ADAM ANT

Personnel: Adam Ant (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, marimba, bass, sticks, percussion); Marco Pirroni (vocals, guitar); Chris DeNiro (guitar); Jeff Daly (saxophone); Martin Drover (trumpet); Matthew Ashman (keyboards); Kevin Mooney, Andy Warren (bass); Bogdan Wiczling (drums, sticks); Phil Collins (drums, percussion); Dave Barbe, Merrick, Terry Lee Maiall (drums).

Producers includes: Adam Ant, Chris Hughes, Marco Pirroni, Hugh Padgham, Phil Collins.

Compilation producers: Jeff Magid, Patti Matheny.

Recorded between 1979 & 1995. Includes liner notes by Tony Fletcher.

Ranging chronologically from the guitar-heavy post-punk of his early recordings to the smooth, Adult Contemporary stylings of 1995's "Wonderful," THE ESSENTIAL ADAM ANT provides a compact overview of this seminal '80s popster. Ant was key to the development of the image and sound of early-'80s New Pop; his flamboyant persona and infectious, angular rock (flavored with elements of punk, dance, and pop melodicism) struck a chord with the public. Songs like "Stand and Deliver" and "Antmusic"-- which feature pounding, tribal drums and wry, chant-oriented choruses-- are inventive, yet immediately accessible. Consequently, these tunes topped the British charts in the '80s.

Naturally, these hit tracks are included on THE ESSENTIAL, as are the cheeky "Prince Charming" and the jaunty "Goody Two Shoes" (both of which also reached #1 in England). Ant's skill in incorporating the dark, jagged energy of post-punk into pop contexts is further evidenced on the psychobilly of "Place in the Country" and the goth-disco hybrid "Desperate But Not Serious." Appropriately, the compilation only includes two tracks from Ant's slicker '90s output, putting the emphasis firmly on his career highpoints. Though devotees will want to own the original albums, THE ESSENTIAL is a top-notch collection of Adam Ant's finest moments.

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