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{{short description|1982 studio album by ABC}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date= |
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} |
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{{Infobox album |
{{Infobox album |
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| name = The Lexicon of Love |
| name = The Lexicon of Love |
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| released = {{Start date|1982|06|21|df=y}} |
| released = {{Start date|1982|06|21|df=y}} |
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| recorded = 1981–1982 |
| recorded = 1981–1982 |
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| studio = |
| studio = * [[Sarm Studios|Sarm East]] (London) |
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* [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]] (London) |
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| genre = {{hlist|[[New wave music|New wave]]|[[synth-pop]]|[[sophisti-pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2018/08/top-15-sophisti-pop-albums/|title=Top 15 Sophisti-Pop Albums|date=20 August 2018|publisher=}}</ref>}} |
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* [[Townhouse Studios|Townhouse]] (London) |
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* [[RAK Studios|RAK]] (London) |
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* [[Dean Street Studios|Good Earth]] (London) |
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| genre = * [[Disco]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/abc-lexicon-2495822381.html|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|date=9 April 2002|access-date=14 February 2023|last=Medsker|first=David}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/petshopboys-disco3-2496029563.html|title=Pet Shop Boys: Disco 3|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|date=9 March 2003|access-date=14 February 2023|last=Medsker|first=David}}</ref><ref name="newwave" /><ref name="pop" /><ref name="disco" /> |
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* [[new pop]]<ref name="newwave" /><ref>{{cite web|website=[[The Guardian]]|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/02/martin-fry-abc-comeback-lexicon-of-live-ii-godfather-part-ii|title=Martin Fry on ABC's comeback: 'Lexicon of Love II is a kind of Godfather Part II'|last=Mossman|first=Kate|date=2 June 2016|access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[The Guardian]]|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/10/abc-review-royal-albert-hall|title=ABC|last=Petridis|first=Alex|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=9 April 2009|access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[Forbes]]|title=ABC’s Classic And Stylish LP 'The Lexicon of Love' Turns 40|last=Chiu|first=David|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2022/07/07/abcs-martin-fry-on-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-lexicon-of-love/?sh=46478b646e83|date=7 July 2022|access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Pop music|pop]]<ref name="newwave" /><ref name="pop" /><ref>{{cite web|website=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/10/abc-review-martin-fry-the-lexicon-of-love-birmingham|title=ABC review – big-budget love-in for Martin Fry's 80s pop masterpiece|last=Simpson|first=Dave|date=10 April 2019|access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> |
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* [[New wave music|new wave]]<ref name="newwave">{{cite web|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|url=https://www.popmatters.com/189516-looking-for-the-girl-that-meets-supply-with-demand-abcs-the-lexicon-2495572364.html|title=Looking for the Girl That Meets Supply with Demand: ABC's 'The Lexicon of Love'|last=Ramirez|first=AJ|date=28 January 2015|access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[NME]]|url=https://www.nme.com/features/best-new-wave-album-talking-heads-devo-abc-2754393|author=El Hunt|title=The story of new wave in 15 classic albums|date=17 September 2020|access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> |
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* [[sophisti-pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/08/top-sophisti-pop-albums/|title=Top 15 Sophisti-Pop Albums|date=25 August 2021|last=Hurley|first=Oliver}}</ref> |
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* [[dance-pop]]<ref name="disco">{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/12/17/the-abcs-of-cool-brit-disco-funk-by-richard-harrington/5cb3842a-5b4e-4903-b4d6-1aeb8097be56/|last=Harrington|first=Richard|title=The ABC's of Cool Brit Disco Funk|date=17 December 1982|access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref> |
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* [[blue-eyed soul]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/2006/06/20/still-a-spectacle-fun-loving-abc-holds-up-well/|website=[[Hartford Courant]]|title=Still a Spectacle, Fun-Loving ABC Holds Up Well|date=20 June 2006|access-date=22 March 2023}}</ref> |
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* [[synth-pop]]<ref name= "Mitchell 2023">{{cite web|first= Matt |last= Mitchell |title= The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time|magazine= Paste |date= 21 July 2023 |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/50-greatest-synth-pop-albums-of-all-time|accessdate= 26 July 2023}}</ref> |
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* [[Lounge music|lounge]]<ref name="Spin"/> |
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| length = {{duration|m=37|s=25}} |
| length = {{duration|m=37|s=25}} |
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| label = Neutron |
| label = Neutron |
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| producer = |
| producer = * [[Trevor Horn]] |
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* Steve Brown |
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| next_title = [[Beauty Stab]] |
| next_title = [[Beauty Stab]] |
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| next_year = 1983 |
| next_year = 1983 |
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| Line 29: | Line 43: | ||
| single5 = Valentine's Day |
| single5 = Valentine's Day |
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| single5date = 1982 (Japan only) |
| single5date = 1982 (Japan only) |
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}} |
}}}} |
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'''''The Lexicon of Love''''' is the debut studio album by the English pop band [[ABC (band)|ABC]]. Released by Neutron Records on 21 June 1982, it entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number one, also topping the New Zealand and Finnish charts. Certified gold in the US, it went platinum in the UK where four singles reached the top 20; "[[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]]", "[[Poison Arrow]]", "[[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]]" and "[[All of My Heart]]", which ''Pitchfork'' ranked number one on their "Now That's What I Call New Pop!" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harvell |first=Jess |date=12 September 2005 |title="Now That's What I Call New Pop" |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/6139-now-thats-what-i-call-new-pop/?page=5 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> |
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}} |
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'''''The Lexicon of Love''''' is the debut studio album by English [[Pop music|pop]] band [[ABC (band)|ABC]]. It was released in June 1982 by Neutron Records in the United Kingdom, by [[Mercury Records]] in the United States and Japan, and by [[Vertigo Records]] in Canada and Europe. The album entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number one and has been certified platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) and gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). It features four UK top 20 singles; "[[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]]", "[[Poison Arrow]]", "[[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]]" and "[[All of My Heart]]". |
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Though not a [[concept album]],<ref>{{cite interview |last= |first= |interviewer=[[Stuart Maconie]] |title=BBC 6 Music interview with Martin Fry|date= |work=Radcliffe and Maconie|accessdate=19 September 2012}}</ref> the album features repeated themes in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship. A longform music video/film, ''[[Mantrap (1983 film)|Mantrap]]'', featuring songs from the album was released in 1983. |
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==Background== |
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''The Lexicon of Love'' was ABC's debut album. The band had formed a few years earlier as [[Vice Versa (band)|Vice Versa]] and released their first single as ABC "[[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]]" in 1981. |
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The album has frequently been ranked as [[List of 1980s albums considered the best|one of the greatest albums of the 1980s]], and was included in the 2018 edition of Robert Dimery's book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Robert|last1=Dimery|first2=Michael|last2=Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=2018|location=London|publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]]|isbn=978-1-78840-080-0}}</ref> |
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The songs on the album were written collectively by the band, with arranger [[Anne Dudley]] given songwriting credits on some tracks. Martin Fry said that the band's ambition was to fuse [[Punk rock|punk]] and [[disco]], music that was more sophisticated but still had some attitude. Lyrically, the songs are all about the matters of the heart. "Most of the other people were writing about electric pylons. We wanted to hark back to [[Cole Porter]] and his ilk, but in a very modern way", Fry said. The title ''The Lexicon of Love'' originated from a headline of a live review of ABC in ''[[NME]]''.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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== |
