Customer Reviews

Billy Idol - Greatest Hits

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4 star:		(29)
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All of Idol's best are represented here from his first EP, Don't Stop, to his last album, Cyberpunk. This collection also contains an acoustic version of Rebel Yell recorded live in December 1993, with Steve Stevens on guitar, playing his heart out. It sounds as if not a day had passed since the original studio recording. Also included is Billy's version of Simple Minds' 80's Anthem "Don't You Forget About Me" from the move "The Breakfast Club". Again Stevens helms the guitar & the version is very faithful to the original while still distinctly "Idol". The song was written by Keith Forsey, Idol's long-time producer & was originally offered to Billy but was not recorded back in 1984/85, for reasons unknown.

All of the songs have been "24 Bid Digitally Remastered" and sound fabulous. Kudos to Capitol Records for giving this Artist the treatment he deservs. Idol helped define the 80's MTV Generation & is still a powerful force in the industry as his version of "Don't You" will attest. An album of all new material is expected by year's end & if the last track on this album is any indication we have alot to look forward to......This is an essential purchase for any Idol fan/80's Music fan-

Although a 1988 Import, "Idol Songs", has been easy to find since its release, this is Billy Idol's first US compilation. All the big hits are here, although the version of "Mony Mony" is NOT the live version that went to #1 (Idol's only #1 single) in 1987 but the studio version from Don't Stop that received just as much airplay as the live version. The live version is on "Idol Songs" as well as a various artists compilation called Rockin 80's Vol. 2 on Madacy. Tacked on to this compilation are a great acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" and a not-quite-as good version of the Simple Minds #1 "Don't You Forget About Me", which was orginally written for Idol. The sound on this CD is superb and they've included up-to-date liner notes, as well. A must for Billy Idol newbies and for die-hards who want to have a career spanning compilation.

Billy Idol was one of those artists that I always enjoyed listening to but never got around to purchasing any of his albums. I remember back towards the mid-'90s wondering why this guy didn't put out a greatest hits album. Indeed, with no new albums since, he has finally done so. And without a doubt, this collection is just right.

The track order is chronological. The version of "Mony Mony" included is the studio one that did not actually chart (the live version that went to # 1 is not included--but the version here got as much if not more airplay anyway). Songs like "Hot In The City" and my personal favorite "Eyes Without A Face" sound better than ever on this remastered CD. "To Be A Lover" and "Cradle Of Love" still rock. Including "Shock To The System" was an assurance that Billy covered his entire career on this collection. The closing remake track "Don't You (Forget About Me)" is excellent as well.

Billy Idol is a one of a kind artist with a wide variety of well-known songs. This collection will remind anyone what an influential artist he was. He became popular while remaining true to himself musically. The quality of these songs speaks for itself.

You will really enjoy this CD. It has good tunes and great sound quality. I had never purchased a Billy Idol album/CD before, and watching the TV show "Rock Star" with its several Billy Idol selections done by the competitors made me realize how good Billy had been (where did he go?)and how many catchy dance tunes he gave us (thanks Billy). This old gal was dancing with herself in the kitchen and enjoying every minute of it. Enjoy.

Back in the '80s I wasn't really into Billy Idol's music. It wasn't until VH1's Behind the Music episode on Billy that made me gave Billy's music a chance. His greatest hits is a solid compilation of all his hits plus a killer cover of Simple Mind's "Don't You [Forget About Me]". The live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" is just amazing. It rocks out just as much as the studio version. "Rebel Yell" is probably my all-time favorite Billy Idol song. He has a snarl that just cannot be imitated. "Sweet Sixteen" is a awesome ballad while "White Wedding" brings back memories when music videos were actually entertaining. Even "Mony Mony" sounds good on this cd and that isn't one of my favorite songs from Billy. All his songs on this cd doesn't sound dated and actually sounds invigorating in this day and age of teen pop and rap/metal. This is one of the best greatest hits cds I have heard in a long time and usually there are a few tracks that I don't like but on Billy Idol's greatest hits, every track is a real winner.

In the world of pop artists inspired by punk and new wave, Billy Idol is certainly above average. He didn't have nearly enough good songs to do toe-to-toe with Duran Duran or Depeche Mode, but the guy definitely had six strong singles that stand the test of time, and this album is worth having because you can find them all here. Dancing With Myself. White Wedding. Rebel Yell. Cradle of Love. Eyes Without a Face. Flesh for Fantasy. You'll find everyone of the greats, as well as his Mony Mony cover, which was also pretty successful.

Those songs along make this album a must-have if you like eighties music. But wait--there's more. Also with the album you get an acoustic, live version of Rebel Yell. That might sound scary, but it's actually not half bad.

