One album proves America completely misunderstood the 1980s

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Back in the early 80s, British bands had a real advantage over us American bands. It all came down to MTV – it was totally changing how music was consumed, and the Brits were already prepared! They had this show called Top of the Pops where bands on tour would film videos for their hits, so they already had a library of content ready to go when MTV took off. We were kinda scrambling to catch up!

Groups like ABC, Duran Duran, and the Police were pushing musical boundaries before American audiences fully caught on. While bands like Mötley Crüe later became hugely popular on MTV, especially with the success of “Home Sweet Home” (which benefited from a voting glitch), New Wave bands truly defined the sound of MTV in the early 1980s.

Beyond great music videos, a key reason British bands became popular in America a second time was the high quality of their songs. Some were so good, in fact, that American audiences didn’t fully appreciate them at first. A prime example is ABC’s 1982 album, The Lexicon of Love.

ABC’s The Lexicon of Love did not get the attention it deserved in the United States

The album topped the charts in the UK and New Zealand, which was well-deserved, but it only reached number 24 on the US Billboard chart, suggesting audiences in New Zealand were more receptive to the new music than those in America.

The album’s most successful song in the US was the catchy “The Look of Love,” which skillfully blended disco, R&B, and pop influences – it deserved to reach number one, and did so in Canada. While it peaked at number four in the UK, it was one of three songs from the album to break into the top ten.

That last point is important. Even though many Americans might recognize the song “The Look of Love” if they heard it, they likely wouldn’t be aware of how well-crafted it actually is. Two other songs, “Poison Arrow” and “All of My Heart,” were also big hits in the UK, even reaching the top 10. “Poison Arrow” was particularly successful, climbing to number 4 in Austria.

The album’s popularity stemmed from strong sales, but the music itself is exceptional. It’s intentionally over-the-top and playful, and ABC pulled it off brilliantly – truly great, campy art is hard to achieve. Remarkably, the album still sounds fantastic today, over four decades after its release.

Adding to their challenges, ABC’s two most successful songs in the US – “Be Near Me” (reaching No. 9 in 1985) and “When Smokey Sings” (a No. 5 hit in 1987) – weren’t considered as strong as the tracks on their album, The Lexicon of Love, and felt like they were inspired by it.

ABC’s album, The Lexicon of Love, recently spent 50 weeks on the UK charts, which highlights how much more receptive British audiences were to it compared to American listeners who had the opportunity to hear it. The UK clearly recognized a great album, and still appreciates it today. Luckily, it’s not too late for people in the US to discover this fantastic album and enjoy it!

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2026-05-24 16:00