“The Lexicon Of Love” by ABC - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1982 → ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s → ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

For their debut album in June, 1982, the Sheffield 4-piece lined-up: Martin Fry (24, vocals); Mark White (21, guitars, keyboards); Stephen Singleton (23, alto and tenor saxophones) and David Palmer (drums, percussion). Recenty departed bassist Mark Lickley played on the album's first three singles. In all, 4 were lifted from the LP: “Tears Are Not Enough” (Oct-81, #19), “Poison Arrow” (Feb-82, #6) • “The Look Of Love, part 1” (May-82, #4) and “All Of My Heart” (Aug-82, #5). Epic pop love dramas are not my thing, but who could fail to be impressed by the scope of the ambition on show here? All of the critical acclaim is well placed.

The Jukebox Rebel
26–Sep–2005

Tracklist

A1	[04:02] ABC - Show Me (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
A2	[03:24] ABC - Poison Arrow (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
A3	[03:56] ABC - Many Happy Returns (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
A4	[03:31] ABC - Tears Are Not Enough (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Robinson) Disco / Funk
A5	[03:42] ABC - Valentine’s Day (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
B1	[03:26] ABC - The Look Of Love, part 1 (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
B2	[03:51] ABC - Date Stamp (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
B3	[05:12] ABC - All Of My Heart (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Pop
B4	[05:30] ABC - 4 Ever 2 Gether (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer, Anne Dudley) Pop
B5	[01:02] ABC - The Look Of Love, part 4 (Martin Fry, Mark White, Stephen Singleton, Mark Lickley, David Palmer) Contemporary Classical

ratings by TJR