It's As Easy As......

Earlier in the year I finally upgraded my old vinyl copy of ABC's stunning debut album "The Lexicon Of Love" to cd.
W/out a doubt ONE of the classic debut albums of the 80's{released June 25th 1982} "Lexicon Of Love" would not only make Martin Fry and ABC household names but would also yield four UK Top 20 hits for the Sheffield band "Tears Are Not Enough" which was released in 81 prior to the album and then followed by "Poison Arrow" "The Look Of Love" and "All Of My Heart"{Poison Arrow & The Look Of Love were also hits in the US Billboard 100 reaching #25 and #14 respectively}

For a hormone raging teenager the lyrics of "Valentine's Day" summed up my love life...or lack thereof back then:
When the postman don't call on Valentine's Day and Santa Clause don't come on a Christmas Day
That umbrella won't work on a rainy day don't ask me.I already know
W/ your heart on parade and your heart on parole,I hope you find a sucker to buy that mink stole
School for scandal,guess who's enrolled? so ask me In already know
When I'm shaking a hand,I'm clenching a fist if you gave me a pound for the moments I missed
And I got dancing lessons for all the lips I should've kissed I'd be a millionaire I'd be a Fred Astaire.

Plus there was the classic line from "Poison Arrow"
I thought you loved me,but it seems you don't care
I care enough to know I could never love you"
Was it any wonder "Lexicon Of Love" was a near permanent fixture on my stereo?I'm not saying I played it over and over but I think my father knew that album off by heart!!!

My one regret w/ "Lexicon Of Love" was I didn't see that tour,sadly I lost my job that summer and frankly my meager unemployment cheque didn't keep me in concert tickets or albums to the level I was used to while working,I remember them doing multiple shows at Hammersmith Odean.
The one draw back of coming out of the blocks w/ a strong debut album is the follow up has to be just as good and sadly  "Beauty Stab" wasn't,that said the lead off single "That Was Then But This Is Now" remains one of my all time favourite songs and is a bonified "volume changer" when I hear it now almost  thirty years later.

My interest in ABC began to wain and I never bought any of their subsequent albums "How To Be A Zillionaire" "Alphabet City" or "Up" however since I enjoyed most of the singles those albums produced the 1990's compilation "Absolutely" was a given to own ,afterall who could resist the likes of ''{How To Be A}Millionaire" "Be Near Me" "When Smokey Sings" "The Night You Murdered Love" "King W/Out A Crown" or "One Better World"???

In fairness to Martin Fry he's done his best to keep ABC afloat,in 2004 the 2 disc deluxe  version of "Lexicon Of Love" was released, in 2009 ABC performed at The Royal Albert Hall w/  the BBC concert orchestra and last December on it's 30th anniversary 'The Lexicon Of Love" was performed in it's entirety w/ Anne Dudley once again at the helm of the orchestra at the Theater Royal Drury Lane in London let's face it nobody rocks the gold lame suit look like our Martin!!