Martin Fry had some underground success as a music journalist with the fanzine 'Modern Drugs', interviewing various British pop and rock groups, before he decided to join a band himself. ABC has its roots in the group Vice Versa, a Sheffield electronic music outfit formed in 1977 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. They founded their own label, 'Neutron Records', and released an EP. Fry started off with the act as a synthesizer player. By 1980, the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry becoming the lead vocalist.
The group's first single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the U.K. Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album, 'The Lexicon of Love', which reached number one in the U.K. Albums Chart. Produced by Trevor Horn, it often featured 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). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love (Part 1)" and "All of My Heart" and shot high-concept music videos.
ABC found it difficult to follow up their debut. The second album, Beauty Stab, was released in November 1983. It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor. Gary Langan, who had engineered The Lexicon of Love, produced the effort. The first single, "That Was Then but This Is Now", briefly appeared in the UK Top 20, followed by a Top 40 showing for "S.O.S.". The band eschewed remixes for the project, and the 12" single for "That Was Then but This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours." Stephen Singleton retired from the band in 1984.
Now a duo of Fry and White, augmented by two non-performing band members, Fiona Russell-Powell (known as Eden) and David Yarritu, ABC's chart fortunes in the UK dwindled further with the 1985 album How To Be A Zillionaire. Keith LeBlanc from Tackhead programmed much of the beatbox work for the album. The group did score its first US Top 10 hit with "Be Near Me" (which also made the UK Top 30). The album also featured the singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire", "Vanity Kills" and "Ocean Blue". ABC was one of the first bands to do video scratching" for several videos from the How to Be a... Zillionaire album, including the video for "Be Near Me".
Following a hiatus. while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned with Alphabet City. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" and "King Without a Crown" as singles. All three tracks would make the CD version of the group's first anthology.
In 1989, the duo issued Up, their fifth and final PolyGram studio album. This time experimenting with house music, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World". They then released another single, "The Real Thing". During this period the group worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was Paul Rutherford's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the group's own Neutron label.
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits compilation album, Absolutely. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990, and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promos was also released. One new song, "The Look Of Love (1990 Remix)", was released to promote the package.
The group then moved to the EMI label (and MCA in North America), where they recorded the 1991 LP Abracadabra. "Love Conquers All", the first single, barely placed in the UK chart, though Italian production team Black Box provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance chart.
Fry resurrected the band's name in 1997 for the album Skyscraping, an homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music, and the Sex Pistols. A collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes, the album again was met with critical approval rather than broad commercial success. However, three singles were released, "Rolling Sevens", "Skyscraping", and "Stranger Things", complete with extra B-sides.
In 1999, ABC released their first live album, The Lexicon of Live. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his trademark gold lamé suit.
Look of Love: The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of greatest hits package Absolutely (from 1990), the album featured two new songs by Fry titled "Peace and Tranquility" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released.
In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted to get the line-up of Fry, Palmer, Singleton and White together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate.
Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, Traffic. It was released on 28 April 2008. Gary Langan, who worked on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2 in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March, and was released as a download track on 1 April. ABC performed two songs from Traffic during the 2008 Regeneration Tour of the US; "Ride" and "The Very First Time".
On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Peter Cox of Go West.
In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls, and Naked Eyes.
In April 2009, ABC performed the Lexicon Of Love album live at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Anne Dudley of Art of Noise, who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of The Independent newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon".
In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour', which also featured Terri Nunn of Berlin, Wang Chung, and the Cutting Crew.
Another Artist:
ABC also known as Grupa ABC was a Polish band playing funk, r&b and blues. It was formed in 1969 in Warsaw and disbanded in 1973.
All That Matters
ABC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see all that wealth won't make a champion
All that matters in my world (life)
All that matters to me is you
Only you, only you
All that matters: only you
I don't care what people say, what people do
(Let 'em talk)
(Let 'em sue)
From the top of my head to the tip of my toes
From the sole of my shoes through every stitch in my clothes
Each beat of my heart, each molecule
All that matters to me is you
All that matters to me is you
All that matters to me is you
Believe me, it's true
(You're all that matters)
Now I wish you'd believe it too
Only you, only you
The song "All That Matters" by ABC talks about the singer's perspective on life and love. The first two lines say that the world was made for everyone and that wealth cannot determine one's worthiness as a champion. The singer then goes on to clarify that the most essential thing for him is love and that the only person who matters to him is his lover. He does not care about other people's opinions or beliefs, and he firmly believes that his lover is the most important being in his life. The chorus then repeats the phrase "only you" several times, emphasizing the depth of the singer's love.
The second verse of the song underscores the idea that everything in the singer's life revolves around his lover. He says that from the top of his head to his toes and everything in between, all that matters is his lover. He describes how every beat of his heart and each molecule in his body is dedicated to his lover. The chorus then repeats again, underlining the central theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe that this world was made for everyone
I think that the world is meant for everyone to enjoy.
I can see all that wealth won't make a champion
Money can't make somebody great.
All that matters in my world (life)
The only important thing in my life is:
All that matters to me is you
You are the only thing that matters to me.
Only you, only you
No one and nothing else but you.
All that matters: only you
The only thing that matters to me is you.
I don't care what people say, what people do
It doesn't matter to me what other people say or do.
(Let 'em talk)
Let them talk all they want, it doesn't matter.
I don't share that state of mind, that point of view
I don't have the same opinion or view as others.
(Let 'em sue)
Let them sue, it doesn't bother me.
From the top of my head to the tip of my toes
From head to toe.
From the sole of my shoes through every stitch in my clothes
Every part of me.
Each beat of my heart, each molecule
Every part of me, even the tiniest ones.
All that matters to me is you
The only thing that truly matters to me is you.
Believe me, it's true
You must believe me because it's true.
(You're all that matters)
You are the only thing that matters to me.
Now I wish you'd believe it too
I want you to believe that you are the most important thing to me.
Only you, only you
No one else, only you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: ALLEE WILLIS, MAURICE WHITE, ALBERT PHILLIP MCKAY, WIM CLAES, GUNTHER THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
I believe that this world was made for everyone
I can see all that wealth won't make a champion
All that matters in my world (life)
All that matters to me is you
Only you, only you
All that matters: only you
I don't care what people say, what people do
(Let 'em talk)
I don't share that state of mind, that point of view
(Let 'em sue)
From the top of my head to the tip of my toes
From the sole of my shoes through every stitch in my clothes
Each beat of my heart, each molecule
All that matters to me is you
All that matters to me is you
All that matters to me is you
Believe me, its true
(You're all that matters)
Now I wish you'd believe it too
Only you, only you
Kidwaryod Production
The most underrated album ever from ABC. Wouldn't it be nice if ABC decided to do more smooth jazz music like Paul Hardcastle's Jazzmasters or Gary Barnacle did. They always have a potential to do beautiful music.
timhumphrey4522
This album was surpringly great. They took the disco of tears enough toned it down and took into early 90s house. Nice mix of rnb soul and dance music and some fantastic melodies
Ulrich Fodze
an underrated masterpiece truly
Todd River
True masters of their craft!! Smooth vocals and the right instrumentation to blend so perfectly!!
Janne Johansson
this is great! Still, greatest of them all is lexicon of love! I need to go and buy this album. Hope I get it on vinyl...
Diego Alejandro Ruiz
Hermosa cancion! Saludos desde bs as Argentina
tomanovci
oh boy, i should buy this record just now ! great music
Andy Ives
i have ALL their albums and would go as far to say this was their second best after The Lexicon
Damien's Number 1 Fan
Yes it is
Mannis Mutter
Great Song!