ABC - 3 Albums

One of the more popular new wave bands of the early '80s, the British group ABC built upon the detached, synthesized R&B pop of David Bowie and Roxy Music, adding a self-conscious, campy sense of theatrics and style. Under the direction of vocalist Martin Fry, the group scored several catchy, synth-driven dance-pop hits in the early '80s, including "Poison Arrow," "Look of Love," and "Be Near Me."

During the late '70s, Fry ran his own fanzine, Modern Drugs, while he attended Sheffield University. ABC formed in 1980, after Fry interviewed Vice Versa members Mark White (guitar) and Stephen Singleton (saxophone) for his fanzine. The two musicians asked Fry to join their band as a vocalist, and he soon became part of the group; the lineup also featured drummer David Robinson and bassist Mark Lickley.

Soon, Fry had taken control of the electronic band, steering them in a more pop-oriented direction and renaming the group ABC. By the fall of 1981, the band had signed a record contract with Phonogram Records, which agreed to distribute ABC's own label, Neutron. ABC released their first single, "Tears Are Not Enough," in November; it peaked at number 19 on the U.K. charts. Before they recorded their second single, Robinson left the band and was replaced by David Palmer in early 1982. Two singles, "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love," became British Top Ten hits in the spring, paving the way for their debut album, The Lexicon of Love, to enter the charts at number one. "All of My Heart" also became a Top Ten hit in the fall of 1982.





The Lexicon of Love (1982)

Tracklist -

01 Show Me
02 Poison Arrow
03 Many Happy Returns
04 Tears Are Not Enough
05 Valentine's Day
06 The Look Of Love (Part One)
07 Date Stamp
08 All Of My Heart
09 4 Ever 2 Gether
10 The Look Of Love (Part Four)

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By Tim Brough (Springfield, PA United States) Just when you thought you had heard every David Bowie and Bryan Ferry imitator to warble his discontented angst into the wind, along came ABC. They were smart like Bowie, fashion-mad like Ferry, and (before he became producer du jour) sonically adventurous with Trevor Horn at the dials. Lyrically witty to the point of brilliant, "The Look Of Love" remains a sonic marvel. It combined the lush orchestrations of disco with the propulsion of Motown, with enough English mannerisms to broach "new wave." Horn's production touches also made it sound completely unlike anything else on the radio or dancefloors at the time. Yet there was more than a dreaded one hit wonder here. Songs like "Poison Arrow" and "Tears Are Not Enough" had more hooks than a hardware department and made radio sound vibrant in the early 80's. Lead Singer Martin Fry also had the looks down for the early generation of MTV, and the high style of the band's early videos (including one of the earliest longform music vid/movies in "Mantrap") gave them the extra boost that they needed to conquer the US. But what really mattered was, and remains, the music. "The Lexicon Of Love" has held its original splendor years after many of the other MTV bands of the period have lost their sheen. This was one of the first CD's I bought when Disc players were relatively new, and the remaster here, as it does with Roxy Music's "Avalon," brings out even more of the original disc's depth and sparkle. I can't imagine my record collection without "The Lexicon of Love."

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Beauty Stab (1983)

Tracklist -

01 That Was Then But This Is Now
02 Love's A Dangerous Language
03 If I Ever Thought You'd Be Lonely
04 The Power Of Persuasion
05 Beauty Stab
06 By Default By Design
07 Hey Citizen!
08 King Money
09 Bite The Hand
10 Unzip
11 S.O.S.
12 United Kingdom

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By Kenneth V. Cockrel (Detroit, MI USA) One of the most misunderstood albums of the eighties, "Beauty Stab", ABC's 1983 follow-up to their multi-platinum debut, "The Lexicon of Love," so thoroughly alienated the band's core audience and was so reviled by critics that it nearly annihilated their career. Which is why open-minded fans of 80s-era pop may be pleasantly suprised to find that this critical and commercial disaster is actually a great album. With a new sound and a new social conscience, the band seemed intent on defining a different direction with its very first track. Its title, "That Was Then, But This Is Now" could be taken as a bold statement that this was no longer your little sister's ABC. Other tracks like "Power of Persuasion" and "Hey Citizen!" feature a tough, guitar-driven style that blends arena rock theatrics seamlessly with singer-lyricist Martin Fry's voice and quirky songcraft. Ballads like "If I Ever Thought You'd Be Lonely" and "By Default By Design" stay true to Fry's romantic streak but show a more mature approach to matters of the heart than anything on ABC's first album. But in the end, it was this radical new sound and lyrical focus beyond L.O.V.E. that sent this album to record store bargain bins across the globe. Many potential fans who remembered the band's gold lame' suits, pancake makeup, and faux soul-disco sound had already written them off. Meawhile, it's core audience, which consisted largely of teenage girls, apparently didn't know what to make of their new sound. They likely felt betrayed that they weren't treated to "Lexicon of Love, Part II." Let's face it, pop music fans may like evolution in their favorite bands but usually they don't want it overnight. For example, if John, Paul, George, and Ringo had released "Sgt. Pepper" right after "Meet the Beatles" the world probably would have just scratched its collective head and wondered what the Fab Four had been smoking. I'm not saying that "Beauty Stab" is ABC's "Sgt. Pepper." But is it a damn fine pop-rock album ? You bet.

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Alphabet City (1987)

Tracklist -

01 Avenue A
02 When Smokey Sings
03 The Night You Murdered Love
04 Think Again
05 Rage And Then Regret
06 Ark-Angel
07 King Without A Crown
08 Bad Blood
09 Jealous Lover
10 One Day
11 Avenue Z
12 Minneapolis
13 When Smokey Sings (The Miami Mix)
14 The Night You Murdered Love (The Whole Story)
15 Chicago (Abridged)

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By Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA) When looking back to those dazzling disco/techno pop days of the eighties, there are so many acts that had one or two songs that were really memorable. ABC, however, rises above this "one hit wonder" status, and none so as eloquently as in this "Alphabet City." What has always worked for these debonair gents is their flair for esoterically correct vocals and their stunning string arrangements. And while many of their songs can be considered a little "glitzy" or "forced," the songs on this collection work because of their unique approach to their subject matters. "When Smokey Sings" is a tribute to Smokey Robinson, and has some clever lyrics, and while it may be seen as a self-confident ode to themselves, I think it's more of a salute to a man whose influence in popular music cannot be underestimated. The synthesized instrumentals saluting "Minneapolis" and "Chicago" are filler fluff, but not bad in that respect. For me, the album's showcase is both the opening "Night You Murdered Love," and it's counterpart (The Whole Story). In this version, the female responds to the male's accusations. It's done in rap and it's so funny and appropriate; also shows that rap music can be done with orchestral backups and gives the singer much more support and is much more interesting than the garbled garbage that exists in rap today. A clever, well produced and truly listenable musical experience. Hats off to Martin Fry and Mark White.

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