The Lexicon Of Love

 

..."Exhilarating, exciting. Three months of pleasure in Sarm East, a tiny cramped studio in the East End. We worked days and nights..." [Martin Fry]

 

..."The Lexicon of Love stands as a landmark album in British pop. The synthetic Eighties' drum-thwaks and Chic-esque bass lines sound better now than ever. It gave disco a whole new vocabulary and helped pave the way for the dance movements of the late Eighties and Nineties. "I hold in my hand three letters," announces Fry on "Alphabet Soup". "Vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C". No prescription needed; no supplements required. This album replenishes mind, body and soul..." [BBC]

 

 

..."Die Platte, mit der die 80er Jahre begannen. Der Himmel hing voller Geigen, Martin Fry sang wie ein Gott, die Anzüge waren aus Goldlamé. "The Lexicon Of Love" ist ein ganz und gar unwahrscheinliches Debüt-Album, Soul aus Sheffield, Funk als Pop, weiße Jungs spielen die Miracles. Und Andy Warhol, der bald Duran Duran-Videos sehen sollte, gefiel es auch. "The Lexicon Of Love" ist auch die schönste Arbeit von Trevor Horn und ermöglichte dessen Karriere als stilbildender Produzent der Achtziger..." [A. Willander in Rolling Stone]

 

..."It was a savvy union of new wave posturing with a coating of slick pop polish, and encapsulated Trevor Horn’s measured lavishness of production, Anne Dudley’s sublimely lush orchestrations, Martin Fry’s accomplished and dramatic vocal gymnastics, and the flawless playing of Mark White, Stephen Singleton, and David Palmer..." [Retrouniverse]

 

..."The Lexicon of Love is a wonderfully produced record and Dudley and Jeczalik's performances are integral..." [David Coleman]

 

..."Glamouröser, melodisch eleganter als hier kann Popmusik nicht sein..." [C. Hammer in stereoplay]

 

..."Martin Fry was 23 when he conceived this masterpiece of orchestral songcraft and audacious lyrical insights, this celebration deconstruction of photo story romance....sounds like the future, still..." [Melody Maker 4/6/96]

 

..."The belle of the 1982 ball, though, was ABC’s The Lexicon of Love...." [David Medsker]

 

 

 

The "Lexicon Of Love" is the critically acclaimed chart-topping debut album by 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.

 

It was produced by Trevor Horn, 

 

engineered by Gary Langan, and featured orchestration by Anne Dudley and Fairlight CMI programming by J.J. Jeczalik. Production location were the "Sarm East Studios" in the East End of London, where Horn, Langan, Dudley and Jeczalik would later form the Art of Noise. Indeed, most of the production team and sessions players listed below would form the basis for the ZTT label, and their work with Trevor 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 last two also charted in the US, peaking at #25 and #14 respectively. The album reached #1 on the British charts, and peaked at #24 in the U.S. charts. [partially Wikipedia]

 

Tracklisting with Composers:

Show Me	Martin Fry, David Palmer, Steve Singleton, Mark White
Poison Arrow	Martin Fry, Mark Lickley, Steve Singleton, Mark White
Many Happy Returns	ABC
Tears Are Not Enough	Martin Fry, Mark Lickley, Steve Singleton, Mark White
Valentine's Day	ABC
The Look Of Love (Part One)	Martin Fry, David Palmer, Steve Singleton, Mark White
Date Stamp	ABC
All Of My Heart	Martin Fry, Mark Lickley, Steve Singleton, Mark White
4ether 2gether	ABC, Anne Dudley
The Look Of Love (Part Four)                .	Martin Fry, David Palmer, Steve Singleton, Mark White