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.
The Man I Love
ABC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And gravity won't pull you through
You know you're missing out on something
Well that something depends on you
All I'm saying
It takes a lot to love you
All I'm doing
All I need now
There's one thing
Yes, one thing that turns this gray sky to blue
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
When your girl has left you out on the pavement
(Goodbye)
When your dreams fall apart at the seams
Your reason for living, your reason for leaving
Don't ask me what it means
Who's got the look?
I don't know the answer to that question
Where's the look?
If I knew I would tell you
What's the look?
Look for your information
Yes, there's one thing, one thing that still hold true
What's that?
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
That's the look, that's the look
The look of love
(Look of love)
If you judge a book by the cover
Then you judge the look by the lover
I hope you'll soon recover
Me, I go from one extreme to another
And though my friends just might ask me
They say, "Martin, maybe one day you'll find true love"
I say, "Maybe there must be a solution
To the one thing, the one thing we can't find"
That's the look, that's the look
Sisters and brothers
That's the look, that's the look
Should help each other
That's the look, that's the look
Ooh, ooh Heavens above
That's the look, that's the look
Hip hip hooray
That's the look, that's the look
Yippee ai yippee aiay
That's the look, that's the look
Be lucky in love
Look of love
The lyrics of "Chicago Part 1" by ABC are a mixture of seemingly unrelated phrases that somehow connect to form a coherent message. The song appears to be about love and the various ways it makes people feel, especially when things go wrong. The opening lines suggest that when life is confusing and nothing seems to be going right, people yearn for something they can't quite put their finger on. The singer believes that this "something" depends on the individual and their interpretation of what love means to them.
The chorus of the song is where the theme of love is most strongly articulated. The "look of love" is described as something that can turn a gray sky blue. It's not clear what this look of love actually entails, but it's enough to make the singer obsessed with finding it. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is looking for something more than just a physical appearance or superficial qualities. The look of love seems to represent a deeper connection that transcends physical attributes and touches something within the soul.
The final verses of the song offer some reflection on the nature of love. The singer suggests that people shouldn't judge others based on superficial qualities but should look beyond appearances to find true love. The song ends with a call for unity and cooperation among people in their search for love.
Line by Line Meaning
When your world is full of strange arrangements and gravity won't pull you through
When life seems confusing and difficult to navigate
You know you're missing out on something, well that something depends on you
You feel like your life is lacking, but it's up to you to figure out what's missing
It takes a lot to love you
Loving you is a challenge
All I need now, there's one thing, yes, one thing that turns this gray sky to blue
There is one thing that can make everything better
That's the look, that's the look, the look of love
Love has a certain look
Don't ask me what it means
I don't have the answers
Who's got the look? I don't know the answer to that question
I don't know who has the look of love
Where's the look? If I knew I would tell you
I don't know where to find the look of love
Look for your information, yes, there's one thing, one thing that still hold true, what's that?
Here's a clue to what that one thing might be
If you judge a book by the cover then you judge the look by the lover
Don't judge something by appearances alone
I hope you'll soon recover, me I go from one extreme to another
I hope you'll feel better soon, but for me, I have ups and downs
To the one thing, the one thing we can't find
There's one thing that we all seem to be missing
Sisters and brothers should help each other
We should all support each other
Ooh, ooh Heavens above
An exclamation of amazement or surprise
Hip hip hooray, Yippee ai yippee aiay, be lucky in love
Celebrate and hope for good luck in love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID PALMER, MARK WHITE, MARTIN FRY, STEPHEN SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@foodmusttravel61
Who else listening The Look Of Love in 2024?
@WonysRat
I am :-)
@ewan6984
😊👍
@victorhalm405
Me three
@beatmover
I am always listening to The Look of Love.
@user-cg8oq4xc7z
This is your second listen.
@desireec.crooks78
Ive NEVER stopped listening to ABC, Spandau Ballet, DuranDuran, Haircut 100 etc...
@carlbowles1808
This is why the 1980's were awesome and unforgettable. I wanna go back to the 1980's forever. ❤😂👏🎵
@roterose1801
Ich komme mit 😊
@Philip-ei8pu
🙂❤️👍👍👍