Customer Reviews
ABC Classic Still Stands out - By: Mr. A. Craddock, 13 Jul 2008 
I have like previous reviewers of this album finally got around to replacing it on C D . My wife & I listened to itin the car on a long journey & it is still as good if not better now as it was more than a quarter of a century ago. It really has all been said from the vocals to the production even the cover of the album. I must agree that it is possibly the best album of the 1980`s. I guess Michael Jacksons Thriller & Fleetwood Macs Tangoin the night would also be contenders but Lexicon of love truly is a timeless album & blows your mind everytime you hear it. That is the true test of any album if you are still enjoying it as much all these years later. A truly awesome album a must buy for any collection.
One Of The Finest Albums Of The `80`s - By: JT, 28 Feb 2008 Of all the albums representing the early 80`s this is simply along for me with "Songs From The Big Chair" - Tears For Fears not only the finest albums of the 80`s but stillin many ways unsurpassed evenin the modern era. This is a Trevor Horn production. You can hear here how he was developing that very distinctive Bass guitar sound that would come to prominence with Frankie Goes To Hollywood. The production is very crisp & clean. The real eye opener at the time was that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra were used, not really having been done before certainly to this extent. Now of course we here synthesized orchestra sounds all over the place but this is were that really started. The amazing thing is how well Horn was able to get such a great blend between them & the band. Not one part of the band or orchestra intrudes on the other instead they compliment each other perfectly creating a light whimsical sound to the whole proceeding. The band raise there game here with some great playing themselves.
But of course as with all music it will come down to the songs. It`s here that this album scores even higher. Every track is rememberal & singable. A great lead vocal far better than most of his contemporaries by Martin Fry, knocks spots of the very over hyped Simon Le Bon from Duran Duran. The Bass player also deserves a mention as his performancein many respects makes this album with some great modern pop bass playing full of danceable funk pump that positively bounces along. The Guitar & Keyboards hold down the melodic quota of chords & punctuations that enable the band as a whole to simply shine. A great band effort rightly acknowledged at the time & as this review is doing acknowledging now. If you want to no why today's pop music is faceless ,bland,banal, unimaginative rubbish that`s helped to kill not only pop music but also the charts & has taken many radio stations down with it as well then this album shows you how inspiring & fun & imaginative pop can really be, & why people like me miss the 80`s so much.
It`s also worth noting as those of you that have read some of my other reviews that i`m basically a Rock/Metal fan. The truth is i like GOOD music with GOOD songs & believe credit should be given were it`s deserved, & this album really does deserve it. Even backin the day this album had a lot of crossover with Rock fans & still does, which tells you everything you need to no doesn`t it. You can`t keep quality down & quality always shines through. Like TFF- Songs From.....this album is not only one of the best of the 80`s but is still one of the best today. No one who thinks they have a serious record collection should be without this. This is simply a must buy.
"Kerrr-ching" - By: Paul A. Mccourt, 15 Feb 2008 From the sound of ancient cash registers, through the syrup of a symphony string section, to Martin's melodrama & Mark's on-the-button riffs, this is, was, & will always be an 80's, 90's, Naughties , & eternities perfection piece, if you're looking for high kitsch, high drama, high camp, & unbeatable effervescent pop.
I find that I have to play the whole (concept, to pinch a "Yes"ism)album. I just know this SO well; not just which track is next, or the lyric, but the key its in, & the length of gap (if any)'tween tracks.
It has never been bettered, by anyone, let alone "ABC" , & no, Sir, "Beauty Stab" isn't evenin the same league.
This is becoming a little excessive & effusive for a 45+, over-weight, Father of two,boring CEO, but once upon a time, Children, Daddy was......
Eighties masterpiece - By: Shrimp, 19 Feb 2007 In a list of the top 10 albums of the Eighties, this would certainly be includedin mine. When released it was seen as a masterpiece & it still sounds slick today. Trevor Horn's production flows from start to finish. I think ABC had a hard job trying to follow up this first album & never managed to top this.
Almost But Not Quite - Get "Beauty Stab" - By: J. Drayton, 04 Nov 2006 
Like everyone else I have fond memories of the hit singles from this album & couldn't wait to re-visit it.
I don't think it's aged very well. The songs are strong but don't stand up to repeated listeningin the way the best albums do.
It's worth owning for "Poison Arrow" & "The Look of Love" (two of the cleverest pop hits of the decade) but don't let this be your only ABC album. "Beauty Stab" was their under-rated follow up & that's where the treasure lies.
