The Lexicon of Love
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The Lexicon of Love | ||
Studio album by ABC | ||
Released | June 25, 1982 | |
Recorded | 1981/1982 | |
Genre | Synth-pop | |
Length | 37:25 | |
Label | Mercury Records | |
Producer(s) | Trevor Horn/Steve Brown Brown produced the single version of "Tears are Not Enough". Though he is uncredited in the album notes, it is apparent to the listener that his initial production of the song was used and built upon by Horn. It is likely that a form of professional courtesy or protocol came into effect with respect to the album's credits. | |
Professional reviews | ||
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ABC chronology | ||
The Lexicon of Love (1982) |
Beauty Stab (1983) |
The Lexicon of Love was the acclaimed chart topping debut album by the British pop band ABC released in 1982. It is a concept album in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship with any woman. It was produced by Trevor Horn and featured orchestration by future Art of Noise member Anne Dudley, whose orchestrations on the project led to work on Lloyd Cole and the Commotions Rattlesnakes (1984), and further arranging work which would culminate in her winning the Oscar for best original score (musical or comedy) for "The Full Monty". In fact, most of the production team and sessions players listed below would form the basis for the ZTT label, and their work with Horn meant all concerned would be in constant demand throughout the industry in years to come. "Tears Are Not Enough" (in its initial release produced by Steve Brown), "All of My Heart", "Poison Arrow", and "The Look Of Love (Part One)" were all Top 40 hits in the UK; the last two also charted in the US. The album reached #1 on the British charts, and peaked at #24 in the U.S. charts. It has been reissued with an extra track. In 2004, a deluxe 2-disc reissue including outtakes and early demos and a live performance of the album from 1982 was released on the Neutron label.
In 1998 Q magazine readers voted The Lexicon of Love the 92nd greatest album of all time. In 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 40 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by ABC except where indicated.
[edit] Original release
- "Show Me" – 4:02
- "Poison Arrow" – 3:24
- "Many Happy Returns" – 3:56
- "Tears Are Not Enough" – 3:31
- "Valentine's Day" – 3:42
- "The Look Of Love" (Part One) – 3:26
- "Date Stamp" – 3:51
- "All Of My Heart" – 5:12
- "4 Ever 2 Gether" – 5:30 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
- "The Look Of Love" (Part Four) – 1:02
[edit] 2004 deluxe edition
[edit] Disc one
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- Part 1
- The Original Album
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- Show Me – 4:02
- Poison Arrow – 3:24
- Many Happy Returns – 3:56
- Tears Are Not Enough – 3:31
- Valentine's Day – 3:42
- The Look Of Love (Part One) – 3:26
- Date Stamp – 3:51
- All Of My Heart – 5:12
- 4 Ever 2 Gether – 5:30 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
- The Look Of Love (Part Four) – 1:02
- Part 2
- The Original Singles
- Overture – 3:59 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
- Tears Are Not Enough [original single version] – 3:36
- Alphabet Soup – 8:03
- Theme From “Man Trap" – 4:19
- Poison Arrow [North American Jazz Mix] – 7:06
- Part 3
- An Oddity and An Out-Take
- Into The Valley of the Heathen Go – 2:00
- Alphabet Soup [BBC Swapshop version] – 3:13
[edit] Disc two
-
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- Part 4
- The Route to the Lexicon
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- Tears Are Not Enough [Phonogram Demo 20 July 1981] – 3:32
- Show Me [Phonogram Demo 20 July 1981] – 4:03
- Surrender [Phonogram Demo 20 July 1981] — (song deleted from album’s original release at "the 11th hour") – 3:29
- Part 5
- The Lexicon of Love—Live at Hammersmith Odeon November 1982
- Overture – 3:56 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
- Show Me – 4:21
- Many Happy Returns – 7:02
- Tears Are Not Enough – 5:33
- Date Stamp – 7:07
- The Look Of Love [Complete Suite] – 5:59
- All Of My Heart – 6:45
- Valentine's Day – 4:44
- 4 Ever 2 Gether – 6:53 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
- Alphabet Soup – 8:26
- Poison Arrow – 5:22
[edit] Band lineup on this album
Martin Fry: vocals
David Palmer: drums and percussion
Stephen Singleton: alto and tenor saxophones
Mark White: guitars and keyboards
[edit] Guest musicians
Anne Dudley: keyboards and orchestration
Brad Lang: bass guitar
Mark Lickey: bass guitar on "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love"
J.J. Jeczalik: Fairlight programmer
Kim Wear: trumpet
Andy Gray: trombone on "Tears Are Not Enough"
Luis Jardim (mis-spelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes): Additional percussion
Tessa Webb: Female speaking voice in "Poison Arrow", female vocal lead on ""Date Stamp"
Gaynor Sadler: harp
[edit] Production crew
Trevor Horn — producer
Gary Langan — engineer
Gered Markowitz — film photography
Paul Cox — band photography
Pete Bill — cover photography
Visible Inc. — design
Neutron Records — design
[edit] 2004 deluxe edition credits
Gary Moore — digital remastering
Daryl Easlea — album coordinator and compiler
Martin Fry — compiler
Deluxe Graphics@Green Ink — artwork restoration and adaption
[edit] External links
ABC |
Martin Fry |
Mark Lickley (1980–1982) | David Robinson (1980–1982) | David Palmer (1980-1982) | Andy Newmark (1983) | Alan Spenner (1983) | Stephen Singleton (1980–1984) | Fiona Russell-Powell (a.k.a Eden) (1985) | David Yarritu (1985)| Mark White (1980–1992) | Glenn Gregory (1995–1997) | Keith Lowndes (1995–1997) |
Discography |
Albums: The Lexicon of Love | Beauty Stab| How to Be a...Zillionaire! | Alphabet City | Up | Abracadabra | Skyscraping |
Live and Compilations: Absolutely | The Lexicon of Live | Look of Love - The Very Best of ABC |
Singles: "Tears Are Not Enough" | "Poison Arrow" | "The Look of Love (Part One)" | "All of My Heart" | "That Was Then but This Is Now" | "S.O.S." | "Be Near Me" | "How to Be a Millionaire" | "Vanity Kills" | "Ocean Blue" | "When Smokey Sings" | "The Night You Murdered Love" | "King Without a Crown" | "The Look of Love '90" |"One Better World" | "The Real Thing" | "Love Conquers All" | "Say It" | "Rolling Sevens" | "Skyscraping" | "Stranger Things" | "Peace and Tranquility" |
Videos: ABC Mantrap | Absolutely...ABC |
Spinoffs: Honeyroot |