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.
Kiss Me Goodbye
ABC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never meant to be unkind
All I gave
You returned to me
But love's the last thing on my mind
Nothing in this world's invincible
No-one's heart is made of stone
I'm the one thing you'll never own
If you can live your life without me
Turn and walk away
Minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to days
If you can't stand a single moment
Then go
But kiss me goodbye
Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me
Kiss me goodbye
Kiss me goodbye
I never promised you infinity
I never swore on oath for you
Did you expect the holy trinity
In all I say and all that I do?
If you can live your life without me
Turn and walk away
Minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to days
If you can't stand a single moment
Then go
But kiss me goodbye
Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me
Kiss me goodbye
Kiss me goodbye
It's not emotional extravagance
We've said farewell a thousand times
Why pretend there'll be a second chance
Unless this last kiss changes you mind?
If you can live your life without me
Turn and walk away
Minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to days
If you can't stand a single moment
Then go
But kiss me goodbye
Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me
Kiss me goodbye
Kiss me goodbye
The song Kiss Me Goodbye by ABC talks about a man who is trying to let go of a woman he has been with, but is struggling to do so. The lyrics suggest that he never meant to hurt her, but he cannot guarantee that he will always be there for her, as he has more important things on his mind. He is aware that nothing in the world is invincible, and that even though she has been his in principle, she will never own him. He is inviting her to turn and walk away if she can live without him, but if she cannot stand a single moment without him, she should kiss him goodbye.
The song is a testimony to how difficult it can be to let go of someone, even when you know it is the right thing to do. The lyrics are an exploration of the human heart and how it can be torn between love and reason. They suggest that even though love can be a powerful force, it is sometimes necessary to let go of someone you love for the sake of your own well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
I never promised you eternity
I never guaranteed our love will last forever
I never meant to be unkind
I never intended to hurt you
All I gave You returned to me
All the love I gave to you, you gave back to me
But love's the last thing on my mind
I am no longer interested in love
Nothing in this world's invincible
Nothing in this world is indestructible
No-one's heart is made of stone
No one is completely insensitive
And though I know I'm yours in principle
Even though I belong to you in theory
I'm the one thing you'll never own
You will never possess me completely
If you can live your life without me Turn and walk away Minutes turn to hours Hours turn to days
If you can go on living without me, just leave and don't look back. Time will pass and heals all wounds
If you can't stand a single moment Then go
If you cannot bear even a second with me, then depart
But kiss me goodbye Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me goodbye Kiss me goodbye
But before you leave, give me one last passionate goodbye kiss
I never promised you infinity
I never pledged an everlasting love
I never swore on oath for you
I never made any solemn commitments to you
Did you expect the holy trinity In all I say and all that I do?
Did you anticipate perfection from me in everything I say and do?
It's not emotional extravagance
It's not an overly dramatic situation
We've said farewell a thousand times
We have parted ways many times before
Why pretend there'll be a second chance Unless this last kiss changes you mind?
Why pretend that we will reunite unless this last kiss alters your decision?
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frank G.
Love the strings in this song, pure bliss!
Dex Davison
Love this song! ABC has done it again!
Ted Barrett
Fantastic. Probably my favourite track from the album, which has captured the essence of Lexicon I perfectly. I see some folks are suggesting ABC for the next Bond film and would definitely throw my hat into the ring on that. The drama, the passion...
Hilary Lawson
Ted Barrett tr
Hilary Lawson
Ted Barrett had been
Antonio Jesus Conde Fernández
Clase, elegancia, estilo........uno de los mejores temas que he escuchado. Adoro los ABC.
Tom Slade
ABC must do a Bond 007 them they are so bloody good "sing Mr Fry, Just sing "!
Brian Lee
totaly agree
STUDIO BENCIVENGA Marcus Bencivenga
He should play Bond also ! Roger Moore seal of approval
Herman van den Dries
this is the real Lexicon of Love sound from the eighties and now we got it back in 2016