BILLY IDOL
Billy Idol (Chrysalis)
Vital Idol (Chrysalis)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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When Billy Idol's self titled debut hit in 1982, it marked the merging of punk rock with mainstream hard rock and brought a new level of respectability to spikey hair and a snarly attitude. It also marked the emergence of the MTV star, an act that was built more on video rotation than radio spins. One affect of all of the above was the emergence of hard rock music in dance clubs, as Idol's punk attitude was blended with a pop sensibility that supplied him with plenty of hooks and the will to use them. It's not his classic album, really - that would come with the release of Rebel Yell - but it was a breakthrough, and its appearance with 24bit remastering is welcome.

A word of caution is due regarding Vital Idol. While at first glance it appears to be a greatest hits compilation that's somewhat short of some pretty great hits, it's in fact a set of extended dance mixes of some Idol classics. That's either a good or bad thing depending on your taste. As someone who likes to dance to rock 'n roll music, I consider it a generally good thing. It's also enhanced with 24bit sound.

Track Lists:

Billy Idol: Come On, Come On * White Wedding (Part 1) * Hot In The City * Dead On Arrival * Nobody's Business * Love Calling * Hole In The Wall * Shooting Stars * It's So Cruel * Dancing With Myself

Vital Idol: White Wedding (Parts 1&2) (Shotgun Mix) * Mony Mony (Downtown Mix) * Hot In The City (Exterminator Mix) * Dancing With Myself (Uptown Mix) * Flesh For Fantasy (Below The Belt Mix) * To Be A Lover (Mother Of Mercy Mix) * Love Calling (Rub A Dub Dub Mix) * Catch My Fall (Remix Mix)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale