Poison Arrow

"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).

For poisons used on arrows or darts for hunting, see Arrow poison. For the bands, see Poison Arrows and The Poison Arrows.

"Poison Arrow"
Single by ABC
from the album The Lexicon of Love
B-side"Theme from Mantrap" (UK)
Released5 February 1982 / January, 1983 (US)
Recorded1981
Genre
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Trevor Horn
ABC singles chronology
"Tears Are Not Enough"
(1981)		 "Poison Arrow"
(1982)		 "The Look of Love"
(1982)
Music video
"Poison Arrow" on YouTube

The single was released in the United Kingdom on 5 February 1982[3] 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.

Chart performance

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 25 on the Billboard Hot 100,

Music video

In the music video, ABC's singer 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.

  • "Poison Arrow" was used in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 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.[4]
  • Featured as the title credits song for the BBC White Gold Series in the Episode "The Past Does Not Equal the Future"

Chart performance

References
  1. Mason, Stewart. "ABC – Poison Arrow – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "ABC". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. NME. London, England: IPC Media. 6 February 1982. p. 31. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Old Top Gear Vauxhall Astra MK4". 22 February 2017.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 10. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Ultratop.be – ABC – Poison Arrow" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Poison Arrow". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – ABC – Poison Arrow" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. "Charts.nz – ABC – Poison Arrow". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  11. "Billboard > ABC Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  12. "Billboard > ABC Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  13. "Kent Music Report No 445 – 3 January 1983 > National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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