Poison Arrow Explained

Poison Arrow
Cover:	Poison Arrow-ABC.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	ABC
Album:	The Lexicon of Love
B-Side:	"Theme from Mantrap" (UK) "Tears Are Not Enough" (US)
Released:	/ (US)
Recorded:	1981
Genre:	Disco^[1] dance-pop^[2] new pop^[3] orchestral pop^[4] lounge^[5]
Length:	3:24
Label:	Neutron Mercury Vertigo
Producer:	Trevor Horn
Prev Title:	Tears Are Not Enough
Prev Year:	1981
Next Title:	The Look of Love
Next Year:	1982

"Poison Arrow" is a song by English pop band ABC, released as the second single from their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love (1982).

The single was released in the United Kingdom on 15 February 1982^[6] on 7" and 12", with the same mix appearing on both formats; however a subsequent U.S. 12" remix (also known as the "Jazz Remix") appears on several ABC compilations, and as a bonus track on reissues of The Lexicon of Love.

An alternate, lounge music styled version of this song, entitled "Theme from Mantrap", was released as the B-side of "Poison Arrow" in the United Kingdom, and "The Look of Love" in the United States. The 12" single in the United Kingdom additionally included an instrumental version of "Theme from Mantrap" under the title "Mantrap (The Lounge Sequence)". The band's first hit in the United Kingdom "Tears Are Not Enough" was the B-side of "Poison Arrow" in the United States.

Music video

In the music video, ABC's lead vocalist Martin Fry plays three parts: a haughty upper-class opera patron; a messenger boy at the opera; and a bandleader at a 1960s-style swinging nightspot. In all three roles, he unsuccessfully attempts to woo the leading lady, played by Lisa Vanderpump, later of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.

Personnel

Credits sourced from Sound on Sound and the original album liner notes.^[7]

ABC

• Martin Fry - lead and backing vocals
• Mark White - electric guitars, piano, synthesizers
• Stephen Singleton - saxophone
• Mark Lickley - bass guitar
• David Palmer - drums, congas

Additional musicians

• Trevor Horn - Minimoog bass, Roland TR-808 programming, Roland MC-4 Microcomposer sequencer
• J.J. Jeczalik - Fairlight CMI programming
• John Thirkell - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Karen Clayton - spoken voice

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1982–1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[9]	25
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play^[10]	39

Year-end charts

In popular culture

• The song was featured in an early 1983 episode of the US daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless.
• "Poison Arrow" was used in the 2002 video game on the fictional radio station Wave 103.
• In February 1998, the song was featured in an episode of Top Gear, in which scenes of the Vauxhall Astra is being driven, with a voice over by presenter Jeremy Clarkson.^[12]
• It was featured as the title credits song for the BBC series White Gold in the episode "The Past Does Not Equal the Future".
• It is featured in the Nine Network program Footy Classified, where it is used to introduce the segment "Caro's Arrow". The segment involves Caroline Wilson delivering a monologue where she targets high-profile issues and personalities in the Australian Football League.

Notes and References

1. Web site: ABC – Poison Arrow – Song Review . Mason . Stewart . AllMusic . 6 August 2015.
2. Web site: ABC . . 7 June 2016 . Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Stephen Thomas Erlewine .
3. Web site: The Guardian. Martin Fry on ABC’s comeback: ‘Lexicon of Love II is a kind of Godfather Part II’. Kate Mossman. 2 June 2016. 22 March 2023.
4. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Here Comes That Feeling: New Pop. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 533.
5. Book: Weisbard . Eric . Eric Weisbard . Marks . Craig . 1995 . Spin Alternative Record Guide. ABC. . New York . 0-679-75574-8. 4-5.
6. News: . . London, England . 31 . 6 February 1982.
7. Doyle . Tom . Classic Tracks: ABC 'The Look Of Love' . Sound On Sound . July 2016 .
8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 10.
9. Billboard > ABC Chart History > Hot 100. Billboard. 6 January 2020.
10. Billboard > ABC Chart History > Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 6 January 2020.
11. Web site: Kent Music Report No 445 – 3 January 1983 > National Top 100 Singles for 1982. Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. 6 January 2020.
12. Web site: Old Top Gear Vauxhall Astra MK4. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405153136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwC-lQDZ2D0 . 2017-04-05 . dead. . February 22, 2017.