Full Album Listen for "Beauty Stab" (1983) by ABC

Released in November 1983 (on the labels Neutron, Mercury and Vertigo), "Beauty Stab" is the second studio album by English pop band ABC. And while I missed out on procuring "The Lexicon Of Love" (because I had zero access to it), I did manage to procure this album on cassette, in what I reckon might not have been a "bootleg", as it had lyrics in its folded-insert (if memory serves, but I honestly doubt I could've been able to afford a "legit tape"...).

I'd purchased the album/cassette based off "That Was Then but This Is Now", and remembered first thinking - after my first listen: "WTH? This was not the ABC I remembered?" But quite frankly grew quickly to adore the album.

Interesting, Wiki had mentioned; "It was a departure from the stylised production of the band's debut album, The Lexicon of Love, and featured a more guitar-oriented sound,". To which apparently Martin Fry later stated that "we were eager to go in a totally different direction [to The Lexicon of Love]. We didn't want to do a sequel. In retrospect, perhaps that is exactly what we should have done".



The album itself provided only two singles - "That Was Then but This Is Now" and "S.O.S." - and quite frankly they were indeed more memorable than the rest, unlike Lexicon Of Love which provided NUMEROUS bops! But memories left behind was a "good album I enjoyed", but hardly remembered more tunes than expected. "Beauty Stab" remains severely underrated, but stood out amongst the lexicon of ABC-releases. Henceforth I will rejuvinate my soundscape memories with the following Audio Only Listen for the entire album (Playlist on YouTube), with the additional track titled "Vertigo" included in the 2005 re-release bonus tracks. Enjoy your listen!

TRACKLISTING:
Side One
1. "That Was Then but This Is Now" (3:34)
2. "Love's a Dangerous Language" (3:40)
3. "If I Ever Thought You'd Be Lonely" (3:55)
4. "The Power of Persuasion" (3:32)
5. "Beauty Stab" (2:06)
6. "By Default by Design" (4:07)
Side Two:
7. "Hey Citizen!" (3:55)
8. "King Money" (4:02)
9. "Bite the Hand" (3:06)
10. "Unzip" (2:49)
11. "S.O.S." (4:49)
12. "United Kingdom" (3:23)

Side One


Track #1: "That Was Then but This Is Now" (3:34)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Singleton



Track #2: "Love's a Dangerous Language" (3:40)
Released on: 2005-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #3: "If I Ever Thought You'd Be Lonely" (3:55)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #4: "The Power of Persuasion" (3:32)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #5: "Beauty Stab" (2:06)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #6: "By Default by Design" (4:07)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry

Side Two:



Track #7: "Hey Citizen!" (3:55)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #8: "King Money" (4:02)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #9: "Bite the Hand" (3:06)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #10: "Unzip" (2:49)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry



Track #11: "S.O.S." (4:49)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Singleton



Track #12: "United Kingdom" (3:23)
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry


TRACK: "Vertigo"
Released on: 1997-01-01
Producer: ABC
Producer: Gary Langan
Associated Performer, Vocalist: Martin Fry
Associated Performer, Keyboards: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Mark White
Composer Lyricist: Stephen Barry Singleton
Composer Lyricist: Martin Fry

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