Listen: Puss’n Boots / Adam Ant
AdamAntPuss.mp3

True story. After playing this twice earlier, not to mention regularly for the past twenty eight or so years, I suddenly, for the first time, thought how much ‘Puss’n Boots’ reminded me of Phil Collins’ ‘In The Air Tonight’. Never before had the similarity occurred to me. Turns out he produced it. Man, did I feel like a dunce.

Nice one there Phil Collins. Despite those massive drum sounds spinning their dated wheels in the early 80′s, they sure do work perfectly for ‘Puss’n Boots’. This song is just full of hooks, as in both traditional songwriting hooks and production tricks.

Plus I do love all the sneaky metaphors that lyrically weave in and out behind the prominent lead vocal parts. Listen closely next time, you’ll see what I mean.

Although a #5 in Britain, I guess ‘Puss’n Boots’ was thematically too English for US programmers. They used to run so hot and cold that bunch. Now their power base has been zapped from under their stubborn musical policies and no one cares, but at the time, I recall being mortified by it’s lack of attention here, despite his overall success streak.

Listen: Ant Rap / Adam & The Ants
Ant

In 1981, it was quite okay to walk about sporting a new romantic look. Wearing your hair like one of The Golden Girls seemed absolutely normal. Now we might look back and think, not so.

The tougher side of that image was probably Adam & The Ants. Maybe they even instigated the whole movement’s look, I can’t say. But along with their post punk image reinvention came their musical one. Jungle drumming became an integral part of the singles, starting with ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontiers’, a surprising UK hit upon release.

Several A sides later came ‘Ant Rap’, the most twisted, sparse sounding one yet. And it was a UK smash (#3). But wow does, it hold up today.