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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = Alphabet City
| name = Alphabet City
| Type = [[Studio album]]
| type = Studio [[album]]
| Artist = [[ABC (band)|ABC]]
| artist = [[ABC (band)|ABC]]
| Cover = sl_alphabet.jpg
| cover = sl_alphabet.jpg
| Released = 12 October 1987
| alt =
| released = 3 August 1987 (US)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/FMQB-Album/1987/FMQB-1987-07-17.pdf|title=FMQB|page=43}}</ref><br/>12 October 1987 (UK)<ref>{{cite magazine |editor=Andy Strickland |date=10 October 1987 |title=Index: Releases |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=2 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref>
| Recorded = November 1986 – August 1987
| recorded = 1986–1987
| Studio = Marcus Recording Studios, [[London]]
| Genre = {{flatlist|
| venue =
| studio = Marcus Recording Studios ([[London]])
* [[Sophisti-pop]]<ref>[http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/bluffer/sophisti-pop.htm Stylusmagazine.com]</ref>
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[blue-eyed soul]]<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/alphabet-city-mw0000188973 AllMusic]</ref><!--"returning them to their Motown and northern soul..."-->
* [[Sophisti-pop]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/bluffer/sophisti-pop.htm |title=Stylusmagazine.com |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-date=14 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314172451/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/bluffer/sophisti-pop.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[dance-pop]]<ref>[https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/alphabet-city/id766897552 Itunes.apple.com]</ref>
* [[dance-pop]]<ref name= "Rough Guide 2003">{{cite book |last1= Lewis|first1= Justin|editor1-last=Buckley |editor1-first=Peter |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |date=2003 |publisher=[[Rough Guides]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-84353-105-0 |pages= 2-3|edition=3rd
|chapter= ABC}}</ref>
* [[blue-eyed soul]]<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/alphabet-city-mw0000188973 AllMusic]</ref>
}}
}}
| Length = {{duration|m=40|s=55}}
| length = {{duration|m=40|s=55}}
| Label = {{flatlist|
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]]
* [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]]
* Neutron
* Neutron
}}
}}
| Producer = {{flatlist|
| producer = {{flatlist|
* [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]]
* [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]
* [[Martin Fry]]
* [[Martin Fry]]
* [[Bernard Edwards]]
* [[Bernard Edwards]]
}}
}}
| Last album = ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'' <br /> (1985)
| prev_title = [[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]
| prev_year = 1985
| This album = '''''Alphabet City''''' (1987)
| Next album = ''[[Up (ABC album)|Up]]''<br/>(1989)
| next_title = [[Up (ABC album)|Up]]
| Misc = {{Singles
| next_year = 1989
| Name = Alphabet City
| misc = {{Singles
| Type = [[Studio album]]
| name = Alphabet City
| Single 1 = [[When Smokey Sings]]
| type = Studio [[album]]
| single1 = [[When Smokey Sings]]
| Single 1 date = 22 May 1987
| single1date = 26 May 1987
| Single 2 = [[The Night You Murdered Love]]
| single2 = [[The Night You Murdered Love]]
| Single 2 date = 1987
| single2date = 24 August 1987<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=ABC&titel=The+Night+You+Murdered+Love&cat=s|title=ABC singles}}</ref>
| Single 3 = [[King Without a Crown (ABC song)|King Without a Crown]]
| single3 = [[King Without a Crown (ABC song)|King Without a Crown]]
| Single 3 date = November 1987
| single3date = November 1987
}}
}}
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/alphabet-city-mw0000188973|title=ABC – Alphabet City |work=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=December 29, 2016}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/alphabet-city-mw0000188973|title=ABC – Alphabet City |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=29 December 2016}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2007 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84609-856-7 |pages=32 |edition=5th Concise}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Record Mirror]]''
| rev3Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Culp |first=Nancy |date=10 October 1987 |title=Albums |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=20 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Smash Hits]]''
| rev4score = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Heath|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Heath|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Smash-Hits/1987/Smash-Hits-1987-10-07.pdf|title=Albums: ABC – ''Alphabet City'' (Neutron)|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|location=Peterborough|publisher=EMAP National Publications, Ltd.|volume=9|issue=19|page=60|date=7–20 October 1987|issn=0260-3004|access-date=26 May 2023|via=World Radio History|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-7-20-october-1987/page/n55/mode/2up|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Alphabet City''''' is the fourth [[studio album]] by English [[Pop music|pop]] band [[ABC (band)|ABC]]. It was originally released in October 1987, on the labels [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]] and Neutron, two years after their previous album ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'' Following a hiatus in which singer [[Martin Fry]] was being treated for [[Hodgkin's disease]], it was recorded over a period of nine months between November 1986 and August 1987, in sessions that took place at Marcus Recording Studios in [[London]], assisted by [[Bernard Edwards]], best known for his work with the American band [[Chic (band)|Chic]].
'''''Alphabet City''''' is the fourth studio [[album]] by English [[Pop music|pop]] band [[ABC (band)|ABC]]. It was originally released in August 1987, on the labels [[Mercury Records|Mercury]], [[Phonogram Inc.|Phonogram]] and Neutron, two years after their previous album ''[[How to Be a ... Zillionaire!]]'' Following a hiatus in which singer [[Martin Fry]] was being treated for [[Hodgkin's disease]], it was recorded over a period of nine months, in sessions that took place at Marcus Recording Studios in [[London]], assisted by [[Bernard Edwards]], best known for his work with the American band [[Chic (band)|Chic]].


