-1-3120463 | title=Paddy McAloon on the return of Prefab Sprout | newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] | date=1 October 2013 | access-date=24 March 2019 | author=Eaton-Lewis, Andrew }}</ref> but that he remained fond of and grateful to his former bandmates.

On 3 March 2017, McAloon's manager Keith Armstrong, one-time head of Kitchenware Records, posted a short clip on [[Instagram]] of McAloon performing a new song "America" to a camcorder; operated by McAloon himself. A longer version appears on Armstrong's [[YouTube]] page.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jbdjD6a-xw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/0jbdjD6a-xw |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=PREFAB SPROUT : AMERICA|date=3 March 2017 |publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=18 August 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=America>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/mar/06/paddy-mcaloon-america-prefab-sprout-frontman-returns | title=Music blog: Why Prefab Sprout's return with America is a whim and a wonder |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | date=6 March 2017 | access-date=24 March 2019 | author=Paphides, Pete | author-link =Pete Paphides}}</ref>

On 8 November 2018, [[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]] announced the availability of vinyl LP and CD versions of ''I Trawl the Megahertz'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/music/prefab-sprout-i-trawl-the-megahertz|title=Prefab Sprout – I Trawl The Megahertz|website=Roughtrade.com|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> including a white vinyl special edition of 1000 copies. On the same day, Sony Music announced the release under their "Legacy" brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wearesonymusiclegacy.com/news/prefab-sprout-i-trawl-the-megahertz|title=Prefab Sprout – I Trawl The Megahertz|website=Wearesonymusiclegacy.com|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The Sony press release notes that although this was originally a solo album, it is now fitting to classify it as a Prefab Sprout record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sproutology.co.uk/interviews/tell-the-stars-im-coming-sony-press-release-november-8th-2018/|title=Tell the Stars I'm Coming… Sony Press Release |date=8 November 2018|website=Sproutology.co.uk|access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>

Since 2023 bass player Martin McAloon has toured and performed Prefab Sprout material as a solo artist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/24135509.interview-prefab-sprouts-martin-mcaloon-plays-st-helens-citadel/|title='I'm a roadie at heart!' - Prefab Sprout's Martin McAloon plays The Citadel|date=24 February 2024|newspaper=[[St Helens Star]]|access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref>