Concept of this album is great. Take love song, torch songs, pop songs and turning them up to 10. The production, the word play, grooves, mood, heartache. Perfect album.
This was ABC's first single back in 1981, six months before the album came out. Produced by Steve Brown, it was remixed completely by Trevor Horn for the album, making it much more dynamic and radio friendly - that's the version which you played.
Justin, thanks for the shout out. ( UK Top 40 below). ABC's single debut was Tears are not enough which entered the UK Top 40 on the 31st October 1981 and peaked at no.19. But they were huge in 1982. 1981 was one of the most incredible years for music. A lot of social commentary that year with many many big tracks... The Specials Ghost town, Hazel O Conner's Will you, UB40's one in ten. A huge year for Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, OMD and Depeche Mode. The New Romantic phase was in full flow at that point and yet we had solid foundations with the likes of The Jam, David Bowie and Queen. It was simply a magnificent year for music. The Top 10 this week was: 1 - The Police - Every little thing she does is magic 2 - Julio Iglesias - Begin the beguine 3 - Queen & David Bowie - Under pressure 4 - Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark - Joan of Arc 5 - Haircut 100 - Favourite shirts (Boy meets girl) 6 - Altered Images - Happy birthday 7 - The Four Tops - When she was my girl 8 - Squeeze - Labelled with love 9 - Olivia Newton John - Physical 10 - Rod Stewart - Tonight i'm yours (Don't hurt me) Also in this weeks Top 40 Earth, Wind and Fire - Let's groove The Human League - Open your heart The Pretenders - I go to sleep Soft Cell - Bedsitter The Jam - Absolute beginners Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight Rush - Tom Sawyer Ultravox - The Voice ABC - Tears are not enough Japan - Visions of China Fun Boy Three - The lunatics (Have taken over the asylum) Laurie Anderson - O Superman Kim Wilde - Cambodia Genesis - Keep it dark Depeche Mode - Just can't get enough
I wore this album out back in the day - still put it on when in a feel good nostalgic mood Every track is worth exploring From that same time period - for something with a bit more edge to it , you should begin a journey of checking out The Fixx - start with Red Skies , Saved by Zero , One Thing Leads to Another and have fun - time well spent
A classic album, all killer no filler. :-) *The follow-up album 'Beauty Stab' is pretty good too, rockier and pretty underrated (overshadowed by this album and Trevor Horn's production of course).
Such a great album, and producer Trevor Horns work is sooo good. He hired a bass player for this album, so the groups bass player left the band when he realized that he was not able to play the songs live. Mr Horn produced the German group Propaganda around the same time, great album “a secret wish”, check it out….
Evening, Justin. Dave from Beyond The Sea. ABC formed part of the electronic pop movement from Sheffield, England (formerly known for Sheffield Steel), as well as Human League, Thomson Twins and my favourites Heaven 17. All of them enjoyed plenty of chart single and album success.
Great reaction, thanks... ABC were formerly a fairly hardcore electronic band called Vice Versa, but they really weren't getting anywhere. In the Christmas 1980 edition of the NME (New Musical Express), they're interviewed by Paul Morley and he asks them what 1981 has in store for them, and Martin Fry says "we're going to change our name to ABC and make the ultimate pop album..." The early ABC sound was very funky, like the original single version of this song, and the B-side "Alphabet Soup" (and their early demos if you can find a bootleg), but by the time they teamed up with Trevor Horn their aim was lush, orchestral pop songs... PS Funny you should mention Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" which featured Nile Rodgers, and who produced some of ABC's fourth album "Alphabet City"... PPS Martin Fry's lyrics are full of sly, clever little lines you can chew over all day...
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on 'All of my Heart', whilst much of the album seems tongue in cheek, this is a sumptuous and, for me, moving ballad.
I remember that after the British Punk wore off, this new more electronic wave sounded so refreshing. Melodic, driving, danceable you name it. The documentary "Made In Sheffield" tells about the early time, first as Vice Versa, then new ideas and ABC. The documentary as a whole tells the story of Sheffield bursting out with new bands, ABC, Human League and others. Please search with "Made In Sheffield documentary". :)
I don't get the "awkward" of Martin Fry's singing that you heard. It blends and fuses perfectly. Hear this on the dance floor, jacked up to full volume and you're in the groove, my man. Also, great dance tracks didn't necessarily go to the top of the charts in 1981. Just take a look at the competition this record had. The 12" version is also great.
My Bis Sis had the LP when I was 12 or 13 - which now is 40 years ago!! 🤯 Still sounds pretty decent, too! 😀👍 I _am_ surprised producer Trevor Horn was okay with the out-of-sync handclaps during this song's ending, though! 😯
Would it be rude of me to butt in here, and just say there's a new *Guided by Voices* album out? One of the songs is *Cousin Jackie* ua-cam.com/video/eYJiEE5O8L8/v-deo.html (The ABC song I don't dislike - even like a bit - but it sounds like something I've heard before. I like it well enough, but ... maybe just not tonight. I suppose you might feel the same way about a GBV song that goes to all points of the compass - including up and down. Maybe not tomorrow, though. Their great songs are amazing, their terrible songs are to be avoided, and this one I like quite a lot. I haven't decided whether to develop an addiction to it yet.)
You aren’t off on your comparison w Get Lucky. That song borrows heavily from Nile Roger’s & Chic- this album is absolutely influenced by Chic - so even if it’s not a 1 to 1 comparison you sense the connection which is definitely there. 🔥❤️🔥 this album!!!
Loving your reactions to this lp, but... You seem to have stopped here! You can't do that! The next track is the best: Valentine's Day, epic from start to finish and it ends on one of the greatest rhymes in pop history. PLAY VALENTINE'S DAY!
![Tears Are Not Enough - Northern Lights [Making Of] (with Names) Pt 3 v2](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-GUY1k7bjsE/mqdefault.jpg)
Concept of this album is great. Take love song, torch songs, pop songs and turning them up to 10. The production, the word play, grooves, mood, heartache. Perfect album.
That Nile rodgers sounding frantic guitar and horns in the background 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
One of the finest examples of pop perfection is the lexicon of love ❤️
That Nile Rodgers riff Mark Smith is laying down is such a funk staple.
This was ABC's first single back in 1981, six months before the album came out. Produced by Steve Brown, it was remixed completely by Trevor Horn for the album, making it much more dynamic and radio friendly - that's the version which you played.
ABC was one of my alltime favorites. Just a phenomenal group and the 12" remixes were incredible!
Justin, thanks for the shout out. ( UK Top 40 below). ABC's single debut was Tears are not enough which entered the UK Top 40 on the 31st October 1981 and peaked at no.19. But they were huge in 1982. 1981 was one of the most incredible years for music. A lot of social commentary that year with many many big tracks... The Specials Ghost town, Hazel O Conner's Will you, UB40's one in ten. A huge year for Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, OMD and Depeche Mode. The New Romantic phase was in full flow at that point and yet we had solid foundations with the likes of The Jam, David Bowie and Queen. It was simply a magnificent year for music.
The Top 10 this week was:
1 - The Police - Every little thing she does is magic
2 - Julio Iglesias - Begin the beguine
3 - Queen & David Bowie - Under pressure
4 - Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark - Joan of Arc
5 - Haircut 100 - Favourite shirts (Boy meets girl)
6 - Altered Images - Happy birthday
7 - The Four Tops - When she was my girl
8 - Squeeze - Labelled with love
9 - Olivia Newton John - Physical
10 - Rod Stewart - Tonight i'm yours (Don't hurt me)
Also in this weeks Top 40
Earth, Wind and Fire - Let's groove
The Human League - Open your heart
The Pretenders - I go to sleep
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
The Jam - Absolute beginners
Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Ultravox - The Voice
ABC - Tears are not enough
Japan - Visions of China
Fun Boy Three - The lunatics (Have taken over the asylum)
Laurie Anderson - O Superman
Kim Wilde - Cambodia
Genesis - Keep it dark
Depeche Mode - Just can't get enough
The Lexicon of Love is a perfect Pop Album which the ravages of time can not harm.
You're right, l bought the album 40 years ago, still love it!
Great album! Trevor Horn has the golden touch.
I wore this album out back in the day - still put it on when in a feel good nostalgic mood
Every track is worth exploring
From that same time period - for something with a bit more edge to it , you should begin a journey of checking out The Fixx - start with Red Skies , Saved by Zero , One Thing Leads to Another and have fun - time well spent
...and maybe also The Buggles' song 'Lenny'! 😀👍
I must have played this album 100's of times, never get tired of it. Must say though, this is my least favourite track.
A classic album, all killer no filler. :-) *The follow-up album 'Beauty Stab' is pretty good too, rockier and pretty underrated (overshadowed by this album and Trevor Horn's production of course).
One of my favorites from this album. Love the horns.
Me, too! Especially the Trevor one! 😄😉
Such a great album, and producer Trevor Horns work is sooo good. He hired a bass player for this album, so the groups bass player left the band when he realized that he was not able to play the songs live. Mr Horn produced the German group Propaganda around the same time, great album “a secret wish”, check it out….
Propaganda! I second that!
Don't forget Trevor Horn's work on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax and Grace Jones' Slave to the Rhythm!
Oh emm gee, yes! I actually _prefer_ 'A Secret Wish' to 'The Lexicon Of Love'! 😀
Evening, Justin. Dave from Beyond The Sea. ABC formed part of the electronic pop movement from Sheffield, England (formerly known for Sheffield Steel), as well as Human League, Thomson Twins and my favourites Heaven 17. All of them enjoyed plenty of chart single and album success.
The Thompson Twins who were actually a trio! 😄
others below have said it AND they're right! brilliant album, brilliant production, brilliant concept AUDACIOUS! and yet timeless
Great reaction, thanks... ABC were formerly a fairly hardcore electronic band called Vice Versa, but they really weren't getting anywhere. In the Christmas 1980 edition of the NME (New Musical Express), they're interviewed by Paul Morley and he asks them what 1981 has in store for them, and Martin Fry says "we're going to change our name to ABC and make the ultimate pop album..." The early ABC sound was very funky, like the original single version of this song, and the B-side "Alphabet Soup" (and their early demos if you can find a bootleg), but by the time they teamed up with Trevor Horn their aim was lush, orchestral pop songs...
PS Funny you should mention Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" which featured Nile Rodgers, and who produced some of ABC's fourth album "Alphabet City"...
PPS Martin Fry's lyrics are full of sly, clever little lines you can chew over all day...
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on 'All of my Heart', whilst much of the album seems tongue in cheek, this is a sumptuous and, for me, moving ballad.
Killer song, literally!
As with a lot of artists/ bands l much prefer the lesser known album tracks, Date Stamp and Many Happy Returns are two l love on this album.
Martin fry is a class act. One of greatest singers of Brit Pop
This is an almost perfect album, and Trevor Horne would never be without producing duties after this.
It's the lesser known tracks on this album that l much prefer, Many Happy Returns and Date Stamp, just superb!
One of the best debut albums of all time in my book
Absolutely! It's one of my favourite albums, and I'm a 70's prog rock fan.
Can totally see the connection between Get Lucky and Tears Are Not Enough.
Good song! But then... I'm not sure I have heard any tracks from this album that weren't good. What an amazing piece of work.
Great rhythm, good stuff
I remember that after the British Punk wore off, this new more electronic wave sounded so refreshing. Melodic, driving, danceable you name it.
The documentary "Made In Sheffield" tells about the early time, first as Vice Versa, then new ideas and ABC. The documentary as a whole tells the story of Sheffield bursting out with new bands, ABC, Human League and others. Please search with "Made In Sheffield documentary". :)
Churr....nice choice!
I don't get the "awkward" of Martin Fry's singing that you heard. It blends and fuses perfectly. Hear this on the dance floor, jacked up to full volume and you're in the groove, my man. Also, great dance tracks didn't necessarily go to the top of the charts in 1981. Just take a look at the competition this record had. The 12" version is also great.
My Bis Sis had the LP when I was 12 or 13 - which now is 40 years ago!! 🤯 Still sounds pretty decent, too! 😀👍 I _am_ surprised producer Trevor Horn was okay with the out-of-sync handclaps during this song's ending, though! 😯
I would play video games In game room silver balls ms pac man great one of top vocals of all time
One of the better bands to come out of Sheffield. But then again I'm bias, used to work with Steve Singleton's Uncle.
Oh, I used to really like ABC's sound!
Would it be rude of me to butt in here, and just say there's a new *Guided by Voices* album out?
One of the songs is *Cousin Jackie* ua-cam.com/video/eYJiEE5O8L8/v-deo.html
(The ABC song I don't dislike - even like a bit - but it sounds like something I've heard before. I like it well enough, but ... maybe just not tonight. I suppose you might feel the same way about a GBV song that goes to all points of the compass - including up and down. Maybe not tomorrow, though. Their great songs are amazing, their terrible songs are to be avoided, and this one I like quite a lot. I haven't decided whether to develop an addiction to it yet.)
Quite cool indeed, that GBV song! 😀👍
You aren’t off on your comparison w Get Lucky. That song borrows heavily from Nile Roger’s & Chic- this album is absolutely influenced by Chic - so even if it’s not a 1 to 1 comparison you sense the connection which is definitely there. 🔥❤️🔥 this album!!!
Loving your reactions to this lp, but... You seem to have stopped here! You can't do that! The next track is the best: Valentine's Day, epic from start to finish and it ends on one of the greatest rhymes in pop history.
PLAY VALENTINE'S DAY!
👋💋