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| | How to Be A...Zillionaire! | | | Music Artist : | | ABC | | Music Style : | | New Wave | | Record Label : | | Universal UK | | Release Date : | | 2005-11-14 | | Store Price : | | $10.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $10.98 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Fear of the World
2. Be Near Me
3. Vanity Kills
4. Ocean Blue
5. 15 Storey Halo
6. to Z
7. (How to Be A) Millionaire
8. Tower of London
9. So Hip It Hurts
10. Between You & Me
11. (How to Be A) Trillionaire [Harajuku Mix]
12. What's Your Destination
13. Vanity Kills [USA Remix]
14. Vanity Kills [Abigails Party Mix]
15. Ocean Blue [Single Mix]
16. Judy's Jewels
17. Fear of the World (In Cinemascope)
18. Tower of London [Instrumental]
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 From A To Z, ABC Knows Perfect Pop!
Submitted on: 2008-09-27 |
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| Arguably the most underrated pop band of the 1980's, ABC cooked up the gem, How To Be A...A Zillionaire!, in 1985. This was considered a comeback album of sorts for those that were soured on the experimental and commercial failure of the misunderstood Beauty Stab. While most ABC fans will agree that you cannot top the classic The Lexicon of Love (and ABC was smart to never attempt it!), this album is a strong contender for their second best work to date. Martin Fry and Mark White added the artists and/or characters of the bubbly and zany, Eden, and the tiny Texan, David Yarritu, to the fold. While their contributions are, well, mysterious or even absent, in some ways, they do add a fun element to this album, which "Beauty Stab" sorely missed. Zillionaire kicks off with the aggressive "Fear Of The World" -- "There's so much panic in this world, but we are living in the best of all possible worlds." Hardly fluff, as dismissed by some critics. The use of heavy keyboards and drum programming hardly makes music lightweight and ABC typically proves this. In fact, this is evidenced throughout the album. "Ocean Blue" and "Between You And Me" are some of the most beautiful songs ABC has ever done. Incidentally, the single mix of the more orchestrial "Ocean Blue" is included as a bonus track here. You be the judge of which version you prefer. They both work, but I suppose I am partial to the posh mix. But, what about the dance tracks? Well, you get plenty. Obviously, you should have heard the enormous smash single "Be Near Me" or you should turn in your 1980's Membership Card now. It is a perfectly polished single which deserved its place in the Top 10, peaking at #9 in the US. The sometimes forgotten other Top 40 single "(How To Be A) Millionaire" is a dynamic track and an obvious commentary on greed, something we all know too well. Sadly, I have always preferred the remixed video edited version of this song, with the female back up singers jumping in with the "Tell Me!!!, Tell Me!!!, Tell Me!!!" chorus. I am still trying to find that version to this day, but to no avail. "Vanity Kills" continues the greed theme here, and does it well. But do not despair, ABC never loses it sense of humor. The PG-rated (depending on how you view Eden's line) "A To Z" is a riot. "So Hip It Hurts" is such an easy dance number that it is hard to resist. I have always been more partial, though, to "Tower Of London". In fact, I once made a point to visit Trafalgar Square just based on this danceable postcard to one of the world's greatest cities. I even find my way to forgiving Martin Fry for dissing my favorite city on the planet at the very end of the track with the line "New York! - Don't make me laugh, I've seen photographs". That's okay, Marty, we know that deep down you probably love both London and New York! Speaking of Marty, his voice is as rich and dependable as always. I use the word "always" because I strongly recommend 2008's Traffic to prove this point. As for the bonus tracks, they are all strong remixes of most of the dance numbers from Zillionaire. I am not sure why the remix of "Be Near Me" is not here, but remastered bonus tracks are typically hit or miss for any artist. ABC obviously moves on to the sophisticated pop of Alphabet City next. But, don't miss this brilliant snapshot of 1985 pop at its best. |
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One of ABC's best albums just got better!
Submitted on: 2006-02-01 |
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| Nice reissue package from ABC - sadly, this is only on import, but worth every penny. Very nice to have the unreleased "Harijuku Remix" of the title track, as well as hard to find B-sides like "Judy's Jewels" and the sought-after US Remix of "Vanity Kills" in one package - plus original sleeve graphics, new liner notes, etc. If you're an ABC fan, you should really pick up ALL the new 2005 reissues which contain BONUS tracks/mixes! |
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So Hip It Hurts!
Submitted on: 2005-08-17 |
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After the lush sophistication of "Lexicon of Love" (1982) and the misbegotten follow up "Beauty Stab" (1983) ABC were left in a quandary of where to go. Down to the duo of Martin Fry (vocals) and Mark White (guitars) the two elected to go for a fusion of their "Lexicon" era sound with a bit of Motown and Electronic Dance music for a finished product that was pleasing and successful. No doubt smarting from the critical and commercial drubbing they took with "Beauty Stab" "...Zillionaire" was a step in the right direction and would point towards where they would continue with future releases. Produced by Fry and White the band had added David Yarritu and Fiona Russell-Powell who were ostensibly brought on board for reasons unknown and unclear. Neither played any musical instruments or contributed anything other than a few vocals on the track "A to Z." Their presence helped create a strangely cartoonish image of the group that seemed to damage their credibility. Despite these mixed messages "...Zillionaire" succeeded in ways unimaginable.
"Fear of the World" summons up sonic images of "Lexicon" with lush orchestration as ABC proclaims it is going on as fearless as ever amid heavy beats. "Be Near Me" which follows is perhaps their most charming and heartfelt track ever, a simple plaintive plea to a lover over synthesizers and drums; a winning track if there ever was one. "Vanity Kills" seems funny coming from someone perceived to be as vain as Martin Fry, yet he pulls it off with aplomb. Synthesized horns punctuate a very Terry Lewis - Jimmy Jam sounding backing track that sounds straight out of 1980s era Minneapolis. "Ocean Blue" continues in that milieu, a paean to a lover who has left Martin blue that is absolutely stunning in its minimalism and the bridge in the middle where the keyboards, bass, and Martin's falsetto builds to a crescendo is breathtaking; a stunning track. It's an odd segue from there to "50 Story Halo" a bit of syncopated Hi Energy fluff with its heavy synthesized horns. More fluff follows with the aforementioned "A to Z" a bit of rap over a wild backing track; a little harmless camp. Things get back on track with "How to Be a Millionaire" which has some great biting lyrics and great interplay between Martin and the backing vocalists over some very heavy dance beats. A great commentary on 1980s Thatcherite greed and excess; one of my favorite tracks by ABC! The beats keep coming with "Tower of London" a lyrical tour of London punctuated by synthesized horns and a great call and response chorus. More lyrical silliness follows with "So Hip It Hurts" which recounts fashion faux pas past and present. "Between You and Me" closes things out on a sweet intimate note. The release adds four remixes: "Fear of the World (In Cinemascope)" by Julian Mendelsohn (an excellent improvement), "Be Near Me (Munich Mix)" which was the one everyone heard in clubs, "How to be a Millionaire (Bond Street Mix)" another club favorite, and Vanity Kills (Abigail's Party Mix)" another club favorite, all three mixed by Martyn Webster. The remixes are a perfect addition to help round out the release and a huge bonus to have.
"...Zillionaire" pointed the direction ABC would continue, mining sophisticated neo-soul mixed with dance on "Alphabet City," "Up," and "Abracadabra" once pared back down to Fry and White. Fry and White produced "...Zillionaire" and perhaps some outside help may have reshaped the sequencing of the tracks and made a few improvements. Some of the tracks on "...Zillionaire" can be dismissed as fluff or filler but none truly suck and the standout tracks outweigh anything lesser. If you can get past the cartoonish silliness there's some truly great music here. |
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