Billy Idol | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 16 July 1982 | |||
Studio | Westlake (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | Rock, new wave | |||
Length |
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Label | Chrysalis | |||
Producer | Keith Forsey | |||
Billy Idol chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from Billy Idol | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Robert Christgau | B [3] |
Smash Hits | 1/10 [4] |
Billy Idol is the debut studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol,released on 16 July 1982 by Chrysalis Records. After the breakup of the band Generation X and the release of his first solo extended play, Don't Stop (1981),Idol began working on his debut album. Produced by Keith Forsey,Billy Idol is a rock album with strong influences of new wave music.
Upon its release,the album received generally positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success,peaking at number forty-five on the Billboard 200. Billy Idol was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Three singles were released from the album:"Dancing with Myself" was already released in 1981 as Idol's debut single. The lead single,"Hot in the City",peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard 100. "White Wedding" was released as the album's second single. After it peaked at number three on Mainstream Rock chart in 1983,the album was reissued with an addition of the earlier single "Dancing with Myself". The song "White Wedding (Part 1)" is so-named due to the less-heard "White Wedding (Part 2)",which is a more synthesiser-based continuation of the first part. It can be heard on the 12-inch version of the single and the compilation Vital Idol (1985).
"Hot in the City" was originally recorded for Idol's debut EP Don't Stop ,but his label Chrysalis considered it too good just to release as part of the EP. They felt it could be a single and decided to keep it for the album. [5]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Come On, Come On" | Billy Idol, Steve Stevens | 4:00 |
2. | "White Wedding (Part 1)" | Idol | 4:12 |
3. | "Hot in the City" | Idol | 3:40 |
4. | "Dead on Arrival" | Idol | 3:54 |
5. | "Nobody's Business" | Idol | 4:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Love Calling" | Idol, Keith Forsey | 4:48 |
2. | "Hole in the Wall" | Idol | 4:14 |
3. | "Shooting Stars" | Idol, Stevens | 4:30 |
4. | "It's So Cruel" | Idol, Philip Hawk | 5:20 |
5. | "Congo Man" (Reprise of "Love Calling") | Idol, Forsey | 1:07 |
Total length: | 39:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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10. | "Dancing with Myself" | Idol, Tony James | 3:20 |
Total length: | 43:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "White Wedding" (Clubland Extended Remix) | 12:38 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Baby Talk" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:12 |
2. | "Untouchables" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:01 |
3. | "Come On, Come On" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:50 |
4. | "Hot in the City" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:05 |
5. | "Dead on Arrival" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:12 |
6. | "Heavens Inside" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:00 |
7. | "Ready Steady Go" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:18 |
8. | "Hole in the Wall" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:12 |
9. | "Shooting Stars" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:24 |
10. | "Kiss Me Deadly" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:10 |
11. | "White Wedding" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 6:48 |
12. | "Nobody's Business" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:44 |
13. | "Dancing with Myself" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:47 |
14. | "Mony Mony" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:29 |
15. | "Triumph" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:58 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [22] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [23] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [24] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Rebel Yell is the second studio album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 10 November 1983 by Chrysalis Records. After the release of his 1982 eponymous debut studio album, Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and multi-instrumentalist Steve Stevens. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Initially recording without a drummer, utilizing only the LinnDrum and Roland TR-808 drum machines, Forsey and Stevens later decided to hire Thommy Price to play drums on some of the songs. Musically, Rebel Yell is a new wave album with hard rock and other influences. The cover sleeve and images were shot by Brian Griffin. Idol got the idea of the album's title after attending a party with the Rolling Stones and drinking Rebel Yell bourbon whiskey.
Charmed Life is the fourth studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 30 April 1990 by Chrysalis Records.
Victim of Love is the thirteenth studio album by English musician Elton John. It is a disco album, released in 1979 shortly after the peak of disco's popularity. It was not critically or commercially well-received, and is John's third lowest charting album to date in the US, after 1986's Leather Jackets and 1985's Ice on Fire.
Autoamerican is the fifth studio album by American rock band Blondie. It was released in November 1980 and reached No. 3 in the UK charts, No. 7 in the US, and No. 8 in Australia. The album spawned two singles, "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture". "The Tide Is High" hit number one in several countries, including the US and the UK. "Rapture" became the first rap song ever to reach number one on the singles chart in the US. It also reached number five in the UK and number four in Australia.
The Best of Blondie is the first greatest hits album by American rock band Blondie. It was released in October 1981, by Chrysalis Records. The album peaked at number four in the United Kingdom and number 30 in the United States, while becoming the band's only number-one album in Australia.
