Ant rap - Adam and the Ants

'Ant rap' was written by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni, the song was remixed from the version on the group's 1981 album Prince Charming. It entered the UK Singles Chart in December 1981 at number 9 before rising to a peak position of number three. While widely panned by critics, it was one of the earliest rap singles to chart in the UK.

Ant boasts of his success and his ability to dance, and calls out the anarchists of the music scene, affirming he was never concerned with receiving their "credibility". The song ended up being the band's penultimate single; in 1982 they only released 'Deutscher Girls' from the Jubilee soundtrack.

My collection: 7" single no. 7801
Found: Seven Star Records, Vienna, 14 October 2025
Tracks: 'Ant rap' / 'Friends' 

Goody two shoes - Adam and the Ants

So is this a collectors item or not? All the references I could find to the song 'Goody two shoes' state that it was performed by Adam Ant, not Adam and the Ants. Yet, here I am with a limited full colour poster sleeve edition of 'Goody two shoes' by Adam and the Ants. Interesting!

'Goody two shoes' is a phrase for an overly virtuous or conformist person. The single was a number 1 hit in the UK and peaked at number 8 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 3922
Found: Plaatboef, Rotterdam, July 31, 2009
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'Goody two shoes' / 'Red scab'

Antmusic - Adam and the Ants

'Antmusic' was the third single released in the UK from the hugely popular Adam & the Ants album 'Kings of the wild frontier' (1980). 'Antmusic' fared better than the first two singles and peaked at number 2 in January 1981, being held off the top by the re-release of John Lennon's 'Imagine' after he was murdered in New York City in December 1980.

The video to 'Antmusic' featured the group playing in a discothèque with a giant juke box, and persuading the young audience to turn away from disco music and dance to the new-styled 'Antmusic'. The band was also presented in the Netherlands, with two drummers being the main gimmick of this band. Despite this, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2902

Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997

Cost: 50p

Tracks: 'Antmusic' / 'Fall-in'

Stand and deliver - Adam and the Ants

Released in spring 1981, 'Stand and deliver' was Adam and the Ants' biggest hit. Originally a track from their album 'Prince charming', it entered the UK singles chart at number one and stayed on that position for five weeks.

'Stand and deliver / Your money or your life' was a phrase commonly used by highwaymen in 18th century England during robberies. The music video featured Adam Ant dressed as a 'dandy highwayman'.

My collection: 7" single no. 3723

Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009

Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Stand and deliver' / 'Beat my guest'

Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants

In November 1981, Adam & the Ants released their third album, the highly successful 'Prince Charming'. The band had two UK number 1 singles. 'Stand and deliver' was the number 1 single in the UK for 5 weeks in May 1981, followed by 'Prince Charming', which topped the UK charts for 4 weeks in September 1981.

'Prince Charming' was released in a beautiful gatefold sleeve, which was even released on the European continent - which in itself was a rarity. I was always jealous of the copy my sister had since right when it was released, so I was really relieved when I finally bought my own copy a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 384

Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985

Cost: 2 guilders

Tracks: 'Prince Charming' / 'Christian D'Or'