Kings of the Wild Frontier

Kings of the Wild Frontier
Studio album by Adam and the Ants
Released	December 1980
Recorded	Rockfield Studios, 1980
Genre	New Wave
Length	47:21
Label	Epic
Producer	Chris Hughes
Adam and the Ants chronology
Dirk Wears White Sox (1979) Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980) Prince Charming (1981)

Kings of the Wild Frontier is a New Wave album by Adam and the Ants, released in 1980 (see 1980 in music). This album introduced the new Burundi Beat drum sound.^{[citation needed]} After having his previous backing band wooed away by producer Malcolm McLaren, who used them to form Bow Wow Wow, Adam Ant recorded Kings of the Wild Frontier with guitarist Marco Pirroni as his new writing partner. In spite of the difficulties with the recording, Kings of the Wild Frontier has become acknowledged as an inspiritational and unique-sounding album, introducing two drummers, with Duane Eddy-esque guitar riffs.

The album spawned three hit singles: "Kings of the Wild Frontier" (7/80, reached # 2 in 2/81), "Dog Eat Dog" (reached # 4 in 10/80) and "Antmusic" (12/80 reached #2 in 1/81). In addition, Antmusic reached No. 1 in Australia for five weeks.[1] The album was remastered and reissued in 2004 with several bonus tracks.

The US version (LP and subsequent CD issue) dropped "Making History" in favor of two tracks penned by Ant prior to teaming up with Marco Pirroni: The "brilliant grind-rocker" "(You're So) Physical" and "Press Darlings".

"Killer in the Home" is based on the same twangy, descending glissando riff that is featured in Link Wray's "Rumble" (Ants' guitarist Marco Pirroni has cited Link Wray as a major influence).

The album was the UK number 1 selling album in 1981 (& the 48th best seller in 1980) and won Best British Album at the 1982 Brit Awards.

"Dog Eat Dog" was featured in the film Doomsday. It is used in the closing credits of the British television series The Kevin Bishop Show.

The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Samples and covers of album songs

Kevin Max's song "Jumpstart Your Electric Heart!" from The Imposter samples the music from "Jolly Roger".

"Feed Me to the Lions" guitar solo at 1:30, was sampled from the soundtrack of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), composed by Maurice Jarre. The same guitar solo was resampled in Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota song "La Bestia Pop".

Nine Inch Nails's 1992 EP Broken includes a cover version of "Physical (You're So)", which Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni performed live with Nine Inch Nails in 1995.

Crippled Black Phoenix's 8 Songs includes a cover version of "Physical (You're So)".

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	B

Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated Kings of the Wild Frontier four-and-a-half out of five stars. He explained that "there's simply nothing else like it, nothing else that has the same bravado, the same swagger, the same gleeful self-aggrandizement and sense of camp." He also stated that "it fearlessly, imperceptibly switches gears between giddy and ominous, providing nothing short of a thrill ride". Famed rock critic Robert Christgau, writing for The Village Voice, rated the album a B. He explained that "it's the sex and the music that'll determine whether Adam is David Bowie or Marc Bolan (or Gary Glitter)." He also stated that "especially given Adam's art-schooled vocals, I find that the hooks grate".

UK track listing

All songs written by Adam Ant and Marco Pirroni.

1. "Dog Eat Dog" – 3:11
2. "Antmusic" – 3:37
3. "Feed Me to the Lions" – 3:03
4. "Los Rancheros" – 3:30
5. "Ants Invasion" – 3:19
6. "Killer in the Home" – 4:22
7. "Kings of the Wild Frontier" – 3:56
8. "The Magnificent Five" – 3:07
9. "Don't Be Square (Be There)" – 3:32
10. "Jolly Roger" – 2:11
11. "Making History" – 2:59
12. "The Human Beings" – 4:32

Kings of the Wild Frontier was remastered and reissued in 2004 with six bonus tracks:

13. "Antmusic (Alternative Mix)" – 3:43
14. "Antmusic (Demo)" – 3:28
15. "Feed Me to the Lions (Demo)" – 3:02
16. "The Human Beings (Demo)" – 2:30
17. "S.E.X. (Demo)" – 3:57
18. "Omelette From Outerspace (Demo)" – 3:06

US track listing (LP/CD)

1. Dog Eat Dog - 3:07
2. "Antmusic" – 3:36
3. "Los Rancheros" – 3:28
4. "Feed Me to the Lions" – 2:59
5. "Press Darlings"* - 4:12
6. "Ants Invasion" – 3:20
7. "Killer in the Home" – 4:19
8. "Kings of the Wild Frontier" – 3:53
9. "The Magnificent Five" – 3:05
10. "Don't Be Square (Be There)" – 3:29
11. "Jolly Roger" – 2:09
12. "Physical (You're So)"** - 4:26
13. "The Human Beings" – 4:24

• "Press Darlings" is the b-side to the UK single "Kings of the Wild Frontier"
  • "Physical (You're So)" is the b-side to the UK single "Dog Eat Dog"
    • The US version omitted the track "Making History"

US track listing (Cassette)

1. Dog Eat Dog - 3:07
2. "Jolly Roger" – 2:09
3. "Los Rancheros" – 3:28
4. "Feed Me to the Lions" – 2:59
5. "Press Darlings" - 4:12
6. "Ants Invasion" – 3:20
7. "Killer in the Home" – 4:19
8. "Beat My Guest" *
9. "Kings of the Wild Frontier" – 3:53
10. "The Magnificent Five" – 3:05
11. "Don't Be Square (Be There)" – 3:29
12. "Antmusic" – 3:36
13. "Physical (You're So)" - 4:26
14. "The Human Beings" – 4:24
15. "Stand and Deliver"*

• Copies of the single Stand and Deliver/Beat My Guest were included as a free bonus item with some vinyl copies of the US version of the album. The cassette edition on Epic appended the two tracks to either side of the tape.

Personnel

• Adam Ant – Vocals
• Marco Pirroni – Guitar
• Kevin Mooney – Bass
• Merrick – Drums
• Terry Lee Miall – Drums
• Chris Hughes – Producer

Note - "Merrick" is the name Chris Hughes adopted as an Ant.

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1981)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart	1
Billboard 200	44

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Peak position
1980	"Kings of the Wild Frontier"	UK Singles Chart	48
	"Dog Eat Dog"		4
	"Antmusic"		2
1981	"Kings of the Wild Frontier" (re-release)		2
	"Dog Eat Dog"	Billboard Club Play Singles	19
	"Antmusic"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	14
	"Dog Eat Dog"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	15
	"Physical (You're So)"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	19

Preceded by Super Trouper by ABBA Face Value by Phil Collins

UK Albums Chart number-one album January 24, 1981 – February 6, 1981 March 14, 1981 – May 22, 1981

Succeeded by Double Fantasy by John Lennon & Yoko Ono Stars on 45 by Starsound