The Lexicon of Love

Infobox Album
Name = The Lexicon of Love
Type = studio
Artist = ABC

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Released = June 25, 1982
Recorded = 1981/1982
Genre = Synth-pop
Length = 37:25
Label = Mercury Records
Producer = 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.
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7eu1z8oajyv3]
*"The Observer" (Favourable) [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0%2C13887%2C1240062%2C00.html]
*"PopMatters" (Favourable) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/a/abc-lexicon.shtml link]
*"Q" Rating|3|5 [http://www.buy.com/prod/Lexicon_Of_Love_Bonus_Tracks/q/loc/109/60514698.html (9/99, p.124)]
* "Spin" Rating|9|10Weisbard & Marks, 1995. p.4]

*Review-Christgau|A-|album=15
Last album = -
This album = "The Lexicon of Love"
(1982)
Next album = "Beauty Stab"
(1983)

"The Lexicon of Love" is 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. It was produced by Trevor Horn and featured orchestration by future Art of Noise member Anne Dudley. 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 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.

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.

The woman who says "Goodbye" in "The Look of Love (Part One)" is the woman who dumped Martin Fry and this album is about his feelings of outrage about it. The idea of getting her to do that part of the song came from producer Trevor Horn

Track listing

All songs written by ABC except where indicated.

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

1996 Digitally Re-Mastered Edition

#"Show Me" – 4:02
#"Poison Arrow" – 3:22
#"Many Happy Returns" – 3:58
#"Tears Are Not Enough" – 3:29
#"Valentine's Day" – 3:40
#"Look of Love (Part One)" – 3:29
#"Date Stamp" – 3:51
#"All Of My Heart" – 5:18
#"4 Ever 2 Gether" – 5:30 [co-written by Anne Dudley]
#"Look Of Love (Part Four)" – 0:56
#"Tears Are Not Enough (Demo)" - 3:29
#"Poison Arrow (Jazz Re-Mix)" - 6:54
#"Look Of Love (1990 Re-Mix)" - 5:43
#"Alphabet Soup (12" mix)" - 8:02
#"Theme From “"Man Trap"" - 4:19
#"Look of Love (Live)" - 6:07

1998 Re-Issue

#"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
#"Theme From “"Man Trap" - 4:19

2004 deluxe edition

Disc one

::;Part 1: The Original Album
#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

Disc two

::;Part 4: The Route to the Lexicon
#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

Band lineup on this album

* Martin Fry: vocals
* David Palmer: drums and percussion
* Stephen Singleton: alto and tenor saxophones
* Mark White: guitars and keyboards

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 vocal lead on "Date Stamp"
* Gaynor Sadler: harp
* Karen Clayton: female speaking voice in "Poison Arrow"

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

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

Notes

References

*cite book
last= Weisbard
first= Eric
coauthors= Craig Marks
title= Spin Alternative Record Guide
publisher= Vintage Books
year= 1995
isbn= 0679755748

External links

* [http://www.abcmartinfry.com/abclol/indexlyrics.html Complete lyrics to the album]