Recorded 1981–82 The Lexicon of Love
(1982) Beauty Stab
(1983) Release date 21 June 1982 | Length 37:25 Artist ABC Label Mercury Records | |
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Released 21 June 1982 (1982-06-21) Producer Trevor Horn
Steve Brown Genres New wave, Synth-pop, New Romanticism, Dance-pop Similar ABC albums, Synth-pop albums |
Abc the lexicon of love full album
The Lexicon of Love is the debut studio album by English new wave band ABC. It was originally released in June 1982, on the labels Neutron, Mercury and Vertigo. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one and has been certified Platinum by the BPI. The album features four UK Top 20 hit singles, including "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love" and "All of My Heart".
Contents
- Abc the lexicon of love full album
- Recording and release dates
- Reception
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Though not a concept album, the album features repeated themes in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship. A longform music video/film, Mantrap, featuring songs from the album was released in 1983.
Recording and release dates
The album was produced by Trevor Horn, engineered by Gary Langan and featured orchestrations by Anne Dudley and Fairlight CMI programming by J. J. Jeczalik; Horn, Langan, Dudley and Jeczalik would later form the Art of Noise a year after the release of this album. Indeed, most of the production team and session 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 20 hits in the UK; the latter two also charted in the US, peaking at No. 25 and No. 14, respectively. The album reached No. 1 on the UK charts and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts.
In 2004, a deluxe 2-disc reissue including previously unreleased outtakes and early demos and a live performance of the album from 1982 was released on the Neutron label.
In 2009, ABC performed the album integrally at the Royal Albert Hall in London, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted by arranger and composer Anne Dudley. They were joined onstage by the album's producer Trevor Horn.
The Lexicon of Love was again performed live in its entirety on 18 December 2012 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This marked the 30th anniversary of the album's release and once again featured Dudley as conductor, performing with the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra. The same line-up (with Dudley and Southbank Sinfonia) concluded a four-date mini-tour at this same venue on 30 March 2014 performing the album in its entirety. Martin Fry and band were once more accompanied by the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra for dates at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sheffield City Hall, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London and Symphony Hall, Birmingham, between November 4th and 9th, 2015.
A sequel album The Lexicon of Love II was released on 27 May 2016.
Reception
Track listing
All tracks written by Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton and David Palmer, except where noted.
Personnel
ABC
Additional personnel
Production
Songs
1Show Me4:03
2Poison Arrow (7″ version)3:24
3Many Happy Returns3:58