Alphabet City (album)

Alphabet City is the fourth studio album by English pop band ABC. It was originally released in October 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 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.

Alphabet City
Studio album by
Released12 October 1987
RecordedNovember 1986 – August 1987
StudioMarcus Recording Studios (London)
Genre
Length40:55
Label
  • Mercury
  • Phonogram
  • Neutron
Producer
ABC chronology
How to Be a ... Zillionaire!
(1985)
Alphabet City
(1987)
Up
(1989)
Singles from Alphabet City
  1. "When Smokey Sings"
    Released: 22 May 1987
  2. "The Night You Murdered Love"
    Released: 24 August 1987
  3. "King Without a Crown"
    Released: November 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Record Mirror
Smash Hits8/10

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.

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