Primitive Man, the second studio album by Australian rock band Icehouse, was released on 20 September 1982. In January 1982, Icehouse founder Iva Davies started recording Primitive Man essentially as a solo project. It was co-produced with Keith Forsey, who later worked with Simple Minds and Billy Idol. Forsey supplied additional percussion; Davies supplied vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, bass guitar and programmed the Linn drum machine. Released as an Icehouse album, Primitive Man reached number 3 on the National album charts and provided their international breakthrough single, "Hey Little Girl", which peaked at number 7 in Australia, number 2 in Switzerland, number 5 in Germany, the top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and number 31 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Another single "Great Southern Land" made the Australian top 5; it was later featured in the 1988 Yahoo Serious film Young Einstein, and remains their most popular song according to listeners of Triple M in 2007. To promote Primitive Man on tour, Davies re-assembled Icehouse with Michael Hoste (keyboards) and John Lloyd (drums), and new members: Bob Kretschmer, Guy Pratt and Andy Qunta.
Idol Songs: 11 of the Best is a greatest hits album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 June 1988 by Chrysalis Records. It comprises all the singles released from his first three studio albums—Billy Idol, Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile—as well as the live version of "Mony Mony" and re-recorded Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", both of which appeared on Idol's debut EP Don't Stop. A limited edition of the album contains two extra remixes, and another limited edition contains four extra remixes. The album reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 2003, the album was reissued with a different title and cover as The Essential.
Don't Stop is the first EP by English rock singer Billy Idol, released in 1981 by Chrysalis Records.
Whiplash Smile is the third studio album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful studio album Rebel Yell (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Stevens while writing and producing songs for the album. The album utilizes Stevens' characteristic guitar work, dance beats, and synth-heavy production.
Vital Idol is a remix album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 31 May 1985 by Chrysalis Records. It contains remixed songs from his first two albums and the Don't Stop EP. The album was reissued in the United States with one extra track in September 1987, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The US release was supported by a non-album live single version of "Mony Mony".
In the Heat of the Night is the debut studio album by American singer Pat Benatar, released on August 27, 1979, by Chrysalis Records. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 for the week ending October 20, 1979, peaking at No. 12 in March 1980, almost six months after its release.
Kiss Me Deadly is the third studio album by the English punk rock and new wave band Gen X. Produced by Keith Forsey it was issued in the United Kingdom on 23 January 1981. It was the final album to be released before their disbandment, though they would briefly reunite in 1993.
"Eyes Without a Face" is a song by the English rock musician Billy Idol, from his second studio album Rebel Yell (1983). It was released in April 1984 as the second single from the album. The song is softer and more ballad-like than most of the album's other singles. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Idol's first top-10 hit in the US. The song's title was borrowed from the 1960 horror film known in English as Eyes Without a Face.
Mirror Moves is the fourth studio album by English rock band the Psychedelic Furs, released in May 1984 by Columbia Records, two years after their previous studio album, Forever Now.
"Rebel Yell" is a song by English rock musician Billy Idol. It is the title track of his second album Rebel Yell (1983), and was released as the album's lead single in January 1984 by Chrysalis Records. Initially, it only reached No. 62 in the UK and No. 46 in the US upon its release. However, a 1985 re-issue proved to be a big hit, peaking at no. 6 in the UK. The song received wide critical acclaim and in 2009 was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 based on a public vote.
"Hey Little Girl" is a single released by Australian band Icehouse, the second single from the band's 1982 album, Primitive Man. The album and single were co-produced by band member and the track's writer, Iva Davies, and Keith Forsey. It was released in November 1982 on Regular Records in 7" vinyl single and 12" vinyl single formats. UK and Europe releases by Chrysalis Records were also on 7" and 12" formats, but with different track listings. The single was then released in the US in 1983 on the same formats. On "Hey Little Girl", Iva Davies uses the Linn drum machine—the first for an Australian recording. It peaked at No. 7 on the Australian singles chart and No. 2 in Switzerland, No. 5 in Germany, Top 20 in UK, Sweden and Netherlands, and No. 31 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Wide Awake in Dreamland is the seventh studio album by American rock singer Pat Benatar, and her eighth album overall, released in 1988. After a string of successful albums, this was her last rock-oriented album of the 1980s, before she would go on to try a blues-based sound with True Love in 1991.
"Dancing with Myself" is a song by the punk rock band Gen X, first commercially released in the United Kingdom in October 1980, where it reached number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed and re-released by the band's singer/frontman Billy Idol as a solo artist in the United States in 1981, where the song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Nouvelle Vague covered the number in 2006 and released it on their album, Bande à Part.
William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English punk singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US.
"Sweet Sixteen" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. "Sweet Sixteen" peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.
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