The B-Sides (EP)

"The B-Sides (EP)"
Front of the 7" picture disc version of The B-sides
Single by Adam and the Ants
A-side	"Friends"
B-side	"Kick"/"Physical"
Released	1982
Format	vinyl record (7")
Recorded	August 1979
Genre	New wave, post-punk
Length	3:33
Label	Do It Records
Songwriter(s)	Adam Ant
Adam and the Ants singles chronology
"Deutscher Girls" (1982) ""Friends" b/w "Kick" / "Physical"" (1982) "Goody Two Shoes" (1982)
"Deutscher Girls" (1982) "Friends" b/w "Kick"/"Physical" (1982) "Goody Two Shoes" (1982)

"Friends" b/w "Kick"/"Physical", also known as The B-sides,^[1] was the final single from Adam and the Ants. All three songs were written by Adam Ant, and were early fan favorites among "Antpeople." "Friends" and "Physical" were performed at a John Peel session on 10 July 1978. All three tracks had previously been recorded in 1978 for the Ants' first label Decca Records. "Kick" at RAK Studios in Chalbert Street, London, produced by Snips, "Friends" and "Physical" at Decca's own studio at Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, produced by Ant himself.^[2]

Antmusic EP

All three tracks were recorded during the Dirk Wears White Sox recording session at Sound Development Studios in August 1979; none were used on the album. Following the departure of all three sidemen with manager Malcolm McLaren to form Bow Wow Wow in January 1980, Do It Records intended to release the tracks on the Antmusic EP in early 1980 to complete the contract of the seemingly defunct band. However Ant, keen to quickly prove the survival of the band with a new line-up, instead rerecorded the songs Cartrouble (pt2) and Kick (with new lyrics) with new guitarist Marco Pirroni and guest drummer Jon Moss which was released as a single. With the contract thus fulfilled, Adam and the Ants and Do It Records parted ways.

Soon afterwards, Adam and the Ants signed with CBS Records, and achieved massive commercial success with the album Kings of the Wild Frontier. Released in late 1980, it was the UK number 1 selling album in 1981, and the 48th best seller of 1980. It was named the Best British Album at the 1982 Brit Awards.

As the band's popularity peaked in Britain, Do It decided to cash in on their success by releasing the Antmusic EP, consisting of "Friends" b/w "Kick"/"Physical" as a 7" single in 1982, along with a 12" version also featuring remixes of the original album versions of Cartrouble pts 1 and 2. Chronologically, the single followed "Deutscher Girls", which was also an old track released by a former label (E.G. Records). It reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3]

B-sides

Cleaner, more polished versions of all three songs had already been released as B-sides to previous Adam and the Ants singles. "Friends" was the B-side of "Ant Rap",^[4] "Kick", with completely different lyrics, was the B-side of "Cartrouble",^[5] and "Physical" was renamed "Physical (You're So)" when it appeared on the B-side of "Dog Eat Dog".^[6]

The version of "Physical" that appears on this single appeared on the B-side of a July 1980 2000 copy pressing of the "Zerox" single, though "Whip in my Valise" was still credited.^[7]

"Friends" lyrics

In "Friends" Adam does a considerable amount of name dropping in an attempt to be guestlisted. Among the people he claims as a friend include Shirley Bassey, former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe, Michael Jackson, Michael Caine, John Wayne, Stevie Wonder, Eric Fromm and Bryan Ferry.^[8]

References