Artist of the Day: ABC

Another day, another blog, starting a new string of Artists of the Day. No particular rhyme or reason to the selections, other than they are recording artists from my collection of the weird, wild, wacky and wonderful. While I'm starting at the front of the alphabet, that won't be a trend. If I did that would mean I had to include Queen and Suzi Quatro, and after Yes and Neil Young, Zappa and ZZ Top, where do you go?

Anyway, here's ABC. The stunning debut album, The Lexicon of Love, held such promise, but sadly the band became a hit and miss operation. After the brilliant highs of "Show Me," "Poison Arrow," "Date Stamp" and of course "The Look of Love," subsequent discs simply could not match up. Equal parts Roxy Music, 40s jazz, funky basslines, Louis Prima, and swirling strings, the band's (and lead singer Martin Fry's) dramatic, romantic stylings still stick.

Several moments from the band's career promised a return to form: "When Smoky Sings" from Alphabet City was its biggest hit stateside, and though pretty much ignored, Abracadabra, featured bracing songs mixing house, funk and the inimitable ABC style.

The band is still around, performing on various 80s-theme tours. Me, I'm still kicking myself 30 years on for missing that initial U.S. tour, which featured a 16-piece orchestra. But I am still playing the music, and that's what really counts. Go to abcmartinfry.com.