The album's title and the titles of several tracks were inspired by the [[Alphabet City, Manhattan|Alphabet City]] section of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], where Fry and [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]] lived for a time prior to the album's release. It peaked at No. 7 in the UK, making it their first album to reach the Top 10 since their debut ''[[The Lexicon of Love]]''. The album launched three charting singles in the UK. "[[When Smokey Sings]]", a tribute to [[Smokey Robinson]], peaked at No. 11 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]; "[[The Night You Murdered Love]]" peaked at No. 31; "[[King Without a Crown (ABC song)|King Without a Crown]]" at No. 44.
The album's title and the titles of several tracks were inspired by the [[Alphabet City, Manhattan|Alphabet City]] section of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], where Fry and [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]] lived for a time prior to the album's release. It peaked at No. 7 in the UK, making it their first album to reach the Top 10 since their debut ''[[The Lexicon of Love]]''. The album launched three charting singles in the UK. "[[When Smokey Sings]]", a tribute to [[Smokey Robinson]], peaked at No. 11 on the [[UK singles chart]]; "[[The Night You Murdered Love]]" peaked at No. 31; "[[King Without a Crown (ABC song)|King Without a Crown]]" at No. 44.


In 2005, a digitally remastered CD of the album was released with six bonus tracks.
In 2005, a digitally remastered CD of the album was released with six bonus tracks.

==Background==
In a 1987 interview with ''[[Record Mirror]]'', Fry said of the album, "It's a record where we sort of caught up with ourselves. For a while we were making records that just seemed to confuse people. It was necessary for us to work from a firm foundation and in a way, we figured ''Alphabet City'' might be the last record we ever made anyway, for a lot of reasons. So we figured, let's just make it a statement of our work that drew on all the other records we've made."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morton |first=Roger |date=5 December 1987 |title=The crown princes of flash |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |page=34 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| headline = Side one
| all_writing = [[Martin Fry]] and [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]], except where noted
| all_writing = [[Martin Fry]] and [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]], except where noted
| title1 = Avenue A
| title1 = Avenue A
| writer1 = {{flatlist|
| writer1 = {{flatlist|
* [[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]]
* [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]]
* [[Anne Dudley]]
* [[Anne Dudley]]
}}
}}
Line 89: Line 102:
}}
}}
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| headline = Additional tracks on initial CD pressing
| headline = Additional tracks on initial CD pressing
| title12 = Minneapolis
| title12 = Minneapolis
Line 97: Line 109:
}}
}}
| length12 = 2:57
| length12 = 2:57
| title13 = When Smokey Sings [The Miami Mix]
| title13 = When Smokey Sings
| note13=The Miami Mix
| length13 = 7:05
| length13 = 7:05
| title14 = The Night You Murdered Love [The Whole Story]
| title14 = The Night You Murdered Love
| note14=The Whole Story
| length14 = 8:16
| length14 = 8:16
| title15 = Chicago [Abridged]
| title15 = Chicago
| note15=Abridged
| writer15 = {{flatlist|
| writer15 = {{flatlist|
* White
* White
Line 109: Line 124:
}}
}}
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| headline = Additional tracks on 2005 version
| headline = Additional tracks on 2005 version
| title12 = Minneapolis
| title12 = Minneapolis
Line 117: Line 131:
}}
}}
| length12 = 2:57
| length12 = 2:57
| title13 = Chicago [Abridged]
| title13 = Chicago
| note13=Abridged
| writer13 = {{flatlist|
| writer13 = {{flatlist|
* White
* White
Line 125: Line 140:
| title14 = 24 Carat Plastic
| title14 = 24 Carat Plastic
| length14 = 3:34
| length14 = 3:34
| title15 = The Night You Murdered Love [The Reply with Contessa Lady V]
| title15 = The Night You Murdered Love
| note15=The Reply with Contessa Lady V
| writer15 = {{flatlist|
| writer15 = {{flatlist|
* [[Martin Fry]]
* [[Martin Fry]]
Line 133: Line 149:
}}
}}
| length15 = 4:50
| length15 = 4:50
| title16 = One Day [Instrumental with Real Strings]
| title16 = One Day
| note16=Instrumental with Real Strings
| length16 = 5:47
| length16 = 5:47
| title17 = King Without a Crown [Monarchy Mix]
| title17 = King Without a Crown
| note17=Monarchy Mix
| length17 = 8:46
| length17 = 8:46
}}
}}


