Adam and the Ants — Prince Charming

Yes! Let us celebrate these fancy pirates. I am certain if more people would run this look on the street today that the world would be a better place. But it takes real men to wear makeup, puffy shirts, and curtains for pants. And there just aren’t that many left.

Calling all available backup! Jeff? Kilwag? I know you’re out there. Cover me. I’m going in. This is a great record. That’s despite the frequently self-referential lyrics. The music on Prince Charming (1981) is as fresh and weird as the costumes worn by Adam and the Ants. The album opens with the giant-sounding “Scorpios,” complete with brass horns and a house-shaking drum fill near the end that makes me want to yell “Ant Power!” It sounds like the Hawaii 5-0 theme meets salsa music meets pirate rock. Other favorites include “Picasso Visita el Planeta de los Simios” and of course the super hit “Stand and Deliver.” There is also a “hidden” track, after a long pause at the end of the album, called “The Lost Hawaiians.”

I don’t know where I got this one, but you can see from the wear on the cover that back in the day it was in heavy rotation. Ant music for ant people!

Etched in the run off margins (can’t etch an MP3):
Side 1: HAVE YOU FOUND
Side 2: THE LOST HAWAIIANS

Wikipedia article

Heaven 17 — Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)

• Artist: Heaven 17
• Title: Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

Here’s another 12 inch from those former Human League-ers, Heaven 17. “Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)” is pretty enjoyable, but I can’t really remember the mixes on the other side. Even if you don’t dig this early electronic music, you gotta love the cover art by Jill Mumford.

Heaven 17 — (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang

• Artist: Heaven 17
• Title: (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: A cut-out bin somewhere in DC
• Keeper: Yes

Today we have a 12 inch single from Heaven 17. Who knew the founding members were two guys who split from Human League? Not me. Actually, I know very little about the band; this one belongs to Mary. Their debut single “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” is some solid dance music with “overtly political lyrics” that got it banned from the BBC. “The Decline of the West” on the flipside is a pulsing instrumental bit of dark electronica. I like both cuts, so very synth.

Wikipedia can tell you more about Heaven 17.

ABC — Alphabet City

• Artist: ABC
• Title: Alphabet City
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

When I first started playing this record, “Alphabet City”, the other day for the log I thought it was a little dull by ABC standards. But now the hooks are in me, and I’ve definitely enjoyed it. My favorite song is “The Night You Murdered Love.”

I think this might be the last ABC record we have to play. So, it’s high time I included a link to this article about the band at Wikipedia.

ABC — How To Be A Zillionaire 12 inch

• Artist: ABC
• Title: How To Be A Zillionaire 12 inch
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

Another 12 inch single, “How To Be A Zillionaire”, from the album of the same name. But I think this came out before the album. This record includes the original plus two solid remixes. I dig it.

I`ve seen the future, I can`t afford it
Tell me the truth sir, someone just bought it