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Related Threads
Concerts
Billy Idol Live (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/the-concert-venue/billy-idol-live/msg6619/#msg6619)
Billy Idol † Website (http://billyidol.net/)
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What's The Best Billy Idol Album Of All Time?
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Billy Idol (Rebel Yell) 1983
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I think both Billy Idol and Steve Stevens don't get the respect they deserve, especially with regards to Rebel Yell. This album showcases that Billy has an awesome voice and that somehow get lost in the discussions about great singers because most just assume that he snarls and yells based on his videos and personae. But if you really sit down and listen to this album you will see that there is more than just the guttural singing he has been associated with on White Wedding. Just listen to tracks like Eyes Without A Face, Catch My Fall and The Dead Next Door which shows that the dude can actually sing.
Most people just think of Steve Stevens as all flash and no balls when it comes to his guitar skills. When his name is mentioned they always give him props for his lead playing, but say nothing about his riffs. The cat is so much more than just being a gunslinger axe player. He has amazing rhythm skills with some killer riffs that anchors most of the songs. Without his chops here, the songs would fall apart for sure.
There are so many great tracks on this one that it's become an unofficial Greatest Hits Album. Rebel Yell is an fantastic opener that sets the tone for the rest to follow. Great memorable melody. Eyes Without A Face is all raw intensity from Billy's deliberate singing to Steve's riff/guitar solo, it also has one of the greatest basslines ever, courtesy of Sal Cuevas. This song is on par with Queen's Under Pressure for most memorable Bassline. Blue Highway is highly underrated and I can guarantee you that most people have never heard of it if they don't own the album. It's insanely addictive when you listen to it.
Flesh For Fantasy just oozes sex. How can you not love the chorus? 'Face to face and back to back, you see and feel my sex attack'.....Awesome stuff. Catch My Fall is an earworm to the max. I've never been satisfied just listening to this one time. Impossible!!!!
Face Songs: Rebel Yell, Eyes Without A Face, Blue Highway, Flesh For Fantasy, Catch My Fall and The Dead Next Door
Rebel Yell Music Videos
Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (http://youtu.be/VdphvuyaV_I)
Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face (http://youtu.be/9OFpfTd0EIs)
Billy Idol - Flesh For Fantasy (http://youtu.be/dw1oM7LBbxE)
Billy Idol - Catch My Fall (http://youtu.be/EiMFvx43vpw)
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Billy Idol (Whiplash Smile) 1986
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Star%20Ratings/HTL_04star.gif)
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1986WhiplashSmile.jpg) (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1986WhiplashSmileBack.jpg)
There are times when I love this record and there are times when I can't stand it and in both cases it would get 4 Stars out of 5, which makes this a decent follow up to his mega charting Rebel Yell. So, if this is a good album then how can I hate it at times? First off, it sounds lnothing like Rebel Yell, which was a very raw record. That one had some some down and dirty meat to its texture. On Whiplash Smile, the album is more polished in sound and feel. The other thing that makes this stand out a bit more is the overuse of Steve Steven's Ray Gun FX. It's all over this one, whereas it was used sparingly on Rebel Yell.
I'm not knocking it. I actually like the album a lot....but it's not an album I can listen to over and over like I can with Rebel Yell. There are some killer tracks on this one, the best being Don't Need A Gun. Sonically I think it's the best song that both Steve and Billy have ever recorded. Just listen to Steve's wailing guitar solo that is more wall of sound than your typical shread fest. And speaking of Ray Guns, it gets a workout in Beyond Belief. Everyone knows To Be A Lover as the albums biggest hit. I use to really love this song, but I have trouble listening to the cut on this one because I prefer the epic Remix off of Vital Idol instead. Sweet Sixteen is another great song that showed a more "softer" side of Billy, acoustic style.
Fave Songs: Sweet Sixteen, Man For All Seasons, Don't Need A Gun, Beyond Belief and Fatal Charm.
Whiplash Smile Music VideosBilly Idol - To Be A Lover (http://youtu.be/_L9epO3tJT4)
Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun (http://youtu.be/Nd_GRy8SKII)
Billy Idol - Sweet Sixteen (http://youtu.be/ClxXDfvtoj0)
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Billy Idol (Vital Idol) 1985/1987
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(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1987VitalIdol.jpg) (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1987VitalIdolBack.jpg)
I'm usually not a fan of remix albums. But in the case of Vital Idol, they absolutely got it right in the song selections and turning them into Dance Tracks. It's one thing to listen to these songs in a car or headphones, but it's another thing to have this blaring over the PA system and dancing to a hot chick on the dance floor. They didn't play these songs all that much in some of the clubs I went to, but when they did it always got a very positive reaction from those in attendance. There's really not much to dissect here since it's taking the original songs, extending almost twice the length and adding a lot of bells and whistles to the mix.