==Personnel==
== Personnel ==
'''ABC'''
'''ABC'''
*[[Martin Fry]]&nbsp;– [[Singing|lead]] and background vocals
* [[Martin Fry]] – lead and backing vocals
*[[Mark White (musician)|Mark White]]&nbsp;– [[guitar]]s; [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]; [[Programming (music)|programming]]
* [[Mark White (British musician)|Mark White]] – keyboards, programming, guitars


'''Additional personnel'''
'''Additional personnel'''
* David Clayton – keyboards
*[[Graham Broad]]&nbsp;– [[Drum kit|drums]]
*Brad Lang&nbsp;– [[bass guitar]]
* Brad Lang – bass guitar
* [[Danny Thompson]] – [[double bass]]
*David Clayton&nbsp;– keyboards
*[[Danny Thompson]]&nbsp;– [[double bass]]
* [[Graham Broad]] – drums
*[[Howie Casey]]&nbsp;– [[saxophone]]
* [[Pandit Dinesh]] – percussion, [[tabla]]
* [[Luís Jardim]] (misspelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes) – percussion
*[[Judd Lander]]&nbsp;– [[harmonica]]
* [[Howie Casey]] – saxophones
*[[Pandit Dinesh]]&nbsp;– [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]; [[tabla]]
* [[Judd Lander]] – [[harmonica]]
*[[Luís Jardim]] (misspelled as "Louis Jardin" on album notes)&nbsp;– percussion
* [[Richard Niles]] – string arrangements on "When Smokey Sings" and "The Night You Murdered Love"
*[[Miriam Stockley]]&nbsp;– [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
* [[Anne Dudley]] – string arrangements on "One Day" and "Bad Blood"
*[[Tessa Niles]]&nbsp;– backing vocals
*Dolette McDonald&nbsp;– backing vocals
* Alan Carvell – backing vocals
*Linda Taylor&nbsp;– backing vocals
* Dolette McDonald – backing vocals
*Alan Carvell&nbsp;– backing vocals
* [[Tessa Niles]] – backing vocals
* [[Miriam Stockley]] – backing vocals
*[[Richard Niles]]&nbsp;– [[string instrument|string]] [[arrangement]]s on "When Smokey Sings" and "The Night You Murdered Love"
* Linda Taylor – backing vocals
*[[Anne Dudley]]&nbsp;– string arrangements on "One Day" and "Bad Blood"


'''Production team'''
== Production ==
*Martin Fry&nbsp;– [[Record producer|producer]]
* Martin Fry – producer
*Mark White&nbsp;– producer
* Mark White – producer
*[[Bernard Edwards]]&nbsp;– producer
* [[Bernard Edwards]] – producer
*Martyn Webber&nbsp;– [[audio engineer|engineer]]
* Martyn Webber – engineer
*Tim Burrell&nbsp;– assistant engineer
* Tim Burrell – assistant engineer
*[[Julian Mendelsohn]]&nbsp;– [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Julian Mendelsohn]] – mixing
*Ian Cooper&nbsp;– [[Audio mastering|mastering]] at the [[Townhouse Studios]], London
* Ian Cooper – mastering at the [[Townhouse Studios]] (London, UK)
*Andy Earl&nbsp;– [[photography]]
* Andy Earl – photography
*[[Keith Breeden]]&nbsp;– [[Work of art|artwork]]
* [[Keith Breeden]] – artwork
*Peter Curzon&nbsp;– artwork
* Peter Curzon – artwork


