the lexicon of love

ABC captured our hearts with the slick and sophisticated pop perfection of these ruminations on romance. The band formed in Sheffield from the ashes of a group called Vice Versa with Martin Fry on vocals; Stephen Singleton on alto and tenor saxophones; Mark White on guitars and keyboards; and David Robinson on drums. Robinson quit the band after their first single and was replaced by David Palmer on drums and percussion for the recording of their debut album.

'The Lexicon of Love' was produced by Trevor Horn, engineered by Gary Langan, and featured orchestration by Anne Dudley and digital audio sampling by J.J. Jeczalik; all of whom would later form the Art of Noise and the Zang Tumb Tuum record label. The state-of-the-art production creates a lush, danceable background for the conceptual romantic vision that runs through neurotic bitter misanthropy to earnest dreamy belief and back again. 'The Lexicon of Love' went to number twenty-four in the US; seventeen in Japan; thirteen in Norway; nine in Australia; three in Canada and Sweden; and number one in Finland, New Zealand, and the UK.

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'The Look of Love' charted at fifty-three in Japan; thirty-six in Germany; nineteen in Belgium; eighteen in the US; thirteen in Spain; twelve in Ireland; eleven in the Netherlands; eight in Sweden; seven in Australia; five in New Zealand; four in Finland and the UK; and number one in Canada and on the US Dance chart.

"When your world is full of strange arrangements
And gravity won't pull you through
You know you're missing out on something
Well that something depends on you.
All I'm saying it takes a lot to love you
All I'm doing you know it's true
All I mean now there's one thing
Yes one thing that turns this
Grey sky to blue"

'Poison Arrow' went to thirty-six in Canada; twenty-five in the US; eighteen in Belgium and the Netherlands; fourteen in Ireland; six in the UK; five in New Zealand; and peaked at four in Australia.  The video features a young Lisa Vanderpump from 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'.  

"No rhythm in cymbals
No tempo in drums
Love on arrival
She comes when she comes
Right on the target
But wide of the mark
What I thought was the fire
Was only the spark
The sweetest melody
Is an unheard refrain
So lower your sights, yeah but raise your aim"








'All of My Heart' went to sixty-seven in Germany; twenty-one in Australia and New Zealand; twenty in the Netherlands; fourteen in Belgium; thirteen in Canada; five in the UK; and three in Ireland.

"Once upon a time when we were friends
I gave you my heart, the story ends -
No happy ever after now we're friends.
Wish upon a star if that might help,
The stars collide if you decide,
Wish upon a star if that might help.
What's it like to have loved and to lose her touch?
What's it like to have loved and to lose that much?
Well, I hope and I pray that maybe someday
You'll walk in the room with my heart.
Add and subtract but as a matter of fact
Now that you're gone I still want you back."










'Tears Are Not Enough' was their first single to chart. It hit number nineteen in the UK.

"Tears for souvenirs
Tears are not enough
Tears for shields and spears
Tears are not enough"













'The Lexicon of Love' 

full album:

Side One

"Show Me" -- 4:02

"Poison Arrow" -- 3:24

"Many Happy Returns" -- 3:56

"Tears Are Not Enough" -- 3:31

"Valentine's Day" -- 3:42

Side Two

"The Look of Love" (Part One) -- 3:26

"Date Stamp" -- 3:51

"All of My Heart" -- 5:12

"4 Ever 2 Gether" -- 5:30 

"The Look of Love" (Part Four) -- 1:02

''Overture'' -- 4:01 (Bonus Track)