That Was Then....

 


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 being a rock album, as original ABC guitarist Mark White lays down some serious riffing. One single S.O.S. is clearly a remnant from the Lexicon years with its soul-pop sentimentalism (it just misses those Trever Horn & Anne Dudley touches), the other That Was Then But This Is Now is supposed to mark this change in direction, however it just ends up sounding like Steve Lillywhite produced Simple Minds.

All in all, this album is not a bad listen and needs to be enjoyed with fresh ears, just don't expect much of what has become classic ABC. I don't think I've ever come across a high resolution rip anywhere else before ....so here you are.

A1 That Was Then But This Is Now
A2 Love's A Dangerous Language
A3 If I Ever Thought You'd Be Lonely
A4 The Power Of Persuasion
A5 Beauty Stab
A6 By Default By Design
B1 Hey Citizen!
B2 King Money
B3 Bite The Hand
B4 Unzip
B5 S.O.S.
B6 United Kingdom


Comments

  1. Blogmeister17 December 2020 at 13:46

    https://mega.nz/file/KNhWSbJD#yV-qwWW0RZUY8Bjxi_eaGaCneI1aIHI0UEX_I3jmdj8

    ReplyDelete
  2. anchovyarchives17 December 2020 at 16:39

    Thanks very much and have a good Christmas !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dubrobots17 December 2020 at 18:37

    I'll have a bit of this, thank you very much

    ReplyDelete
  4. Echorich18 December 2020 at 02:34

    With distance from the release, over 5 years, it is easy to listen to Beauty Stab without comparing it to Lexicon Of Love. It is an album that belies Martin Fry's love of Glam and Punk, as well as a good Pop song. Favorite track - Unzip - imagine what Trevor Horn could have done with it. Instead he was busy spending the money Yes had thrown at him to make them relevant again and planning the fall of Western Civilization with Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blogmeister18 December 2020 at 05:06

      I agree, Unzip is the best track on the album with great lyrics & plenty of innuendo

      Delete
  5. A-Mfan20 December 2020 at 22:57

    This is my favorite album from them. Not a bad track in the bunch. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Leper Lord23 December 2020 at 05:25

    Cheers mate

    ReplyDelete

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