==Charts==
==Chart performance==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for ''Alphabet City''
===Weekly charts===
! scope="col"| Chart (1987)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col"| Peak<br>position
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report|Australian Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|page=10|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
!Chart (1987)
| 45
!Peak<br>position
|-
|-
{{album chart|Canada|47|chartid=0880|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2021}}
|align="left"|[[Kent Music Report|Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=10}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|45
|-
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|19|artist=ABC|album=Alphabet City|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}}
|align="left"|[[RPM (magazine)|Canadian RPM Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0880&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=11jq1uuicfbth860997u8p11q4 |title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?q1=abc+alphabet+city&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20&brws_s=&PHPSESSID=11jq1uuicfbth860997u8p11q4 |title=Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |publisher=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|47
|-
|-
! scope="row"| [[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/87/M&M-1987-11-14-OCR-Page-0010.pdf |title=European Hot 100 Albums |magazine=[[Music & Media]] |volume=4 |issue=45 |date=14 November 1987 |page=18 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[MegaCharts|Dutch Mega Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=ABC&titel=Alphabet+City&cat=a |title=ABC – Alphabet City |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
| 22
| style="text-align:center;"|19
|-
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|20|id=636|artist=ABC|album=Alphabet City|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2021}}
|align="left"|[[Oricon|Japanese Oricon LP Chart]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}}
| style="text-align:center;"|82
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[RIANZ|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=ABC&titel=Alphabet+City&cat=a |title=ABC – Alphabet City |publisher=charts.org.nz |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums ([[Tónlist]])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2518598#page/n30/mode/2up |title=Ísland (LP-plötur) |newspaper=[[DV (newspaper)|DV]] |language=is |date=23 October 1987 |page=43 |issn=1021-8254 |via=[[Timarit.is]]}}</ref>
| 4
| style="text-align:center;"|25
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Italian Albums (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=[[Musica e dischi]] |language=it |access-date=29 May 2022}} ''Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "ABC" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".''</ref>
|align="left"|[[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=ABC&titel=Alphabet+City&cat=a |title=ABC – Alphabet City |publisher=hitparade.ch |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
| 22
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/search-results-album/_/Alphabet+City#album|title=The Official Charts Company – Alphabet City by ABC Search |date=6 May 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums ([[Oricon Albums Chart|Oricon]])<ref>{{cite book |last=AA.VV. |title=Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005 |language=ja |location=Tokyo |publisher=[[Oricon]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-487-1-31077-2}}</ref>
| 82
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|25|artist=ABC|album=Alphabet City|rowheader=true|access-date=30 August 2019}}
|align="left"|[[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web|author=ABC |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/abc-mn0000574597/awards |title=ABC – Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|48
|-
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|26|artist=ABC|album=Alphabet City|rowheader=true|access-date=23 June 2012}}
|align="left"|[[GfK Entertainment Charts|West German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=ABC&title=Alphabet+City&country=de |title=charts.de |publisher=charts.de |date= |accessdate=23 June 2012}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|20
{{album chart|UK2|7|date=19871018|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|48|artist=ABC|rowheader=true|access-date=21 August 2021}}
|}
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Alphabet City''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=ABC|title=Alphabet City|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|access-date=19 August 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=ABC|title=Alphabet City|award=Gold|id=445-600-2|type=album|relyear=1987|certyear=1987|access-date=19 August 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}


==References==
==References==
Line 216: Line 240:


{{ABC (band)}}
{{ABC (band)}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1987 albums]]
[[Category:1987 albums]]

Latest revision as of 15:38, 4 August 2024

Alphabet City
Studio album by
ABC
Released3 August 1987 (US)[1]
12 October 1987 (UK)[2]
Recorded1986–1987
StudioMarcus Recording Studios (London)
Genre
Length40:55
Label
Producer
ABC chronology
How to Be a ... Zillionaire!
(1985) 		Alphabet City
(1987) 		Up
(1989)
Singles from Alphabet City
  1. "When Smokey Sings"
    Released: 26 May 1987
  2. "The Night You Murdered Love"
    Released: 24 August 1987[6]
  3. "King Without a Crown"
    Released: November 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[8]
Record Mirror[9]
Smash Hits8/10[10]

Alphabet City is the fourth studio album by English pop band ABC. It was originally released in August 1987, on the labels Mercury, Phonogram and Neutron, two years after their previous album How to Be a ... Zillionaire! Following a hiatus in which singer Martin Fry was being treated for Hodgkin's disease, it was recorded over a period of nine months, in sessions that took place at Marcus Recording Studios in London, assisted by Bernard Edwards, best known for his work with the American band Chic.

