ABCs of My Vinyl Collection (Letter A, Part 1)

I made a new year's resolution that I wasn't able to act on until now. Beginning today through the rest of 2016 I pledge to go all vinyl on this blog. I can make this claim because Mrs. LTL got me a USB audio interface with a built-in phono preamp for Christmas. In other words, I'm finished with crappy USB turntables once and for all. I can finally use my Technics SL-6 linear-tracking turntable, circa 1984, to bring you the hits, and my kids can finally use the USB turntables to play pizza makers without fear of retribution. The only exception to this all-vinyl proclamation will be if I want to pass along news of a new release that only has streaming as a way for you to hear it.

I started playing with my new toy this afternoon, and I think I have it down enough to give this a go. The plan is to go straight to the letter A and work my way to Z, spending a week or two at each letter. Well, maybe not the Zs, but you get the point. I'll focus on bands that I want to take the time to transfer over to a digital format, ignoring most of the more embarrassing acts completely. Well, maybe not completely. What would be the fun in that? Speaking of embarrassing, technically going alphabetically, there is one act on the shelf that comes before today's selection, but it's a tricky one. Anyone have a guess who the first band is in my A section?

As you can see from the photo above, ABC's 'The Lexicon of Love' was a huge album in my youth. In fact, I only have a couple of pieces of vinyl from them that goes beyond 1982. The album has been hotly debated by our corner of the blogosphere. Our pal Friend of Rachel Worth called 'The Lexicon of Love' his favorite album on the day he retired his excellent blog. I believe George, CC and Echorich (and maybe the Swede) are on that side of the fence, but I seem to recall Drew and the Robster vehemently disagreeing with the rest of us when the album was featured on Charity Chic Music last year. I may have quickly lost the love for ABC, but I have never stopped believing 'The Lexicon of Love' is pop perfection.

One of my treasures from the ABC section is this twin 7" that came out in 1985. I thought Martin and Co. found the old magic with "Be Near Me," and many of us on this side of the Atlantic agreed. Only "When Smokey Sings" was a bigger hit here in America. Having said all of that, I really bought this single for the bonus remixes on the second 45. Here is what the back cover said:

Memorandum

People - People - People:

Through the misfits of time we bring you two ABC recordings from the year A.D. 1982 -- Poison Arrow U.S. Remix and the 12" Look of Love U.S. Remix (originally titled the The Look of Love Part V) -- 24 wonderful inches jam packed onto this 7" record.

Marvel at the earliest dawnings of the Big Scratch on vinyl. Groove to a jazzy flavoured Poison Arrow.

Both tracks were previously released on a D.J. only basis and exclusively to citizens of the United States. Three years later copies had been changing hands on the black market at vastly inflated prices. When this came to the attention of Neutron Records they agreed, in an act of crazed and unrepeatable generosity, to finally make this material available in the U.K.

You are looking at a strictly limited edition. Over and out.

Yours Alphabetically,
ABC

Spring -- 1985

No, this isn't my favorite remix of the song, but I'm still very happy to finally have a digital copy. I have to go thank my better half now. This is going to be fun. Back next time with another act from the A section.

ABC - "Poison Arrow (U.S. Re-Mix)"