==Background, recording and release== |
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ABC was formed by [[Stephen Singleton]] and [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]] as electronic band [[Vice Versa (band)|Vice Versa]]. Joined by [[Martin Fry]], the band eventually morphed into ABC.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet">''The Lexicon of Love'' Deluxe Edition Booklet, 2004</ref> A debut single, "Tears Are Not Enough", followed in 1981; it was remixed by producer [[Trevor Horn]] for inclusion in ''The Lexicon of Love''.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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The album's title originated in the headline of an ''[[NME]]'' review of an ABC gig.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> Songs were written collectively by the band, with arranger [[Anne Dudley]] also given a credit on some tracks.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> Lead vocalist [[Martin Fry]] said that they had wanted to fuse the attitude of punk and the sophistication of disco. While he has denied that it is a [[concept album]],<ref>{{cite interview |interviewer=[[Stuart Maconie]] |title=BBC 6 Music interview with Martin Fry|work=Radcliffe and Maconie}}</ref> ''The Lexicon of Love'' features recurrent themes, including heartache and the struggle to make meaningful connections. "Most of the other people were writing about electric pylons. We wanted to hark back to [[Cole Porter]] and his ilk, but in a very modern way," Fry said.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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The album was produced by [[Trevor Horn]], engineered by [[Gary Langan]] and features [[orchestration]]s by [[Anne Dudley]] and [[Fairlight CMI]] programming by [[J. J. Jeczalik]]; Horn, Langan, Dudley and Jeczalik would later form the [[Art of Noise]] a year after the release of this album. Indeed, most of the production team and session players on the album would form the basis for the [[ZTT Records|ZTT]] label, and their work with Horn meant all concerned would be in constant demand throughout the industry in years to come. The cover photo is by [[Gered Mankowitz]].<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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The majority of the album was recorded at Sarm East Studios in London, with additional work done at Abbey Road, Townhouse, RAK and Good Earth studios.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> Produced by Horn and engineered by [[Gary Langan]], it features orchestrations by Dudley and programming of the recently developed [[Fairlight CMI]] by [[J. J. Jeczalik]]. Horn says that he convinced the band to replace their bass player, Mark Lickley, with [[Brad Lang]]. "I talked them into getting a better bass player, which maybe wasn't a kind thing to do", he said, "[but] Brad Lang was quite brilliant".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=July 2016 |title=Classic Tracks: ABC 'The Look of Love' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-abc-look-love |access-date=27 November 2023 |magazine=Sound on Sound}}</ref> |
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"[[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]]" (in its initial release produced by Steve Brown), "[[All of My Heart]]", "[[Poison Arrow]]" and "[[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love (Part One)]]" were all top-20 entries in the UK; the latter two also charted in the US, peaking at No. 25 and No. 18, respectively<ref name="awards">{{cite web|title= ABC – Awards |publisher= [[AllMusic]]. [[All Media Network]] |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/abc-mn0000574597/awards |accessdate= 25 July 2013}}</ref>. The album reached No. 1 on the UK charts and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts. |
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A year after its release, Horn, Langan, Dudley and Jeczalik formed the [[Art of Noise]], and most of the production team and session musicians on the album formed the basis for the [[ZTT Records|ZTT]] label. The cover photograph is by [[Gered Mankowitz]].<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> Distribution in the US and Japan was handled by [[Mercury Records]]; [[Vertigo Records]] released it in Canada and Europe. |
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The album was followed by a tour with the band extended to an 11-piece on stage, reaching Europe, USA and Japan. The shows at [[Hammersmith Odeon]] in November 1982 were recorded for inclusion in ABC's forthcoming film ''[[Mantrap (1983 film)|Mantrap]]''.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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==Performance, tours and further releases== |
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In 2004, a two-disc deluxe reissue including previously unreleased outtakes and early demos and a live performance of the album from 1982 was released by Neutron Records. |
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"Tears Are Not Enough" (in its initial release produced by Steve Brown), "All of My Heart", "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love" were all top-20 entries in the UK; the latter two also charted in the US, peaking at No. 25 and No. 18 respectively.<ref name="awards">{{cite web|title= ABC – Awards |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/abc-mn0000574597/awards |access-date= 25 July 2013}}</ref> The album reached No. 1 on the UK charts and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts. |
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The band was augmented by session musicians, and the 11-piece ensemble toured Europe, the US and Japan. The shows at [[Hammersmith Apollo|Hammersmith Odeon]] in November 1982 were recorded for inclusion in the band's film ''Mantrap'' which was released the following year.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> In 2004, a two-disc deluxe reissue including previously unreleased outtakes and early [[Demo (music)|demos]] and a live performance of the album from 1982 was released by Neutron Records. |
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In 2009, ABC performed the entire album at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London, accompanied by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]] and conducted by arranger and composer [[Anne Dudley]]. They were joined onstage by the album's producer [[Trevor Horn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jrvgg |title=ABC and The BBC Concert Orchestra present The Lexicon of Love |publisher=BBC |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> |
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''The Lexicon of Love'' was again performed live in its entirety on 18 December 2012 at [[Theatre Royal Drury Lane]] |
In 2009, ABC (with Fry as its sole member) performed the entire album at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London, accompanied by the [[BBC Concert Orchestra]] and conducted by Dudley. They were joined onstage by Horn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jrvgg |title=ABC and The BBC Concert Orchestra present The Lexicon of Love |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 June 2012}}</ref> ''The Lexicon of Love'' was again performed live in its entirety on 18 December 2012 at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] to mark its 30th anniversary. Dudley reprised her role as conductor, performing with the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra, and they concluded a four-date mini-tour at the same venue on 30 March 2014. Between 4 and 9 November 2015, the band and orchestra also performed at Liverpool's [[Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool|Philharmonic Hall]], [[Glasgow Royal Concert Hall]], [[Sheffield City Hall]], the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] in London and [[Symphony Hall, Birmingham]]. |
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A sequel album ''[[The Lexicon of Love II]]'' was released on 27 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/abc-to-release-lexicon-of-love-ii/ |title=ABC to release The Lexicon of Love II |publisher=superdeluxeedition.com | |
A sequel studio album ''[[The Lexicon of Love II]]'' was released on 27 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/abc-to-release-lexicon-of-love-ii/ |title=ABC to release The Lexicon of Love II |date=13 April 2016 |publisher=superdeluxeedition.com |access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> A Blu-ray audio disc with new [[Dolby Atmos]] and 5.1 [[surround sound]] [[Blu-ray]] remixes by [[Steven Wilson]], as well as a remastered vinyl edition of the original mix, was released in August 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/abcs-the-lexicon-of-love-on-sde-exclusive-blu-ray-audio/ | title=ABC's The Lexicon of Love on SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio – SuperDeluxeEdition | date=28 June 2023 }}</ref> |
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
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| noprose = yes |
| noprose = yes |
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| rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
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| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lexicon-of-love-mw0000649803 |title=''The Lexicon of Love'' – ABC | |
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lexicon-of-love-mw0000649803 |title=''The Lexicon of Love'' – ABC |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=1 October 2011 |last=Ruhlmann |first=William}}</ref> |
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| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' |
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' |
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| |
