In 1981, ABC released chapter one in its legendary trilogy of singles. Three months before "Poison Arrow" and nine months prior to the 'The Lexicon of Love' album there was the dramatic "Tears Are Not Enough." According to the liner notes on the back of the 12", Martin Fry and Co. wanted to "produce a heady night club narcotic..." a "sweet and sour mash of larynx and guitar, bass and drum, conga and horns." It would take another year before Americans would drink in ABC's alphabet soup when "The Look of Love (Part One)" found the Top 40. In the UK, however, New Romantics and mainstream music fans alike took this first song all the way to No. 19 on the singles chart. If you consider yourself an admirer of early ABC, I would suggest owning the 7", 12" and album versions of "Tears Are Not Enough." All three takes tell a different story. For today, enjoy seven-and-a-half minutes of bliss.
ABC - Tears Are Not Enough (12") (mp3)
4 comments:
I am lucky to own all the versions (that I know of, anyway!) of this amazing song, my fave being the jazzy and wonderfully extended remix. This still gives me shivers, as does the parent album.
Hey Uncle E. Makes me very happy to hear you are a big fan. Hope all is well with you and your blogs. I check in just about every day.
Thanks Brian, ditto on you and yours! Obviously I am an '80's nut job, although I DO have a few examples of music from other decades in my collection...Great post, by the way.
Brian.... How did I miss this post? Oh, yeah I was getting drunk in Portugal for my 50th.... Anyway, here is one of the soundtrack sounds of my life! Tears is the epitome of a blue Eyed Disco Funk. It could only have existed at the time it was greated and come from the minds of young men spurred by punk and brought up on Roxy Music, Bowie and American Disco. Tears for souvenirs... Three words that must have made Bryan Ferry cry when he heard them...
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