Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
I am very excited to report this news and information because, to be honest, Billy Idol was and is one of my personal music heroes… or “idols” if you will, ha! I discovered his solo music at a time that I, as a youth, was transitioning from classic rock to all of the amazing stuff the Eighties had to offer. So, needless to say, this is welcome news indeed and here it is:
Capitol‘s UMe and Billy Idol have partnered to celebrate some of his most popular, beloved works with newly remastered vinyl reissues of Idol’s first two solo LPs, ‘Billy Idol’ and ‘Rebel Yell’. Plus, the expansive double-LP greatest-hits collection ‘Idolize Yourself: The Very Best Of Billy Idol’ will also be offered. Each release is available on high-quality vinyl with faithfully reproduced iconic original album art.
Billy Idol‘s breakout success as a solo artist in the early 1980s brought punk attitude into the pop mainstream. His career stretched back to the original British punk scene as the frontman of the underground scene trailblazers Generation X. The swaggering, charismatic Billy Idol (aka William Michael Albert Broad) relocated to New York City at the dawn of the ’80s and reinvented himself as one of the era’s most consistently popular performers.
His first solo album release, ‘Billy Idol’, originally released on July 16th, 1982, introduced Idol to mainstream American audiences and succeeded in launching his solo career. Teaming Idol with producer Keith Forsey and longtime guitarist/ collaborator Steve Stevens, ‘Billy Idol’ introduced a sleek, streamlined sound and includes hits such as “White Wedding” and “Hot In The City.”
From there, the multi-platinum smashing second release, ‘Rebel Yell’ (originally released on November 10th, 1983), built on the foundation created by its predecessor. It features Idol advancing and evolving his dance-infused rock and pop sound, once again working with Stevens and Forsey, with recording done at New York’s Electric Lady Studios. ‘Rebel Yell’ was a commercial smash featuring hit songs including the legendary title track, along with “Eyes Without A Face,” and “Flesh For Fantasy.” Each of these hits is represented by iconic music videos that kept Idol in the public eye during the initial heyday of MTV.
While the earlier two releases introduced the world to Billy Idol the solo artist, ‘Idolize Yourself: The Very Best Of Billy Idol’ offers a comprehensive widescreen overview of his entire recording career. First issued on CD in 2008, the 18-song ‘Idolize Yourself’ features all of Billy’s vintage hits including his early club smashes “Dancing With Myself” and “Mony Mony,” plus “Cradle Of Love,” “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without A Face,” “Flesh For Fantasy,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “To Be A Lover,” and more. The record concludes with two songs newly recorded just for this collection’s initial release: “John Wayne” and “New Future Weapon.”
Although some of these recordings date back over thirty years ago, they still retain their powerful appeal and dynamic presence. There is no better way to hear them and their creator, Billy Idol, than on these classic albums, newly released on high-quality vinyl.
You can purchase the one, two or all three Billy Idol remastered vinyl LP re-issues now at this location.