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_807.html |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |magazine=Blender |access-date=5 July 2016 |last=Himmelsbach |first=Erik |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031215182122/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_807.html |archive-date=15 December 2003}}</ref> |
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| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' |
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s|Christgau's Record Guide]]'' |
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| rev3Score = A−<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=15 |chapter=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |title=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s |last=Christgau |first=Robert | |
| rev3Score = A−<ref name=Christgau>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=15 |chapter=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |title=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[Pantheon Books]] |year=1990 |isbn=0-679-73015-X|title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s }}</ref> |
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| rev4 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'' |
| rev4 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'' |
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| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin | |
| rev4Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music }}</ref> |
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| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' |
| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' |
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| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |page=124 |quote=[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...}}</ref> |
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| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' |
| rev6 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' |
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| rev6Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' | |
| rev6Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=360 |date=July 2016 |page=117}}</ref> |
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| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
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| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite |
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/248814/review/5943342/thelexiconoflove |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=378 |date=16 September 1982 |access-date=1 October 2011 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |issn=0035-791X |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707125519/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/248814/review/5943342 |archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref> |
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| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' |
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'' |
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| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=ABC |last=Sheffield |first=Rob | |
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=ABC |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |year=2004 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/2 2] |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide }}</ref> |
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| rev9 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' |
| rev9 = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' |
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| rev9Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=71 |date=May 1996 |last=Harrison |first=Ian |page=102}}</ref> |
| rev9Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite journal |title=ABC: ''The Lexicon of Love'' |journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]] |issue=71 |date=May 1996 |last=Harrison |first=Ian |page=102}}</ref> |
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| rev10Score = 9/10<ref name="Spin">{{harvnb|Weisbard|Marks|1995|p=4}}</ref> |
| rev10Score = 9/10<ref name="Spin">{{harvnb|Weisbard|Marks|1995|p=4}}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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The album entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number 1 and remained on the charts for 50 weeks. It was the fourth biggest selling album in the UK in 1982.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> Mitchell Cohen of ''[[Creem]]'' contemporaneously declared it to be a "piece of sumptuous kitsch", adding that "the whole shebang is so florid, so exaggerated, so damned catchy – you want to hear "The Look of Love" a second time before it's even half over; it's a casserole of about forty different pop hits and advertising jingles – that you may feel guilty for falling for it."{{sfn|Cohen|1982}} [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album an "A–" rating, writing that "Martin Fry's candid camp and ad-man phrasing don't fully justify his histrionic flights, but they do give him room to be clever, which is clearly his calling--some of these synthetic funk rhythms make me laugh out loud, and he's an ace jingle writer".<ref name=Christgau /> Don Waller of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the album, stating that Horn "deserves a share of the applause, but the songs – credited to all four ABC members – are the real deal: apocalyptic, widescreen romances with more hooks than a meat-packing plant." {{sfn|Waller|1982}} Waller proclaimed that "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love (Part I)" call out for "any one of a dozen contemporary black vocalists". "ABC's biggest drawback is Martin Fry's singing, which borders on the effete," he wrote. {{sfn|Waller|1982}} |
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From contemporary reviews, [[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' gave the album a one star out of five rating stating that the album was "prissy dance music, light on the beat and heavy on the sort of maundering crooning that the effete English rock musicians frequently mistake for passion."<ref>{{cite newspaper|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|title=Albums|date=November 7, 1982|page=12|last=Tucker|first=Ken|authorlink=Ken Tucker|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52184849/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|accessdate=May 26, 2020}}</ref> |
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[[Ken Tucker]] of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' was less enthusiastic, dismissing the album as "prissy dance music, light on the beat and heavy on the sort of maundering crooning that the effete English rock musicians frequently mistake for passion."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|title=Albums|date=7 November 1982|page=12|last=Tucker|first=Ken|author-link=Ken Tucker|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52184849/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|access-date=26 May 2020|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> |
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The album was a critical{{fact|date=May 2020}} and commercial success. It entered the [[UK Albums Chart]] at number 1 and remained on the charts for 50 weeks. It was the fourth biggest selling album in the UK in 1982.<ref name="Deluxe edition booklet" /> |
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Retrospectively, AllMusic found Horn's production to be "dense and noisy, but frequently beautiful", while "the group's emotional songs gave it a depth and coherence later Horn works (...) would lack." The site praised the band for "[using] the sound to create moving dance-floor epics like "Many Happy Returns" which, like most of the album's tracks, deserved to be a hit single."<ref name="AllMusic" /> In a [[BBC]] review of the 2004 Deluxe Edition, Rob Webb stated that "''The Lexicon of Love'' stands as a landmark album in British pop", and "underpins just what a sharp band ABC were: witty, lyrical and very, very funky". He found each song to be "a love affair in miniature: some are touching ("All of My Heart", "Show Me"), others a bitter invective at misplaced passion ("Many Happy Returns")", and concluded that "[dance] music had rarely been so literate."<ref name="pop">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/668c/ ABC The Lexicon of Love Review] BBC</ref> |
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In ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]'', [[Colin Larkin]] awarded the "superb" album 5 stars (outstanding). Lauding the "pristine pop songs", he declared that it "remains a benchmark of 80s pop, and a formidable collection of melodramatic love songs assembled in one neat package."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2007 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84609-856-7 |pages=32 |edition=5th Concise}}</ref> In a review of a 2005 retrospective of Trevor Horn's work, ''Pitchfork'' concluded: "If you don't already own the original records, all can be found cheap and all (especially ABC's ''Lexicon of Love'') are essential documents of their era".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harvell |first=Jess |date=26 May 2005 |title=Produced By Trevor Horn: Various Artists – album review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2068-produced-by-trevor-horn/ |access-date= 27 November 2023 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> |
|||
[[AllMusic]] wrote: "The production style was dense and noisy, but frequently beautiful, and the group's emotional songs gave it a depth and coherence later Horn works (...) would lack." "Fry and company used the sound to create moving dancefloor epics like "Many Happy Returns," which, like most of the album's tracks, deserved to be a hit single."<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lexicon-of-love-mw0000649803 The Lexicon of Love] AllMusic.com</ref> |
