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ABC
828,189 plays (136,457 listeners)
(1980 – 1992, 1997 – present)
ABC is the present vehicle for Martin Fry, originally formed as a four-piece, and were one of the major players in the new wave movement of the early 1980s. They could perhaps also be credited with creating the short-lived pigeonhole of ‘sophisti-pop’ - smart suits, clever lyrics and elaborate synth-based melodies.
ABC was formed in 1980 after Martin Fry, a music journalist, interviewed the band Vice Versa for his fanzine Modern Drugs. They adopted Fry as lead vocalist and changed their name to ABC. They were pigeon-holed as part of the new romantic movement of the time, which included bands such as Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and The Human League.
Their first single, “
Tears Are Not Enough”, made the UK Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by David Palmer (no relation to keyboardist David Palmer). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles “Poison Arrow”, “The Look of Love” and “All Of My Heart.”
Later that year, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love. Heavy on rhyming couplets and tales of unrequited love, the album was a big hit, reaching number one in the UK album charts. Produced by Trevor Horn, it often features in UK critics’ lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthly’s “Top 100 British Albums” (June 2004) and 40th in Q magazine’s “100 Greatest British Albums” (June 2000).
ABC was formed in 1980 after Martin Fry, a music journalist, interviewed the band Vice Versa for his fanzine Modern Drugs. They adopted Fry as lead vocalist and changed their name to ABC. They were pigeon-holed as part of the new romantic movement of the time, which included bands such as Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and The Human League.
Their first single, “
Tears Are Not Enough”, made the UK Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by David Palmer (no relation to keyboardist David Palmer). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles “Poison Arrow”, “The Look of Love” and “All Of My Heart.”Later that year, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love. Heavy on rhyming couplets and tales of unrequited love, the album was a big hit, reaching number one in the UK album charts. Produced by Trevor Horn, it often features in UK critics’ lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthly’s “Top 100 British Albums” (June 2004) and 40th in Q magazine’s “100 Greatest British Albums” (June 2000).
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Top Tracks
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Poison Arrow
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All Of My Heart
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Be Near Me
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Tears Are Not Enough
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How to Be a Millionaire
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Show Me
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When Smokey Sings
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The Night You Murdered Love
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That Was Then but This Is Now
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Many Happy Returns
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Date Stamp
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Valentine's Day
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4 Ever 2 Gether
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Shoutbox
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BalladBombs wrote:
maybe one day I'll find true love
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Mikanque wrote:
If I knew I would tell youu(8)
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massamuttti wrote:
all of my heart
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Antichic wrote:
Hi,have to agree with porcelain_tree,also think Beauty Stab was ABC's best work...very unique album,great work
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Porgeface wrote:
Woo!!! Saw Them last night in Newport Center!! i was Dead Center at the front and in the first chorus of Look of Love Martin Pointed at me and sang "Thats the look of Love!" and i pointed back and it was AWSOME!!!
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Amanda_Rose_89 wrote:
vocals sorta sound a bit like Bowie.
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Porgeface wrote:
Im a teenager NOW and im exited about tomorow! Seeing ABC in Newport Center Tomorow!!! AHHRHFGHGR!!! gonna be Awwwsome!!!
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zip-gun wrote:
just saw abc heaven 17 and the league again last week in glasgow thank god i was a teenager back in 82
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porcelain_tree wrote:
PS I bought the vinyl LP the day Beauty Stab came out. No matter how aberrant my opinions seem, I was there at the time.
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porcelain_tree wrote:
I know I'm in a minority, but my favorite ABC album is Beauty Stab. Yeah, Lexicon is sheer genius, and for me it's a close second, but BS has a wonderful muscularity lacking in their other work. It's a classic and brave finger to an immensely popular album. I admire that. Even so, songs like "King Money" do have the familiar electro-dance vibe, yet incorporate some very nice guitar licks. "Unzip" is possibly my favorite ABC song, bouncing with iresistable hooks. All of my friends were disappointed by BS, but I was agog. It's pure magic.
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james_DHP wrote:
Buy tickets for the Human League, ABC and Heaven 17 at Newport Centre from here: http://www.gigantic.com/alttickets/event_gc02_6776.html Join the Last.FM event here: http://www.last.fm/event/854734
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mietpistole wrote:
Who Broke My Heart? Judith Judith HA ;-)
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vickyheywood-x wrote:
WHO BROKE MY HEART? YOU DID YOU DID ha : ' )
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infectedmodes wrote:
Join us! We Love British Bands.
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Porgeface wrote:
Seeing Marty in December!!! Gonna push right through to get to the front for sure! i wanna make eye contact with him SO BAD XD... im not gay either :O
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Irlandese64 wrote:
I still have my t-shirt from the ABC tour in '82; saw them live at the Hollywood Palladium. Martin and the boys all in gold lame with a full brass section and orchestra. Awesome!
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lucus-valentine wrote:
the lexicon of love is the best album ever
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pooh_soup wrote:
I saw Martin Fry in Nov last year. He looked me in the eyes and I nearly swooned!! I fucking love ABC
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sophiascalpel wrote:
eine der heißesten poppersträhnen dieser erde <3
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Hugo_A-Go-Go wrote:
Wonderful bass lines.
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Recent Activity
- krakowjacek and dydactilos added ABC to their libraries. 30 minutes ago
- Milkshake8 wrote about ABC in Coming soon to cellphones: Free, over-the-air TV. 3 hours ago
- corridor15, newromanticism2, MESCUDEROH and 16 other people added ABC to their libraries. 3 hours ago
- stephenturner added ABC to the lineup of Robbie Williams at Lancashire County Cricket Ground. Wednesday evening
- thatsmethatis, HuntzHall, Nasabe and 2 other people added ABC to their libraries. Wednesday evening
- zelosity tagged ABC with pop, new wave, synth pop and one other tag. Wednesday afternoon
- gazellex, Ilya_Andreev, hsd1770 and 1 other person added ABC to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
- manicmidget tagged ABC with ‘new wave’. Wednesday afternoon
- gwongw, samuul2, coonassNchicago and 4 other people added ABC to their libraries. Wednesday afternoon
- MRKILLINGJOKE tagged ABC with ‘new wave’. Tuesday evening
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