BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1983
“Poison Arrow” is a song by English new wave band ABC, released as the second single from their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love (1982). In the USA the song was released as the band’s debut single.
The song reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, number four in Australia, and, as the band’s first song in the US charts, reached number twenty-five on the Billboard Hot 100, and number thirty-nine on the Billboard Dance Chart.
“You are now looking at the second A.B.C.
recording. The A-side is a song called “Poison
Arrow” torn from the events of my personal life
away from the glare of publicity. Many of you out
there may think standing in the spotlight brings
many rewards. But let me tell you, the fruits of fame
can be sour and I too have my private moments.
However, it is my duty and privilege to share some
of these experiences with you.
Love’s Ammunition, A Poison Arrow, or the pain
received at the hands of Cupid. But then again – a
love affair without a broken heart? Like making an
omelet without breaking an egg.
The flip-side houses “Theme from Man Trap,” the
result of a late-night spent with my producer Trevor
Horn and piano accompanist.
Our first disc registered strongly in the
popularity charts but none of this would have been
possible without you, the discerning customer.
I hope you enjoy this record as much as we
enjoyed making it. Be young. Be foolish. Be
alphabetical.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Fry”
SIDE A:
Poison Arrow (New Re-mix) 6:54
Remix – Trevor Horn
SIDE B:
Theme From Mantrap 4:20
Theme From Mantrap (Lounge Sequence) 4:20
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | poison Arrow | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #25 |
| 1983 | Poison Arrow | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #39 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – 811 329-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, PRC
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Liner Notes – Martin Fry
Producer – Trevor Horn
Written-By – ABC
NOTES:
Track A from the Mercury album “The Lexicon Of Love”
Printed in U.S.A.
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
DAC/Phono Pre-amp: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Username: btg
Password: burningtheground
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Yay, I finally found a great rip of Man Trap!
Thanks again, Paul 🙂
Thank you, DjPaulT!
Hi Paul, sorry m8 posted a moment ago and just realised that in relation to A-Ha Hunting high & low the file extension I was clicking on is for the creation of the playlist so no worries. Thanks again, Daz
Hi Paul,
Love ABC, love this track, love the mix.
Yes, its the Jazz remix as called on other releases.
Yes, the movie was called Mantrap, on CED, VHS, and laserdisc,
it was not released officially on DVD yet. Hopefully in the future.
Great job, and another all-time classic.
later
-1
Thanks Paul.
Do you have any other Versions of Poison Arrow? If so, please upload them….
This is a fab mix. Never heard this before either. I was listening to a Martin Fry interview when i stumbled upon this post.
Cheers Paul 🙂
Great stuff, Paul!
Love your recent run of posts. Please keep on doing what you do, we all appreciate you!
Thanks, DJPaulT. This mix is great. Was that a flute and a xylophone in there? Ha. Don’t hear that much anymore.
Thanks for this, Paul. This mix wasn’t released in the UK until 1985, and even then it was crammed onto 7″ vinyl (with the U.S. mix of The Look of Love on the flip) as part of a limited 2×7″ release of Be Near Me. The info on the pack reads: “Marvel at the earliest dawnings of the Big Scratch on vinyl. Groove to a jazzy flavoured Poison Arrow. Both tracks were previously released on a D.J. only basis and exclusively to citizens of the United States. Three years later copies had been changing hands on the black market at… Read more »
By the way, drummer David Palmer was a few years above me in junior school. Even at the age of 10 he was playing drums in assembly.
Once again a VERY BIG THANK YOU especially for the very rare “(Lounge Sequence)”
not only in CD quality but in DjPaulT quality!!!
Love ABC! Great post, Paul. I *think* the New Re-mix is also known as the Jazz Mix, but I’m not 100% if they are identical or not. Love having a HQ rip of this gem to enjoy. Thank you so much!
You’re welcome, MusicMan3 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks Paul. The arrangement at the start makes it sound like some background music from something like The Love Boat. 😀 😀 Not sure I’ve heard this mix before.
Paul, please tell me that you know Mantrap (from where Theme From originates) was the short spy-thriller film the band made to capitalize on their Lexicon of Love success:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LrBUJjk-U4
Actually I did not know about the mantrap film Jermajesty. I always learn something from you and I appreciate it so much 🙂
It’s an interesting curiosity, but it’s no James Bond movie. 😀 Saved by the fact the album (versions of most songs appear) was so amazing, and Martin Fry looks great, as ever. 🙂
Very nice post, Paul! This is one of those ultra rare times that I had the mix, but never really played it because Trevor really toned down the feel of this song. However, it’s quite nice! I haven’t heard the lounge versions on the B side since its release. Thanks so much!!
You’re welcome, Fred 🙂
Jeff said it all. You’re pushing all the right classic 80’s buttons, Paul. Like your other recent shares, this is another classic song from an influential 80’s band with Martin Fry’s amazing vocals. Thanks for yet another gem in the “Paul-ography” of great 80’s and 90’s music.
Thank you, dugn 🙂
Thanks Paul for your continued addition of ABC to your “Paul-ography” of favorite tracks. Such a classic sounding “classic” with flawless Trevor Horn production. So many fond memories of this track back in college. Martin Fry has that beautiful voice and incredible songwriting talent further exemplified by Horn’s high production values. I’m almost breathless awaiting your rip because I so admire your talents that make the vinyl grooves come alive! Your digital uploads make the zeroes and ones sound like richly buttered cream aural-confections!!
Sigh,
Jeff
You just made me hungry Jeff. Seriously thank you so much for your praises 🙂
Thanks Paul a million. Love this mix. Was this the same as the Jazz Remix as it was known in the UK?