|||
==Legacy== |
|||
*''[[NME]]'' listed it number 15 on its list of 50 albums of the 80s. |
|||
''The Lexicon of Love'' was ranked as the 4th best album of the 1980s by ''[[Record Mirror]]'' in December 1989.<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/recordmirror.htm Record Mirror December 1989]</ref> ''[[NME]]'' ranked it at number 15 on their "Greatest Albums: The 1980's" in 1993,<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/607080.html NME 1993]</ref> and at number 117 on their "The Greatest albums of all time" in 2013.<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_500_greatest_albums_2013.htm NME 2013]</ref> ''[[Record Collector]]'' included it on their list "70 Landmark Albums" in 2019.<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/recordcollector_p2.htm Record Collector 2019]</ref> ''[[Observer Music Monthly]]'' ranked it at number 42 on their "Greatest British Albums" in 2004.<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/observer.htm Observer 2004]</ref> In 2024, ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' placed it at number 26 on their list "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1980's".<ref>[https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/Uncut%20Greatest%20500%201980s%20Albums.htm Uncut 2024]</ref> |
|||
*''[[NME]]'' listed it number 3 on its list of 50 albums of the year 1982. |
|||
*''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' listed It number 52 on its list of 100 greatest debut albums. |
|||
*''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' listed it in its list of 9 albums of the year 1982. |
|||
*''[[The Village Voice]]'' listed it number 19 on its list of 20 albums of the year 1982. |
|||
*[[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]] listed it number 40 on its list of the 100 greatest British albums ever. |
|||
*[[Q (magazine)|''Q'' magazine]] readers voted ''The Lexicon of Love'' the 92nd greatest album of all time. |
|||
*''[[The Observer]] Music Monthly'' listed it number 42 on its list "Top 100 British Albums". |
|||
*Mentioned in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''. |
|||
==Track listing== |
==Track listing== |
||
{{Track listing |
{{Track listing |
||
| headline |
| headline = Side one |
||
| title1 = Show Me |
|||
| all_writing = [[Martin Fry]], [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]], [[Stephen Singleton]] and David Palmer, except where noted |
|||
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Martin Fry]]|[[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]|[[Stephen Singleton]]|David Palmer}} |
|||
| title1 = Show Me |
|||
| length1 |
| length1 = 4:02 |
||
| title2 |
| title2 = [[Poison Arrow]] |
||
| writer2 |
| writer2 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Mark Lickley}} |
||
| length2 = 3:24 |
|||
* [[Martin Fry]] |
|||
| title3 = Many Happy Returns |
|||
* [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]] |
|||
| writer3 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
* [[Stephen Singleton]] |
|||
| length3 = 3:56 |
|||
* David Palmer |
|||
| title4 = [[Tears Are Not Enough (ABC song)|Tears Are Not Enough]] |
|||
* Mark Lickley |
|||
| writer4 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|David Robinson}} |
|||
| length4 = 3:31 |
|||
| title5 = Valentine's Day |
|||
| writer5 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length5 = 3:42 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Track listing |
|||
| length2 = 3:24 |
|||
| |
| headline = Side two |
||
| |
| total_length = 37:25 |
||
| |
| title6 = [[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]] |
||
| |
| note6 = part one |
||
| writer6 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
* Fry |
|||
| length6 = 3:26 |
|||
* White |
|||
| title7 = Date Stamp |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
| writer7 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
| length7 = 3:51 |
|||
* David Robinson |
|||
| title8 = [[All of My Heart]] |
|||
| writer8 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length8 = 5:12 |
|||
| title9 = 4 Ever 2 Gether |
|||
| writer9 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|[[Anne Dudley]]}} |
|||
| length9 = 5:30 |
|||
| title10 = [[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]] |
|||
| note10 = part four |
|||
| writer10 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length10 = 1:02 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Track listing |
|||
| length4 = 3:31 |
|||
| headline = 1996 digitally remastered edition |
|||
| title5 = Valentine's Day |
|||
| |
| title11 = Tears Are Not Enough |
||
| note11 = demo |
|||
| writer11 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
| length11 = 3:29 |
|||
| title12 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| note12 = jazz re-mix |
|||
| writer12 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length12 = 6:54 |
|||
| title13 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note13 = US special remix – edit{{efn|Mislabeled as 1990 remix. Also known as "The Look of Love (Part 5)".}} |
|||
| writer13 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length13 = 5:43 |
|||
| title14 = Alphabet Soup |
|||
| note14 = 12" mix |
|||
| writer14 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
| length14 = 8:02 |
|||
| title15 = Theme from ''Mantrap'' |
|||
| writer15 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length15 = 4:19 |
|||
| title16 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note16 = live |
|||
| writer16 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length16 = 6:07 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Track listing |
{{Track listing |
||
| headline |
| headline = 1998 reissue |
||
| title11 = Theme from ''Mantrap'' |
|||
| total_length = 37:25 |
|||
| writer11 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| title6 = [[The Look of Love (ABC song)|The Look of Love]] |
|||
| |
| length11 = 4:19 |
||
| writer6 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
===2004 deluxe edition=== |
|||
| length6 = 3:26 |
|||
{{Track listing |
|||
| title7 = Date Stamp |
|||
| |
| headline = CD1 – Part 2: The Original Singles |
||
| |
| title11 = Overture |
||
| writer11 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Dudley}} |
|||
| length8 = 5:12 |
|||
| |
| length11 = 3:59 |
||
| |
| title12 = Tears Are Not Enough |
||
| note12 = original single version |
|||
* Fry |
|||
| writer12 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
* White |
|||
| length12 = 3:36 |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
| title13 = Alphabet Soup |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
| writer13 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
* [[Anne Dudley]] |
|||
| length13 = 8:03 |
|||
| title14 = Theme from ''Man Trap'' |
|||
| writer14 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length14 = 4:19 |
|||
| title15 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| note15 = North American jazz mix |
|||
| writer15 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length15 = 7:06 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Track listing |
|||
| length9 = 5:30 |
|||
| |
| headline = CD1 – Part 3: An Oddity and An Out-Take |
||
| |
| title16 = Into the Valley of the Heathen Go |
||
| |
| writer16 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
||
| length16 = 2:00 |
|||
* Fry |
|||
| title17 = Alphabet Soup |
|||
* White |
|||
| note17 = [[Multi-Coloured Swap Shop|BBC Swapshop]] version |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
| writer17 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
| length17 = 3:13 |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
| length10 = 1:02 |
|||
}} |
|||
;Additional track listings |
|||
{| class="collapsible collapsed" border="0" style="margin-right:10.45em" |
|||
! style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | 1996 digitally remastered edition |
|||
! | |
|||
|- |
|||
| colspan="2" | |
|||
{{Track listing |
{{Track listing |
||
| |
| headline = CD2 – Part 4: The Route to the Lexicon |
||
| |
| title1 = Tears Are Not Enough |
||
| note1 = [[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] demo, 20 July 1981 |
|||
| title2 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| writer1 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
| writer2 = {{flatlist| |
|||
| length1 = 3:32 |
|||
* Fry |
|||
| title2 = Show Me |
|||
* White |
|||
| note2 = Phonogram demo, 20 July 1981 |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
| writer2 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
| length2 = 4:03 |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
| title3 = Surrender |
|||
| note3 = Phonogram demo, 20 July 1981 |
|||
| writer3 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length3 = 3:29 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
| length2 = 3:24 |
|||
| title3 = Many Happy Returns |
|||
| length3 = 3:56 |
|||
| title4 = Tears Are Not Enough |
|||
| writer4 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
* Robinson |
|||
}} |
|||
| length4 = 3:31 |
|||
| title5 = Valentine's Day |
|||
| length5 = 3:42 |
|||
| title6 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note6 = Part One |
|||
| writer6 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length6 = 3:26 |
|||
| title7 = Date Stamp |
|||
| length7 = 3:51 |
|||
| title8 = All of My Heart |
|||
| length8 = 5:12 |
|||
| title9 = 4 Ever 2 Gether |
|||
| writer9 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Dudley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length9 = 5:30 |
|||
| title10 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note10 = Part Four |
|||
| writer10 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length10 = 1:02 |
|||
| title11 = Tears Are Not Enough |
|||
| note11 = Demo |
|||
| length11 = 3:29* |
|||
| title12 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| note12 = Jazz Re-Mix |
|||
| length12 = 6:54* |
|||
| title13 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note13 = US Special Remix – Edit; mislabelled as "The Look of Love (1990 Re-Mix |
