Needle Time

  ABC - The Lexicon Of Love [NTRS 1 UK 1982 24-Bit FLAC] There is very little tangible evidence to prove how Sheffield industrial experimentalists Vice Versa became gold lame pop sensations ABC, except that Martin Fry's clever lyrics describe the bitter end of a relationship and the intervention of Trevor Horn (with full supporting cast) in the studio. There never seemed to be some vague no-mans-land or missing link in between the two dimensions of what was essentially the same band. If there was, I'd love to hear it! After a good clean, I am really pleased how this rip of my original UK pressing comes through. I was intrigued by the recent discussion on the ESWA & Steve Hoffman forums about which version of this album sounds the best. It seems that you just can't beat the original vinyl mastering, so here is my attempt at an analogue to digital facsimile. By cranking up the recording level (the album maxes at -0.03db/DR13) then ensuring a good mix between the channels...

  ABC - Beauty Stab [NTRL 2 UK 1983 24-Bit FLAC] About six weeks back, I posted my rip of ABC's electropop album,  How To Be A Zillionaire! I briefly mentioned how their second album Beauty Stab was a muddled affair and a comparative flop to the classic Lexicon Of Love . Digging through my vinyl (I have a lot), I've pulled out my rarely played and almost mint copy of Beauty Stab .  In the years between this album and their debut, ABC carelessly lost two members - original drummer David Palmer being the most significant. Palmer joined the Yellow Magic Orchestra touring band and never looked back. Original Vice Versa/ABC member and sax playing fringe, Stephen Singleton wasn't far behind - although he does appear on this album. Session musicians were drafted in; Andy Newmark (Sly & The Family Stone) on drums and Alan Spenner (ex-Kokomo) on bass both had pedigree, and it shows on the record.  There is no hiding the fact that Beauty Stab is very close to...

  ABC - How To Be A Zillionaire! [824 904-1 NLD 1985 24-Bit FLAC] Sheffield's ABC were always going to struggle following up The Lexicon Of Love . They had lost the services of Trever Horn in the studio and the second album Beauty Stab muddled between soul, rock and pop. The original line-up then disintegrated into just the duo of Martin Fry and Mark White who reinvented themselves into cartoon characters for the nutty third album.  I'll get this out of the way quickly ....I really like this album (many did not) - the classic ABC sound is still there, especially on the synth-string laden Be Near Me and Ocean Blue . The remainder is Fairlight and Emulator electronic pop augmented by the odd duo of Eden and David Yarritu, who don't actually appear in the credits. The album was actually recorded with session musicians, including Tackhead's Skip MacDonald and Keith LeBlanc.  This is a unashamed pop record, it failed miserably at the time and ABC moved into house-type mus...