Book Review: Sweet Dreams - The Story of the New Romantics

Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics provides an in-depth look at a decade-long period of the music and cultural scenes of Britain. Author Dylan Jones zooms in on the period from 1975 to 1985 and the second invasion of British music. This study goes from the heyday of punk to the peak of new-wave, through the birth of MTV and the culmination of Live-Aid.

Written in a style reminiscent of a documentary script, Jones presents the reader with an eye-witness account of this period by those who were key to it. Through interviews, the reader hears from the likes of David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Adam Ant, Martin Fry, Malcolm McLaren, Sade, the members of bands like Culture Club, Duran Duran, the Eurythmics, Heaven 17, Spandau Ballet, and so many more.

For someone like me who is a music-nerd that came of age during this particular decade, this book is a fascinating read. Even if you think you know a lot about these artists and their albums, I can guarantee you will find a number of interesting nuggets of trivia within these pages. It might even inspire you to revisit some of your favorite music from this period.

Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier (35th anniversary)

This month marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Kings of the Wild Frontier, the second studio album from Adam and the Ants. This 1980 release spent thirty-five weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 44.

For my full review, click here.

For more from Adam Ant, click here.

Adam Ant - Strip

Yesterday (November 8th) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Strip, the second solo studio album from Adam Ant. This one reached at number 65 on the US Billboard Album chart and number 20 on the UK charts.

The cover, of Adam posing coyly on a bed of straw, was modeled after a photo of Jane Russell from the 1943 film The Outlaw.

Adam Ant - Friend or Foe (30th anniversary)

Today (October 11th) marks the thirtieth anniversary release of Friend or Foe, the first solo album by Adam Ant after disbanding his former group earlier in 1982.

For my full review of this album, you just need to click here.

As for me, since I don't drink and don't smoke, I plan to celebrate by giving this one a spin.

Happy Birthday, Adam Ant

Today, November 3rd, is the birthday of Stuart Leslie Goddard, the musician all of us 80's music lovers know as Adam Ant. He started out in the late 1970's as the leader of the New Wave/post punk group Adam and the Ants. In 1982, when the band split, he embarked on a successful solo career. In the late 80's he took some time to pursue an acting career and in the 90's started a family with his second wife.

Since 2010, Adam Ant has been back in the music arena, performing live shows and working on a new album.

In the early part of 1984, during my freshman year of college, I very briefly dated a photography major who was very into Adam Ant. She had photo albums full of pictures she had taken of him from his music videos as they played on MTV on her television. I kid you not. Suffice to say that relationship didn't last too long. How could I compete with that devotion?

The following are reviews I have done of Adam's earlier albums:

For Kings of the Wild Frontier, his 1980 album with the Ants, click here

For Friend or Foe, his 1982 solo album, click here

Adam Ant - Friend or Foe

After a third album and disbanding Adam and the Ants in early 1982, Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard) went out as a solo artist. His first, and most successful to date, solo album was Friend or Foe which was released October 11th, 1982.  It went to number 5 in the UK.

Thanks to the growing market of music videos on MTV, he was able crossover to the US and gain a larger following. Here in the States, the album went all the way to number 16 on the Billboard 200. The record was certified Gold in both the UK and the US.

Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier

I have my older brother to thank for my first exposure to Adam and the Ants and, in particular, this album - Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980). Besides being one of "the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die", it happens to be my favorite by the group. It was the second of three albums the band did before Adam went off to his solo career. The combination of the dual drums, the driving guitars and, of course, Adam Ant's unique vocal styling make for an early new wave masterpiece.