|||
| writer13 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length13 = 5:43* |
|||
| title14 = Alphabet Soup |
|||
| note14 = 12" mix |
|||
| writer14 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
* Robinson |
|||
}} |
|||
| length14 = 8:02* |
|||
| title15 = Theme from ''[[Mantrap (1983 film)|Mantrap]]'' |
|||
| writer15 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length15 = 4:19* |
|||
| title16 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note16 = Live |
|||
| writer16 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length16 = 6:07* |
|||
}} |
|||
*Tracks with * are bonus |
|||
|} |
|||
{| class="collapsible collapsed" border="0" style="margin-right:10.45em" |
|||
! style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | 1998 reissue |
|||
! | |
|||
|- |
|||
| colspan="2" | |
|||
{{Track listing |
{{Track listing |
||
| headline = CD2 – Part 5: ''The Lexicon of Love'', Live at [[Hammersmith Odeon]], November 1982 |
|||
| title1 = Show Me |
|||
| |
| title4 = Overture |
||
| writer4 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Dudley}} |
|||
| title2 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| |
| length4 = 3:56 |
||
| title5 = Show Me |
|||
* Fry |
|||
| writer5 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
* White |
|||
| length5 = 4:21 |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
| title6 = Many Happy Returns |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
| writer6 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
| length6 = 7:02 |
|||
| title7 = Tears Are Not Enough |
|||
| writer7 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
| length7 = 5:33 |
|||
| title8 = Date Stamp |
|||
| writer8 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length8 = 7:07 |
|||
| title9 = The Look of Love |
|||
| writer9 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length9 = 5:59 |
|||
| title10 = All of My Heart |
|||
| writer10 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length10 = 6:45 |
|||
| title11 = Valentine's Day |
|||
| writer11 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer}} |
|||
| length11 = 4:44 |
|||
| title12 = 4 Ever 2 Gether |
|||
| writer12 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Dudley}} |
|||
| length12 = 6:53 |
|||
| title13 = Alphabet Soup |
|||
| writer13 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley|Robinson}} |
|||
| length13 = 8:26 |
|||
| title14 = Poison Arrow |
|||
| writer14 = {{hlist|Fry|White|Singleton|Palmer|Lickley}} |
|||
| length14 = 5:22 |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Notelist}} |
|||
| length2 = 3:24 |
|||
| title3 = Many Happy Returns |
|||
| length3 = 3:56 |
|||
| title4 = Tears Are Not Enough |
|||
| writer4 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
* Robinson |
|||
}} |
|||
| length4 = 3:31 |
|||
| title5 = Valentine's Day |
|||
| length5 = 3:42 |
|||
| title6 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note6 = Part One |
|||
| writer6 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length6 = 3:26 |
|||
| title7 = Date Stamp |
|||
| length7 = 3:51 |
|||
| title8 = All of My Heart |
|||
| length8 = 5:12 |
|||
| title9 = 4 Ever 2 Gether |
|||
| writer9 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Dudley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length9 = 5:30 |
|||
| title10 = The Look of Love |
|||
| note10 = Part Four |
|||
| writer10 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length10 = 1:02 |
|||
| title11 = Theme from ''Mantrap'' |
|||
| writer11 = {{flatlist| |
|||
* Fry |
|||
* White |
|||
* Singleton |
|||
* Palmer |
|||
* Lickley |
|||
}} |
|||
| length11 = 4:19* |
|||
}} |
|||
*tracks with * are bonus |
|||
|} |
|||
{| class="collapsible collapsed" border="0" style="margin-right:10.45em" |
|||
! style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | 2004 deluxe edition |
|||
! | |
|||
|- |
|||
| colspan="2" | |
|||
'''Disc one''' |
|||
::'''Part 1: The Original Album''' |
|||
#"Show Me" – 4:02 |
|||
#"Poison Arrow" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 3:24 |
|||
#"Many Happy Returns" – 3:56 |
|||
#"Tears Are Not Enough" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 3:31 |
|||
#"Valentine's Day" – 3:42 |
|||
#"The Look of Love" (Part One) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 3:26 |
|||
#"Date Stamp – 3:51 |
|||
#"All of My Heart" – 5:12 |
|||
#"4 Ever 2 Gether" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Dudley)</small> – 5:30 |
|||
#"The Look of Love" (Part Four) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 1:02 |
|||
::'''Part 2: The Original Singles''' |
|||
#"Overture" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Dudley)</small> – 3:59 |
|||
#"Tears Are Not Enough" (original single version) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 3:36 |
|||
#"Alphabet Soup" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 8:03 |
|||
#"Theme from ''Man Trap''" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 4:19 |
|||
#"Poison Arrow" (North American Jazz Mix) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 7:06 |
|||
::'''Part 3: An Oddity and An Out-Take''' |
|||
#"Into the Valley of the Heathen Go" – 2:00 |
|||
#"Alphabet Soup" ([[BBC]] [[Multi-Coloured Swap Shop|Swapshop]] version) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 3:13 |
|||
'''Disc two''' |
|||
::'''Part 4: The Route to the Lexicon''' |
|||
#"Tears Are Not Enough" ([[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] Demo 20 July 1981) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 3:32 |
|||
#"Show Me" ([[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] Demo 20 July 1981) – 4:03 |
|||
#"Surrender" ([[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] Demo 20 July 1981 – song deleted from album's original release at "the 11th hour") – 3:29 |
|||
::'''Part 5: The Lexicon of Love — Live at [[Hammersmith Odeon]] November 1982''' |
|||
#"Overture" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Dudley)</small> – 3:56 |
|||
#"Show Me" – 4:21 |
|||
#"Many Happy Returns" – 7:02 |
|||
#"Tears Are Not Enough" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 5:33 |
|||
#"Date Stamp" – 7:07 |
|||
#"The Look of Love" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon November 1982) <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 5:59 |
|||
#"All of My Heart" – 6:45 |
|||
#"Valentine's Day" – 4:44 |
|||
#"4 Ever 2 Gether" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Dudley)</small> – 6:53 |
|||
#"Alphabet Soup" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Lickley, Robinson)</small> – 8:26 |
|||
#"Poison Arrow" <small>(Fry, White, Singleton, Palmer, Lickley)</small> – 5:22 |
|||
|} |
|||
==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
||
'''ABC''' |
'''ABC''' |
||
* [[Martin Fry]] |
* [[Martin Fry]] – [[Lead vocalist|lead]] and [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] |
||
* [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]] |
* [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[guitar]]s, backing vocals (6) |
||
* [[Stephen Singleton]] |
* [[Stephen Singleton]] – [[alto saxophone]], [[tenor saxophone]] |
||
* Mark Lickley – [[bass guitar]] (2, 4, 6) |
|||
* David Palmer – [[Drum kit|drums]]; [[Linn LM-1]] programming; [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] |
|||
* David Palmer – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Linn LM-1]] [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] |
|||
* Mark Lickley – [[bass guitar]] on "Poison Arrow", "Tears Are Not Enough", and "The Look of Love" |
|||
* David Robinson |
* David Robinson – drums on single/demo versions of "Tears Are Not Enough" |
||
'''Additional personnel''' |
'''Additional personnel''' |
||
* [[Anne Dudley]] |
* [[Anne Dudley]] – keyboards, orchestrations |
||
* [[J. J. Jeczalik]] – [[Fairlight CMI]] programming |
|||
* Brad Lang – bass guitar |
|||
* Brad Lang – bass guitar |
|||
* [[J. J. Jeczalik]] – [[Fairlight CMI]] programming |
|||
* [[Luís Jardim]] (misspelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes) – additional percussion |
|||
* Andy Gray – [[trombone]] on "Tears Are Not Enough" |
|||
* Andy Gray – [[trombone]] (4) |
|||
* [[Luís Jardim]] (misspelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes) – additional percussion |
|||
* Kim Wear – [[trumpet]] |
|||
* [[Tessa Niles|Tessa Webb]] – female lead vocal on "Date Stamp" |
|||
* [[John Thirkell]] |
* [[John Thirkell]] – trumpet (2, 6), [[flugelhorn]] (2, 6) |
||
* Gaynor Sadler |
* Gaynor Sadler – [[harp]] |
||
* Karen Clayton |
* Karen Clayton – female speaking voice (2) |
||
* [[Tessa Niles|Tessa Webb]] – female lead vocal (7) |
|||
'''Production''' |
'''Production and artwork''' |
||
* [[Trevor Horn]] |
* [[Trevor Horn]] – [[Record producer|producer]] |
||
* [[Gary Langan]] |
* [[Gary Langan]] – [[Audio engineer|engineer]] |
||
* Howard Gray – assistant engineer |
|||
* [[Gered Mankowitz]] – [[film]] [[photography]] |
|||
* |
* [[Gered Mankowitz]] – film [[photography]] |
||
* |
* Paul Cox – band photography |
||
* Pete Bill – cover photography |
|||
* Visible Inc. – [[design]] |
|||
* |
* Visible Inc. – [[design]] |
||
* Neutron Records – design |
|||
;2004 deluxe edition credits |
|||
* Gary Moore – digital remastering |
|||
'''2004 deluxe edition credits''' |
|||
* Daryl Easlea – album coordinator; compiler |
|||
* Gary Moore – digital remastering |
|||
* Martin Fry – compiler |
|||
* Daryl Easlea – album coordinator, compiler |
|||
* Deluxe Graphics@Green Ink – artwork restoration; adaption<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-lexicon-of-love-deluxe-edition-mr0001062544/credits|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love|website=Allmusic.com}}</ref> |
|||
* Martin Fry – compiler |
|||
* Deluxe Graphics@Green Ink – artwork restoration, adaption<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-lexicon-of-love-deluxe-edition-mr0001062544/credits|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> |
|||
==Charts== |
==Charts== |
||
{{col-begin}} |
{{col-begin}} |
||
{{col-2}} |
{{col-2}} |
||
===Weekly charts=== |
===Weekly charts=== |
