ABC Lexicon Of Love CD

Recorded in 1982. Includes liner notes by Martin Fry and Giles Smith.

Easily one of the '80s' finest albums, THE LEXICON OF LOVE not only established singer Martin Fry and guitarist Mark White as two of the decade's smartest and most skillful cross-breeders of Motownish dance grooves, Beatlesque pop and Roxy Music-style art-rock urgency, it cemented ex-Buggle Trevor Horn's status as the era's defining producer.

Throughout THE LEXICON OF LOVE, Horn's over-the-top blend of strings, horns, lush choirs and bizarre production tricks battles Fry's literate, witty lyrics and commanding voice and White's encyclopedic knowledge of pop hooks for the listener's attention. While the singles "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love"--aided by stylish, funny videos--garnered the most interest, there's not a single less-than-brilliant track, from the compelling opener "Show Me" to the near-desperate closer "4 Ever 2 Gether" and the lovely orchestral coda "The Look of Love (Part Four)." THE LEXICON OF LOVE is a classic.

Deluxe remastered reissue of the new wave act's classic 1982 album includes ten bonus tracks ('The original Singles') 'Tears Are Not Enough' (7-inch), 'Alphabet Soup' (12-inch), ''Theme From 'Man Trap''. & 'Poison Arrow' (Jazz Mix), (An Out-Take & An Oddity) 'Into The Valley Of The Heathen Go' ('Lexicon Of Love Out-take, 5/82), 'Alphabet Soup' (BBC Swap Shop Version 29/11/81), (The Route To Lexicon) 'Tears Are Not Enough' (Phonogram Demo 20/07/81), 'Show Me' (Phonogram Demo 20/07/81), & 'Surrender' (Phonogram Demo 20/07/81), & a bonus disc ('The Lexicon Of Love Live At The Hammersmith Odeon, Nov 1982') with an additional 11 tracks. Mercury. 2004.

Additional personnel includes: Gaynor Sadler (harp); Kim Wear (trumpet); Andy Gray (trombone); Anne Dudley (keyboards); Brad Lang, Mark Lickley (bass); Louis Jardin (percussion); J.J. Jeczalik (programming); Tessa Webb (background vocals).

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Producer: Trevor Horn.

Compilation producers: Paul Reidy, Martin Fry.

ABC includes: Martin Fry (vocals); Mark White (guitar, keyboards); Stephen Singleton (alto & tenor saxophones); David Palmer (drums, percussion).

Q (6/00, p.72) - Ranked #40 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums"
Q (9/99, p.124) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...superb....The set has been carefully chosen to reflect the highs...and...lesser known but equally forthright slices of powerpop..."
Uncut (p.160) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] grand love story, or at the very least an elaborate seduction. It's the sound of a band - a generation - falling in love with the new stylistic and technological promise of '80s pop..."
Melody Maker (4/6/96, p.38) - Bloody Essential - "...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."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[Including] songs as perfect as 'The Look Of Love' - replete with knowingly absurd talkover - or the jaw-dropping 'All Of My Heart,' still one of the '80s most underrated singles..."
NME (Magazine) (9/25/93, p.19) - Ranked #15 in NME's list of "The 50 Greatest Albums Of The '80s."