The album's title and the titles of several tracks were inspired by the Alphabet City section of Manhattan, New York City, where Fry and Mark White lived for a time prior to the album's release. It peaked at No. 7 in the UK, making it their first album to reach the Top 10 since their debut The Lexicon of Love. The album launched three charting singles in the UK. "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, peaked at No. 11 on the UK singles chart; "The Night You Murdered Love" peaked at No. 31; "King Without a Crown" at No. 44.

In 2005, a digitally remastered CD of the album was released with six bonus tracks.

Background

[edit]

In a 1987 interview with Record Mirror, Fry said of the album, "It's a record where we sort of caught up with ourselves. For a while we were making records that just seemed to confuse people. It was necessary for us to work from a firm foundation and in a way, we figured Alphabet City might be the last record we ever made anyway, for a lot of reasons. So we figured, let's just make it a statement of our work that drew on all the other records we've made."[11]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Martin Fry and Mark White, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Avenue A"
0:56
2."When Smokey Sings" 4:22
3."The Night You Murdered Love" 4:53
4."Think Again" 3:41
5."Rage and Then Regret" 3:34
6."Ark-Angel" 4:54
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."King Without a Crown" 4:41
8."Bad Blood" 3:56
9."Jealous Lover" 3:36
10."One Day" 5:35
11."Avenue Z"
  • White
  • Dudley
0:42
Total length:40:55
Additional tracks on initial CD pressing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Minneapolis"
2:57
13."When Smokey Sings" (The Miami Mix) 7:05
14."The Night You Murdered Love" (The Whole Story) 8:16
15."Chicago" (Abridged)
  • White
  • Edwards
3:42
Additional tracks on 2005 version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Minneapolis"
  • White
  • Edwards
2:57
13."Chicago" (Abridged)
  • White
  • Edwards
3:42
14."24 Carat Plastic" 3:34
15."The Night You Murdered Love" (The Reply with Contessa Lady V)
4:50
16."One Day" (Instrumental with Real Strings) 5:47
17."King Without a Crown" (Monarchy Mix) 8:46

Personnel

[edit]

ABC

Additional personnel

Production

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Alphabet City
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Australian Music Report)[12] 45
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[13] 47
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 19
European Albums (Music & Media)[15] 22
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16] 20
Icelandic Albums (Tónlist)[17] 4
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[18] 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 82
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] 25
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 26
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 7
US Billboard 200[23] 48

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Alphabet City
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 43.
  2. ^ Andy Strickland, ed. (10 October 1987). "Index: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 2. ISSN 0144-5804.
  3. ^ "Stylusmagazine.com". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  4. ^ Lewis, Justin (2003). "ABC". In Buckley, Peter (ed.). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
  5. ^ AllMusic
  6. ^ "ABC singles".
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "ABC – Alphabet City". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  8. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
  9. ^ Culp, Nancy (10 October 1987). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 20. ISSN 0144-5804.
  10. ^ Heath, Chris (7–20 October 1987). "Albums: ABC – Alphabet City (Neutron)" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 19. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 60. ISSN 0260-3004. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ Morton, Roger (5 December 1987). "The crown princes of flash". Record Mirror. p. 34. ISSN 0144-5804.
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 10. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0880". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – ABC – Alphabet City" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 45. 14 November 1987. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – ABC – Alphabet City" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Ísland (LP-plötur)". DV (in Icelandic). 23 October 1987. p. 43. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  18. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "ABC" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  19. ^ AA.VV. (2006). Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Oricon. ISBN 978-487-1-31077-2.
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – ABC – Alphabet City". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – ABC – Alphabet City". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  23. ^ "ABC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – ABC – Alphabet City". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – ABC – Alphabet City". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
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