ABC are best known for their UK hit singles "The Look Of Love", "Poison Arrow" and "When Smokey Sings". The slick production from Trevor Horn, together with lead singer Martin Fry's stylish voice, helped ABC achieve big success in the early 80s, with their first and most successful album "Lexicon Of Love".
ABC had four UK hit singles from their "Lexicon Of Love" album; "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love" and "All Of My Heart".
For the rest of the 80s, ABC's career was a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least, although they still managed to acheive success with ten Top 40 hits during the 80s.
ABC's follow-up album "Beauty Stab" was more guitar-based, and less of a success than "Lexicon Of Love", reaching just No.12 in the UK album charts in 1983.
The slippery slope continued in 1985 with the release of their third album "How To Be A Zillionaire", which only reached No.28 in the UK. However, they did return to the slick synth production style of "Lexicon Of Love".
However, there was an ABC revival in 1987 when the fourth album "Alphabet City" reached No.7 in the UK album charts. They also had a No.11 hit single from the album entitled "When Smokey Sings".
In 1989, the fifth album "Up" failed to reach the UK Top 40, and flopped at No.59. But there was another brief revival in 1990 with the "Absolutely" album in 1990, which managed to reach No.7.
Album Discography:
The Lexicon of Love (Mercury, 1982)
Beauty Stab (Mercury, 1983)
How To Be A...Zillionaire! (Mercury, 1985)
Alphabet City (Mercury, 1987)
Up (Mercury, 1989)
Absolutely (Mercury, 1990)
Abracadabra (EMI, 1991)
Skyscraping (Deconstruction, 1997)
The Lexicon of Live (Blatant, 1999)
Look of Love - The Very Best of ABC (Universal, 2001)
Traffic (Borough Music, 2008)
ABC - Tears Are Not Enough (1981)
This was the debut single by New Wave band ABC and was released on 7 inch and 12 inch vinyl. Both versions are quite different from the Lexicon Of Love album version, as the track was re-recorded for the album. The song reached #19 in the UK. In America the song was released as a B-side to Poison Arrow.
ABC - The Look Of Love (1982)
The follow-up single to Poison Arrow was ABC's third hit single, and was a worldwide hit reaching #1 in Canada and #4 in the UK, making this the band's third consecutive Top 20 single in the UK.
The song featured on the band's debut album Lexicon of Love which was produced by Trevor Horn who also went on to produce a number of other 80s pop artists including Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Seal, to name but a few.
One more track was released as a single from the Lexicon Of Love album entitled All Of My Heart, which was also a hit in many countries, peaking at #5 in the British Singles chart and #13 in Canada. However, unlike the previous two singles this did not chart in the U.S. and I'm finding it difficult to find out whether it was actually released over there.
The B-side of All Of My Heart featured an orchestral medley of songs from the Lexicon Of Love album which was arranged by Anne Dudley, who was also a member of the band Art Of Noise. The classically trained musician worked alongside Trevor Horn at ZTT and produced string arrangements for a number of major pop groups from the 80s including Pet Shop Boys, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Marc Almond and Seal.
Martin Fry interviewed by Donnie Sutherland for SOUNDS in 1982.
ABC Lead singer Martin Fry speaks to Donnie
Sutherland about the band's success, music videos and connection with
the Human League.
This was the debut single by New Wave band ABC and was released on 7 inch and 12 inch vinyl. Both versions are quite different from the 
The follow-up single to 
The B-side of 