||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''The Lexicon of Love'' |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="col"| Chart ( |
! scope="col"| Chart (1982–1983) |
||
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{ |
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{harvnb|Kent|1993|p=10}}</ref> |
||
| 9 |
| 9 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Canada|3|chartid=6165a|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Canada|3|chartid=6165a|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Netherlands|16|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Netherlands|16|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= |
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}</ref> |
||
| 1 |
| 1 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Germany4|23|id=6121|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Germany4|23|id=6121|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Okamoto |first=Satoshi |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]] |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref> |
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums ([[Oricon Albums Chart|Oricon]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Okamoto |first=Satoshi |title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 |language=ja |location=Roppongi, Tokyo |publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]] |year=2006 |isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref> |
||
| 17 |
| 17 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Norway|13|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Norway|13|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=ABC|album=The Lexicon of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=19820627|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=19820627|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Billboard200|24|artist=ABC|rowheader=true| |
{{album chart|Billboard200|24|artist=ABC|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
|} |
|} |
||
{{col-2}} |
{{col-2}} |
||
| Line 480: | Line 332: | ||
===Year-end charts=== |
===Year-end charts=== |
||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
|+ 1982 year-end chart performance for ''The Lexicon of Love'' |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="col"| Chart (1982) |
! scope="col"| Chart (1982) |
||
! scope="col"| Position |
! scope="col"| Position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{harvnb|Kent|1993|p=434}}</ref> |
|||
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6170&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6170.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6170 |title=Top 100 Albums 82 |magazine=RPM |volume=37 |issue=19 |date=25 December 1982 |page=19 |issn=0315-5994 |accessdate=11 June 2019 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref> |
|||
| 29 |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6170&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6170.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6170 |title=Top 100 Albums 82 |magazine=RPM |volume=37 |issue=19 |date=25 December 1982 |page=19 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref> |
|||
| 22 |
| 22 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https:// |
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1982-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 1982 |publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref> |
||
| 12 |
| 12 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| UK Albums ([[British Market Research Bureau Limited|BMRB]])<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rees |first1=Dafydd |last2=Lazell |first2=Barry |last3=Jones |first3=Alan |chapter=The Top 100 UK Albums |title=Chart File Volume 2 |location=London |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |year=1983 |pages=82–83 |isbn=0-907080-73-1}}</ref> |
|||
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.everyhit.co.uk/chartalb4.html |title=Top Albums of 1982 |website=everyHit.com |accessdate=11 June 2019}}</ref> |
|||
| 4 |
| 4 |
||
|} |
|} |
||
{| class="wikitable |
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
|+ 1983 year-end chart performance for ''The Lexicon of Love'' |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="col"| Chart (1983) |
! scope="col"| Chart (1983) |
||
! scope="col"| Position |
! scope="col"| Position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4435&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4435.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4435 |title=The Top |
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4435&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4435.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4435 |title=The Top Albums of 1983 |magazine=RPM |volume=39 |issue=17 |date=24 December 1983 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref> |
||
| 43 |
| 43 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite |
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855401 |title=Top Pop Albums of 1983 |magazine=Billboard |date=31 December 1983 |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905002204/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855401 |archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> |
||
| 42 |
| 42 |
||
|} |
|} |
||
| Line 508: | Line 363: | ||
==Certifications== |
==Certifications== |
||
{{Certification Table Top}} |
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''The Lexicon of Love''}} |
||
{{Certification Table Entry|region= |
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=ABC|title=The Lexicon of Love|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/aNf84lX.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)|via=Imgur.com|access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>}} |
||
{{Certification Table Entry|region= |
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=ABC|title=The Lexicon of Love|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1983|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
||
{{Certification Table Entry|region= |
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=ABC|title=The Lexicon of Love|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|salesamount=48,000|access-date=15 July 2022}} |
||
{{Certification Table Entry|region= |
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=ABC|title=The Lexicon of Love|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1982|id=1982-12-03|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|date=5 December 1982}} |
||
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=ABC|title=Lexicon of Love|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|id=3833-600-2|date=4 October 1982|access-date=18 May 2022}} |
|||
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}} |
|||
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=ABC|title=Lexicon of Love|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1982|certyear=1995|date=15 February 1995|access-date=11 June 2019}} |
|||
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}} |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
||
===Bibliography=== |
===Bibliography=== |
||
{{Refbegin}} |
|||
*{{cite book |
|||
* {{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/abc-ithe-lexicon-of-lovei|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love|last=Cohen|first=Mitchell|date=December 1982|work=[[Creem]]|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=8 December 2021|url-access=subscription}} |
|||
* {{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition=illustrated |location=St Ives, N.S.W. |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}} |
|||
* {{cite book |
|||
| editor-last1= Weisbard |
| editor-last1= Weisbard |
||
| editor-first1 = Eric |
| editor-first1 = Eric |
||
| Line 528: | Line 388: | ||
| year = 1995 |
| year = 1995 |
||
| isbn = 0-679-75574-8 |
| isbn = 0-679-75574-8 |
||
| ref = harv |
|||
| title-link = Spin Alternative Record Guide |
| title-link = Spin Alternative Record Guide |
||
}} |
}} |
||
* {{cite web|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/abc-ithe-lexicon-of-lovei-mercury-srm-1-4509|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love (Mercury SRM-1-4509)|last=Waller|first=Don|date=24 October 1982|work=Los Angeles Times|via=[[Rock's Backpages]]|access-date=8 December 2021|url-access=subscription}} |
|||
{{Refend}} |
|||
*{{cite web |
|||
|url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A549.htm |
|||
|title=ABC: The Lexicon of Love |
|||
|at=Best of All-time Lists, Best of Decade Lists, etc |
|||
|publisher=AcclaimedMusic.net |
|||
|accessdate=1 October 2011 |
|||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017101343/http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A549.htm |
|||
|archive-date=17 October 2017 |
|||
|url-status=dead |
|||
}} |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices --> |
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices --> |
||
* [https://archive. |
* [https://archive.today/20130416235103/http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/TGV4aWNvbiBvZiBMb3Zl/Lexicon%20of%20Love ''The Lexicon of Love''] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Radio3Net]] (streamed copy where licensed) |
||
* {{discogs master|71286}} |
|||
{{ABC (band)}} |
{{ABC (band)}} |
||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lexicon of Love, The}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lexicon of Love, The}} |
||
Latest revision as of 20:14, 20 November 2024
| The Lexicon of Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 June 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981–1982 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:25 | |||
| Label | Neutron | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| ABC chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Lexicon of Love | ||||
| ||||
The Lexicon of Love is the debut studio album by the English pop band ABC. Released by Neutron Records on 21 June 1982, it entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, also topping the New Zealand and Finnish charts. Certified gold in the US, it went platinum in the UK where four singles reached the top 20; "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love" and "All of My Heart", which Pitchfork ranked number one on their "Now That's What I Call New Pop!" list.[15]
