Last night Darren and I went to see ABC perform all the songs from their 1982 debut album, The Lexicon of Love, at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane, accompanied by the Sotuh Bank Concerto Orchestra - conducted by Anne Dudley who arranged and played on the original album.We had seen a similar feat back in 2009.
The first half started off with an overture of the songs from The Lexicon Of Love followed by a collection of ABC's hits; including S.O.S., (How to Be a) Millionaire, Be Near Me, Ocean Blue, One Better World (Sterling Void should sue), The Very First Time and of course When Smokey Sings.
After the interval they performed The Lexicon of Love album start to finish: Show Me, Poison Arrow, Many Happy Returns, Tears Are Not Enough, Valentine's Day, The Look of Love (Part One), Date Stamp, All of My Heart, 4 Ever 2 Gether and The Look of Love (again as an encore).
The crowd were on their feet at the first song and remained singing and dancing throughout. Martin Fry's voice was pitch perfect and you could hear every single instrument and every single word of those amazing lyrics. And as if 'twere needed, the orchestration brought the album quite vividly to life.
We absolutely loved it.
