Billy Idol

by Billy Idol

Overview

Billy Idol's self-titled debut album eventually broke the singer in America, but not without a struggle. In 1981, he left Generation X and launched his solo career, borrowing the group's final single, the dance-rock standard "Dancing with Myself," for his first solo release, a four-song EP called Don't Stop. Billy Idol was prefaced in June 1982 with the single "Hot in the City," which made the Hot 100, but the album was given a second breath of life (and a higher chart peak) a year after its release when its second single, "White Wedding," finally caught on after an eye-catching video played on MTV and made the Top 40 in July 1983. An attempt was then made to resurrect "Dancing With Myself," which was added to the album (the track "Congo Man" being deleted). Those three songs remain the album's strongest, if only because they are the best realized as songs; elsewhere, Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens have constructed a series of dance-rock tracks along the lines of "Dancing With Myself," mixing quick tempos with slashing guitar chords and occasional hook elements (a backup choral chant here, a saxophone part there), but seemingly have forgotten to write real songs to go on top of the tracks. The result is an uneven collection. Oddly, when Chrysalis came to reissue a 24-bit digitally remastered version of the album in 2002, the new producers did not take the opportunity to add on the other Don't Stop tracks and "Congo Man," the sort of bonus material you'd expect. Instead, the reissue presents only the ten tracks from the second version of the album, albeit with great sound. Scott Schindler's liner notes begin with a factual error (the album was not a "platinum success," it only went gold), but are otherwise adequate. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2017
Label:	Capitol / Virgin Emi
UPC:	0602557363494
Rank:	29201

Tracks

1. Come On, Come On
2. White Wedding
3. Hot in the City
4. Dead on Arrival
5. Nobody's Business
6. Love Calling
7. Hole in the Wall
8. Shooting Stars
9. It's So Cruel
10. Congo Man

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Idol   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Generation X   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Keith Forsey   Drums
Steve Stevens   Bass,Biwa,Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass)
Judi Dozier   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Steve Missal   Drums
Phil Feit   Bass,Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

Tony James   Composer
Steve Bates   Assistant Engineer
Bo Gentry   Composer
Biff Dawes   Engineer
Kevin Flaherty   Reissue Producer
Billy Idol   Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Keith Forsey   Composer,Producer,Mastering Engineer
Cheryl Pawelski   Reissue Producer
Frank Collura   A&R
Ritchie Cordell   Composer
Generation X   Performer
Lou Reed   Composer
Brian Gardner   Mastering
Richard Kimball   Producer
Tommy James   Composer
Brian Reeves   Engineer
Bryan Kelley   Reissue Producer
Steve Stevens   Composer,Recording Arranger
Bobby Bloom   Composer
Kevin Bartley   Mastering,Reissue Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Kenny Nemes   Reissue Coordination
Jules Bates   Photography
Albert Sanchez   Reissue Photography
Darren Wong   Design,Art Direction,Reissue Design
Lee Lodyga   A&R
Scott Schinder   Liner Notes,Reissue Liner Notes
Allen Zentz   Mastering
Michelle Azzopardi   Reissue Editor
Janet Levinson   Design
Perri Lister   Make-Up
Philip Hawk   Composer