The album has frequently been ranked as one of the greatest albums of the 1980s, and was included in the 2018 edition of Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[16]
Background, recording and release
[edit]ABC was formed by Stephen Singleton and Mark White as electronic band Vice Versa. Joined by Martin Fry, the band eventually morphed into ABC.[17] A debut single, "Tears Are Not Enough", followed in 1981; it was remixed by producer Trevor Horn for inclusion in The Lexicon of Love.[17]
The album's title originated in the headline of an NME review of an ABC gig.[17] Songs were written collectively by the band, with arranger Anne Dudley also given a credit on some tracks.[17] Lead vocalist Martin Fry said that they had wanted to fuse the attitude of punk and the sophistication of disco. While he has denied that it is a concept album,[18] The Lexicon of Love features recurrent themes, including heartache and the struggle to make meaningful connections. "Most of the other people were writing about electric pylons. We wanted to hark back to Cole Porter and his ilk, but in a very modern way," Fry said.[17]
The majority of the album was recorded at Sarm East Studios in London, with additional work done at Abbey Road, Townhouse, RAK and Good Earth studios.[17] Produced by Horn and engineered by Gary Langan, it features orchestrations by Dudley and programming of the recently developed Fairlight CMI by J. J. Jeczalik. Horn says that he convinced the band to replace their bass player, Mark Lickley, with Brad Lang. "I talked them into getting a better bass player, which maybe wasn't a kind thing to do", he said, "[but] Brad Lang was quite brilliant".[19]
A year after its release, Horn, Langan, Dudley and Jeczalik formed the Art of Noise, and most of the production team and session musicians on the album formed the basis for the ZTT label. The cover photograph is by Gered Mankowitz.[17] Distribution in the US and Japan was handled by Mercury Records; Vertigo Records released it in Canada and Europe.
Performance, tours and further releases
[edit]"Tears Are Not Enough" (in its initial release produced by Steve Brown), "All of My Heart", "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love" were all top-20 entries in the UK; the latter two also charted in the US, peaking at No. 25 and No. 18 respectively.[20] The album reached No. 1 on the UK charts and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts.
The band was augmented by session musicians, and the 11-piece ensemble toured Europe, the US and Japan. The shows at Hammersmith Odeon in November 1982 were recorded for inclusion in the band's film Mantrap which was released the following year.[17] In 2004, a two-disc deluxe reissue including previously unreleased outtakes and early demos and a live performance of the album from 1982 was released by Neutron Records.
In 2009, ABC (with Fry as its sole member) performed the entire album at the Royal Albert Hall in London, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted by Dudley. They were joined onstage by Horn.[21] The Lexicon of Love was again performed live in its entirety on 18 December 2012 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane to mark its 30th anniversary. Dudley reprised her role as conductor, performing with the Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra, and they concluded a four-date mini-tour at the same venue on 30 March 2014. Between 4 and 9 November 2015, the band and orchestra also performed at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sheffield City Hall, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
A sequel studio album The Lexicon of Love II was released on 27 May 2016.[22] A Blu-ray audio disc with new Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound Blu-ray remixes by Steven Wilson, as well as a remastered vinyl edition of the original mix, was released in August 2023.[23]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [24] |
| Blender |  [25] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[26] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [27] |
| Mojo | [28] |
| Q | [29] |
| Rolling Stone | [30] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [31] |
| Select | 4/5[32] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 9/10[14] |
The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and remained on the charts for 50 weeks. It was the fourth biggest selling album in the UK in 1982.[17] Mitchell Cohen of Creem contemporaneously declared it to be a "piece of sumptuous kitsch", adding that "the whole shebang is so florid, so exaggerated, so damned catchy – you want to hear "The Look of Love" a second time before it's even half over; it's a casserole of about forty different pop hits and advertising jingles – that you may feel guilty for falling for it."[33] Robert Christgau gave the album an "A–" rating, writing that "Martin Fry's candid camp and ad-man phrasing don't fully justify his histrionic flights, but they do give him room to be clever, which is clearly his calling--some of these synthetic funk rhythms make me laugh out loud, and he's an ace jingle writer".[26] Don Waller of the Los Angeles Times praised the album, stating that Horn "deserves a share of the applause, but the songs – credited to all four ABC members – are the real deal: apocalyptic, widescreen romances with more hooks than a meat-packing plant." [34] Waller proclaimed that "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow" and "The Look of Love (Part I)" call out for "any one of a dozen contemporary black vocalists". "ABC's biggest drawback is Martin Fry's singing, which borders on the effete," he wrote. [34]
Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer was less enthusiastic, dismissing the album as "prissy dance music, light on the beat and heavy on the sort of maundering crooning that the effete English rock musicians frequently mistake for passion."[35]
Retrospectively, AllMusic found Horn's production to be "dense and noisy, but frequently beautiful", while "the group's emotional songs gave it a depth and coherence later Horn works (...) would lack." The site praised the band for "[using] the sound to create moving dance-floor epics like "Many Happy Returns" which, like most of the album's tracks, deserved to be a hit single."[24] In a BBC review of the 2004 Deluxe Edition, Rob Webb stated that "The Lexicon of Love stands as a landmark album in British pop", and "underpins just what a sharp band ABC were: witty, lyrical and very, very funky". He found each song to be "a love affair in miniature: some are touching ("All of My Heart", "Show Me"), others a bitter invective at misplaced passion ("Many Happy Returns")", and concluded that "[dance] music had rarely been so literate."[4]
In The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Colin Larkin awarded the "superb" album 5 stars (outstanding). Lauding the "pristine pop songs", he declared that it "remains a benchmark of 80s pop, and a formidable collection of melodramatic love songs assembled in one neat package."[36] In a review of a 2005 retrospective of Trevor Horn's work, Pitchfork concluded: "If you don't already own the original records, all can be found cheap and all (especially ABC's Lexicon of Love) are essential documents of their era".[37]
Legacy
[edit]The Lexicon of Love was ranked as the 4th best album of the 1980s by Record Mirror in December 1989.[38] NME ranked it at number 15 on their "Greatest Albums: The 1980's" in 1993,[39] and at number 117 on their "The Greatest albums of all time" in 2013.[40] Record Collector included it on their list "70 Landmark Albums" in 2019.[41] Observer Music Monthly ranked it at number 42 on their "Greatest British Albums" in 2004.[42] In 2024, Uncut placed it at number 26 on their list "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1980's".[43]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Show Me" |
| 4:02 |
| 2. | "Poison Arrow" |
| 3:24 |
| 3. | "Many Happy Returns" |
| 3:56 |
| 4. | "Tears Are Not Enough" |
| 3:31 |
| 5. | "Valentine's Day" |
| 3:42 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "The Look of Love" (part one) |
| 3:26 |
| 7. | "Date Stamp" |
| 3:51 |
| 8. | "All of My Heart" |
| 5:12 |
| 9. | "4 Ever 2 Gether" |
| 5:30 |
| 10. | "The Look of Love" (part four) |
| 1:02 |
| Total length: | 37:25 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Tears Are Not Enough" (demo) |
| 3:29 |
| 12. | "Poison Arrow" (jazz re-mix) |
| 6:54 |
| 13. | "The Look of Love" (US special remix – edit[a]) |
| 5:43 |
| 14. | "Alphabet Soup" (12" mix) |
| 8:02 |
| 15. | "Theme from Mantrap" |
| 4:19 |
| 16. | "The Look of Love" (live) |
| 6:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Theme from Mantrap" |
| 4:19 |
2004 deluxe edition
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Overture" |
| 3:59 |
| 12. | "Tears Are Not Enough" (original single version) |
| 3:36 |
| 13. | "Alphabet Soup" |
| 8:03 |
| 14. | "Theme from Man Trap" |
| 4:19 |
| 15. | "Poison Arrow" (North American jazz mix) |
| 7:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Into the Valley of the Heathen Go" |
| 2:00 |
| 17. | "Alphabet Soup" (BBC Swapshop version) |
| 3:13 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tears Are Not Enough" (Phonogram demo, 20 July 1981) |
| 3:32 |
| 2. | "Show Me" (Phonogram demo, 20 July 1981) |
| 4:03 |
| 3. | "Surrender" (Phonogram demo, 20 July 1981) |
| 3:29 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Overture" |
| 3:56 |
| 5. | "Show Me" |
| 4:21 |
| 6. | "Many Happy Returns" |
| 7:02 |
| 7. | "Tears Are Not Enough" |
| 5:33 |
| 8. | "Date Stamp" |
| 7:07 |
| 9. | "The Look of Love" |
| 5:59 |
| 10. | "All of My Heart" |
| 6:45 |
| 11. | "Valentine's Day" |
| 4:44 |
| 12. | "4 Ever 2 Gether" |
| 6:53 |
| 13. | "Alphabet Soup" |
| 8:26 |
| 14. | "Poison Arrow" |
| 5:22 |
- ^ Mislabeled as 1990 remix. Also known as "The Look of Love (Part 5)".
