Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 122

Chart Week: December 11, 1982
Song: “The Look Of Love (Part 1)” – ABC
Chart Position: #20, 14th week on the chart. Peaked at #18 for three weeks in January 1983.

As a true music geek, sometimes it really pisses me off when a band’s best song was not their biggest hit. I realize this is purely subjective; who am I to say that a single that barely cracked the Top 20 is a better track than two others that each landed in the Top 10? Well, in this case, I would say I’m absolutely correct.

ABC’s “The Look Of Love (Part 1)” is a foundational track of early Eighties pop music. The band had one foot in the synth pop world where others like Human League and Soft Cell were rooted. It had another in the neo-soul world that would soon spin out Culture Club. Neither was ABC a true New Romantic band, like Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet.

In fact, that slipperiness in where to slot ABC was part of their genius. There were strong connections to classic Motown music. Direct lines to club music. The thick orchestration this track was built upon could be seen as a homage to the Philly Soul of the 1970s. Perhaps that inability to pin them down was a reason why ABC wasn’t as successful here in the States as some of their peers.

They were also one of the first bands to adopt a classier and more refined visual representation than their older brothers the punks had displayed. It was all coordinated suits and carefully styled hair for Martin Fry and his bandmates.

There is some good trivia behind “The Look Of Love (Part 1).”

Trevor Horn was the main producer of the song. He was such a stickler for detail that he brought in the woman who dumped Fry and inspired “TLOL (P1)” to deliver the line “Goodbye” in verse two. He wanted it to be as authentic as possible. Kind of weird, but also kind of cool.

Horn believed the original demo needed something to give it an emotional boost and make it feel “epic.” He brought in Anne Dudley, who composed and played the orchestral parts of the track on synthesizers. A year later she and Horn founded the ground-breaking band The Art Of Noise.

There were several remixes of the record. “The Look Of Love (Part 5)” was specifically targeted at dance clubs, and Horn built much of it on samples. It is one of the first songs to lean so heavily on samples.

When you draw one of those charts that connects bands to other acts and genres, ABC’s lines went all over the place.

As I said, this was not ABC’s biggest hit, at least in the US. It stalled out at #18 for nearly a month in early 1983. Their lovely 1985 track “Be Near Me” peaked at #9. Two years later, their homage to Fry’s hero, Smokey Robinson, “When Smokey Sings” made it all the way to #5.

“Be Near Me” is quite nice. “When Smokey Sings” is overly nostalgic and lacks the punch of “The Look Of Love (Part 1).” To me it’s ridiculous either of those songs were bigger hits.

That is mostly because “TLOL(P1)” is a magnificent track.

Musically, it hits from its opening. The keyboard notes immediately capture your attention. The fills from the horn and “orchestral” sections build drama. And then the crash of drums and introduction of that disco-tinged electric bass line defeating any resistance left. You will follow this song wherever it takes you.

Martin Fry is another entry of the long line of white, British singers who do not sound ridiculous taking a stab at soul-influenced music. His voice conveys the exact right combination of emotions as he sings about digging yourself out of a romantic hole. He is a guide to get you through those rough patches when you’ve dumped or been dumped and feel like the next relationship will never present itself. He offers no magic solution. In fact, he’s just like us:

I don’t know the answer to that question
If I knew I would tell you

There is comfort in hearing a singer in a suave suit, fancy haircut, and booming voice who appears to have it all together has had his heart broken too. But he found a way to get through it.

What is unexpected is this is not a breakup track. Rather, it’s an affirmation that each of us has much to offer and is worthy of love. It reminds us that there is joy in getting through our darkest romantic moments.

I’ve probably just given entirely too much weight to a pop song that was aimed as much at moving people on the dance floor as making them think deeply. Great songs can have that effect. Sisters and brothers, this one is a 9/10.

This properly whack-a-doddle video is the cherry on top.