I think the best overall Remix here is definitely Hot In The City. The mix is so good that it's actually better than the original version of the song. But the one song that I always play more than any other from this one is To Be A Lover, it's got more guitars and the opening is sick,
Fave Songs: White Wedding, Mony Mony, Hot In The City, Flesh For Fantasy, To Be A Lover, Love Calling and Catch My Fall
Vital Idol Music Videos
Billy Idol - Mony Mony (Live) (http://youtu.be/sYYAv-QW38Q)
Billy Idol - Hot In The City (http://youtu.be/PinBVYKQGeM)
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Billy Idol (Charmed Life) 1990
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(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1990CharmedLife.jpg) (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20500x500/1990CharmedLifeBack.jpg)
I can't believe it has been probably 15 years since I have listened to Charmed Life from top to bottom. This album is insanely underrated. Because Steve Stevens was gone from Billy's band by this time, the album sometimes gets overlooked. Billy went with another gunslinger by the name of Mark Younger-Smith. He is not in the same mold of Stevens or any other shredder. He is more blues based which of course made Charmed Life very bluesy, but with a much harder rock vibe than the last album and even more so than Rebel Yell. That's not to say that Mark doesn't shred on a few songs. It's just that they are more controlled to serve the song instead of just shredding for the sake of shredding.
If there is a "weak" song to be found here, I guess the opening track The Loveless would be it. I think it's just an okay track and most people would say its 'filler'. I guess you could be right. But listening to it a few times more it's growing on me. But after this, the album really starts to smoke starting with Pumping On Steel. It's a very sedated tempo that just keeps building and right before Mark rips into his guitar solo, the song itself has it's own Phil Collin's 'In The Air Tonight" drum solo that requires you to play at max volume.
Don't skip Prodigal Blues, even if it doesn't sound like a typical Billy Idol song. It's a fantastic slow blues song that shows a different side of to his singing. Love it. L.A. Woman and Cradle Of Love get the most plays because of the videos. I was never a fan of The Doors, but have come to really enjoy Billy's take on the classic song. The thing I gotta mention about Cradle Of Love is the guitar solo. Back when I was doing a lot of 4 Track recording in the day, one of the instrumental songs that I worked on, more specifically the guitar solo, almost note for note what you hear in Cradle is what I have on my demo. The only thing, I recorded the song/solo about 2 years earlier. So when I heard Mark's solo, it floored me. What the f u c k !!! I gotta find my cassette copy and listen to it. I have not heard it in years. Would be fun to revisit it for sure.
The rest of the album is just as good. Just keep an open mind....and ear and give this one a chance. Just because it's a little bit different from what you would call a typical Billy Idol album, sans Steve Stevens, you may find yourself playing this one a lot.
Fave Songs: Pumping On Steel, Prodigal Blues, L.A. Woman, Trouble With The Sweet Stuff, Cradle Of Love, Mark Of Caine and Love Unchained
Charmed Life Music Videos
Billy Idol - L.A. Woman (http://youtu.be/ef3mFZzGM4M)
Billy Idol - Cradle Of Love (http://youtu.be/NCZuYS-9qaw)
Billy Idol - Prodigal Blues (http://youtu.be/xxBUkrtgB40)
Billy Idol - Pumping On Steel (Live) (http://youtu.be/ST3O4qNu_Tg)
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yeah never even heard this one...I did like the song cradle of love,,,,,the cover art is really cool.
will have to look through Danna's records and see what Billy Idol she might have....you never know...one of the perks of having a wife that was really into music...although most of the time maybe only 30% of the stuff I like she might (and vice versa)...but that gives you some solid options for things you'd never buy also
:)
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Out of all of Billy's albums, I would definitely recommend Charmed Life first. Hopefully she has a copy for you to check out.
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Billy Idol - Can't Break Me Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rUrYN4cnGs
So, I'm about half way through Billy's book and like any book I read, I always make it a point to head to YouTube to pull up Interviews, TV Appearances, Music Videos and Live footage to paint an even better picture of the words on paper. So, hitting the old vids, I saw a video that looked new. Fired up Can't Break Me Down and I love the song. It's a throwback to his vintage stuff. He sounds f*cking great and the video is pretty cool as well. The last album I ever bought of Billy's was Charmed Life on Vinyl. I dig Can't Break Me Down enough to want to look for a used copy for myself. I've lost count how many times I've already played the song in the past couple of days. Very pumped to get a copy of his newest album which would be my first new Billy Idol record since 1990. Yikes!!!!
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cool!
I think I would like the song live a little more than the studio cut...it's a little too over produced for my tastes...but it's a catchy tune!
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All the more reason to see Billy and Steve live. His new tour just started 2 weeks ago I think.
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Billy Idol (Rebel Yell) 1983
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/CD%20and%20Album%20Covers/Billy%20Idol%20275x275/1983RebelYell.jpg) (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/music/billy-idol-discography/msg6589/#msg6589)
Click Me For Review ^^
Rocking this right now. Still reading his book. Still in the Idol zone. Still a kick ass record.
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I think you have Rebel Yell link in a loop. I know you like 'em, but c'mon, I'm not gonna read your review over and over. :o
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side note chip.
spacermanacelive has uploaded a grip of KISS videos the last few days...well worth checking out,
FLESH!
;)
side side note...GO CHARGERS!!