Personnel
[edit]ABC
- Martin Fry – lead and backing vocals
- Mark White – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals (6)
- Stephen Singleton – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Mark Lickley – bass guitar (2, 4, 6)
- David Palmer – drums, Linn LM-1 programming, percussion
- David Robinson – drums on single/demo versions of "Tears Are Not Enough"
Additional personnel
- Anne Dudley – keyboards, orchestrations
- J. J. Jeczalik – Fairlight CMI programming
- Brad Lang – bass guitar
- Luís Jardim (misspelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes) – additional percussion
- Andy Gray – trombone (4)
- Kim Wear – trumpet
- John Thirkell – trumpet (2, 6), flugelhorn (2, 6)
- Gaynor Sadler – harp
- Karen Clayton – female speaking voice (2)
- Tessa Webb – female lead vocal (7)
Production and artwork
- Trevor Horn – producer
- Gary Langan – engineer
- Howard Gray – assistant engineer
- Gered Mankowitz – film photography
- Paul Cox – band photography
- Pete Bill – cover photography
- Visible Inc. – design
- Neutron Records – design
2004 deluxe edition credits
- Gary Moore – digital remastering
- Daryl Easlea – album coordinator, compiler
- Martin Fry – compiler
- Deluxe Graphics@Green Ink – artwork restoration, adaption[44]
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[62] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[63] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[64] | Gold | 48,000[64] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[66] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[67] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Medsker, David (9 April 2002). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". PopMatters. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Medsker, David (9 March 2003). "Pet Shop Boys: Disco 3". PopMatters. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Ramirez, AJ (28 January 2015). "Looking for the Girl That Meets Supply with Demand: ABC's 'The Lexicon of Love'". PopMatters. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ a b c ABC The Lexicon of Love Review BBC
- ^ a b Harrington, Richard (17 December 1982). "The ABC's of Cool Brit Disco Funk". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ Mossman, Kate (2 June 2016). "Martin Fry on ABC's comeback: 'Lexicon of Love II is a kind of Godfather Part II'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Petridis, Alex (9 April 2009). "ABC". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Chiu, David (7 July 2022). "ABC's Classic And Stylish LP 'The Lexicon of Love' Turns 40". Forbes. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (10 April 2019). "ABC review – big-budget love-in for Martin Fry's 80s pop masterpiece". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ El Hunt (17 September 2020). "The story of new wave in 15 classic albums". NME. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Hurley, Oliver (25 August 2021). "Top 15 Sophisti-Pop Albums".
- ^ "Still a Spectacle, Fun-Loving ABC Holds Up Well". Hartford Courant. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Mitchell, Matt (21 July 2023). "The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ a b Weisbard & Marks 1995, p. 4
- ^ Harvell, Jess (12 September 2005). ""Now That's What I Call New Pop"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (2018). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-1-78840-080-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Lexicon of Love Deluxe Edition Booklet, 2004
- ^ "BBC 6 Music interview with Martin Fry". Radcliffe and Maconie (Interview). Interviewed by Stuart Maconie.
- ^ Doyle, Tom (July 2016). "Classic Tracks: ABC 'The Look of Love'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "ABC – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "ABC and The BBC Concert Orchestra present The Lexicon of Love". BBC. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "ABC to release The Lexicon of Love II". superdeluxeedition.com. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "ABC's The Lexicon of Love on SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio – SuperDeluxeEdition". 28 June 2023.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "The Lexicon of Love – ABC". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ Himmelsbach, Erik. "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Blender. Archived from the original on 15 December 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1990). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Mojo: 124.
[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...
- ^ "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Q (360): 117. July 2016.
- ^ Fricke, David (16 September 1982). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Rolling Stone. No. 378. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "ABC". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 2. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Harrison, Ian (May 1996). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Select (71): 102.
- ^ Cohen 1982.
- ^ a b Waller 1982.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (7 November 1982). "Albums". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12. Retrieved 26 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
- ^ Harvell, Jess (26 May 2005). "Produced By Trevor Horn: Various Artists – album review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Record Mirror December 1989
- ^ NME 1993
- ^ NME 2013
- ^ Record Collector 2019
- ^ Observer 2004
- ^ Uncut 2024
- ^ "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". AllMusic.
- ^ Kent 1993, p. 10
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6165a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – ABC – The Lexicon of Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – ABC – The Lexicon of Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – ABC – The Lexicon of Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – ABC – The Lexicon of Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – ABC – The Lexicon of Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ "ABC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ Kent 1993, p. 434
- ^ "Top 100 Albums 82". RPM. Vol. 37, no. 19. 25 December 1982. p. 19. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1982". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Jones, Alan (1983). "The Top 100 UK Albums". Chart File Volume 2. London: Virgin Books. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0-907080-73-1.
- ^ "The Top Albums of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39, no. 17. 24 December 1983. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1983". Billboard. 31 December 1983. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)". Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – ABC – The Lexicon of Love". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ a b "ABC" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – ABC – The Lexicon of Love". Recorded Music NZ. 5 December 1982. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – ABC – Lexicon of Love". British Phonographic Industry. 4 October 1982. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – ABC – Lexicon of Love". Recording Industry Association of America. 15 February 1995. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
Bibliography
[edit]- Cohen, Mitchell (December 1982). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love". Creem. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via Rock's Backpages.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- Waller, Don (24 October 1982). "ABC: The Lexicon of Love (Mercury SRM-1-4509)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via Rock's Backpages.
External links
[edit]- The Lexicon of Love (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
- The Lexicon of Love at Discogs (list of releases)
