Some things count more than records sold

We're listening to BBC RADIO 2 online this morning and PADDY MCALOON is crooning his way through the PREFAB SPROUT classic "CARS & GIRLS."
I say "classic," but the most remarkable thing about Prefab Sprout is that the timeless singles by the 80s English band never really sold as much as you might think, given their peerless quality.
"Cars & Girls," for example, only reached No. 44 in the U.K. singles chart and never made a peep in America.
The "big hit," "THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL," peaked at No. 7 in Britain. It should have sold many more copies.
"When Love Breaks Down," "Faron Young," "Appetite" and other brilliant compositions either missed the Top 40 completely, or barely made a dent.
The buying public missed the mark.
Listening to Prefab Sprout this morning, it's easy to tell that the band's contemporaries might have sold more records, but McAloon and Company have better stood the more crucial test of time.