On the other hand, you get Billy attempting to cover "LA Woman" by the Doors. No matter what you are imagining in your head, I promise you that it's worse. But it's worse in all the best ways--like a terrible movie that you watch over and over with your friends so you can make jokes about the diabolical acting, ridiculous plot twists, and run-of-the-mill dialog and action. Everyone should own this cover of "LA Woman" so you can break it out at parties and have a laugh with your friends. Equally atrocious--Idol takes a shot at "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (originally recorded by Simple Minds for the movie "The Breakfast Club.") While it's not a full on train wreck, it's pretty bad and good for a laugh when you're down in the dumps.

Most of us know Billy Idol from a few songs, most notably "Rebel Yell," "Dancing With Myself," "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face," and his remake of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony". All of those hits are included, but so are less-popular but equally great songs such as the haunting "Sweet Sixteen" and the open-road scream of "Don't Need a Gun". The album, which is conveniently in chronological order, wisely does not venture too heavily into Idol's impressive but commercially-ignored album "Cyberpunk," and it only includes one new song--a surprisingly good remake of Simple Minds' "(Don't You) Forget About Me" [useless fun fact: Billy Idol almost sang the original version back in 1985]--but the album is full of hits. That in itself is impressive since most greatest hits albums are nothing but a few stellar singles with some also-rans pasted on for effect, but it's doubly so in Idol's case since a lot of Idol's minor hits are just as good as his bigger ones. If you already own all of Idol's albums, you shouldn't waste your money on an album that only has one new song, but for those just getting into Idol, this is an excellent place to start.

Had this Billy Idol collection come out in 1991 instead of 2001, it probably would have sold a couple of million copies easy, instead of barely nicking the Billboard album chart. From 1981 to 1990, Idol - with his his spiked hair and exaggerated sneer - made punk palatable to the masses via a series of entertaining videos that were featured on MTV. With images ingrained in the viewer's head, the music from these videos subsequently crossed over to radio.

Idol got his professional start in the music business with the punk band Generation X and it is his bopping remake of their "Dancing With Myself" - from his 1981 ep DON'T STOP - that starts off this collection. Also included here from DON'T STOP is his studio rendition of the Tommy James and the Shondells' hit "Mony Mony" (I prefer Idol's livelier, live version that topped the charts - from 1987's otherwise unvital VITAL IDOL - to this enclosed version).

It was with 1982's BILLY IDOL album that Idol emerged as a major video and radio personality with the sassy "Hot In The City," and, especially, the gothic "White Wedding" (the latter is represented by its less satisfying single edit). 1983's REBEL YELL was Idol's most varied album ever as well as his most hit-filled, with the guitar-driven title track, the eerie "Eyes Without A Face," the earnest, pure pop "Catch My Fall," and his most punkish solo recording "Flesh For Fantasy."

1986's WHIPLASH SMILE - Idol's homage to Elvis Presley - gave us the hits "To Be A Lover," "Sweet Sixteen," and "Don't Need A Gun," while 1990's CHARMED LIFE gave us Idol the rocker with scorching takes on the original "Cradle Of Love" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman." 1993's CYBERPUNK was a noisy mess (and Idol's last studio album to date) and its lone representative here "Shock To The System" is the weakest track on this set.

GREATEST HITS concludes with an unnecessary acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" (I'd have rather seen Idol's haunting CHARMED LIFE single "Prodigal Blues" and/or his riproaring theme for the hit film SPEED included here instead) and a faithful remake of the Simple Minds' hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)." "Don't You" was originally intended for Idol back in 1985 when it was included in the BREAKFAST CLUB film and it is easy to see why Simple Minds got the nod after Idol declined, as Idol and Simple Minds' singer Jim Kerr have extremely similar voices (Idol's being a bit higher and raspier). It is great to have Idol finally tackle it himself as the song suits him well.

With GREATEST HITS, we finally got a decent Billy Idol collection here in the US (the British got IDOL SONGS - which was comprised of his first 11 singles - in 1988). These recordings serve as a great reminder of the fun Idol's unique personality brought to MTV and the radio during the '80s and early '90s. They still sound particularly nifty in the car.

In a decade where the music scene consisted of more one hit wonders than anything else, was were great artists like Michael Jackson, The Police and Billy Idol made fame. I'm going to say it now that I have never been a huge fan of 80's music. Personally I think it was the decade where the music industry just fell apart. It was no longer about the music only the image and unfortunetly that pop culture philosophy still plagues the music industry today! However one of the few good things that came out of that hideous decade of music was Billy Idol. A punk-rocker in exile from the late 70's now trying to make a commercial impact. Using musical influences from the past and adding them to his punk rock origin Idol managed to create an awesome sound totally his own (with the help of guitarist Steve Stevens of course). The result was shocking and Idol became a dominant musical force in the 80's.

Even to this day the music still stands strong. Which is suprising considering how dated the era is, that this music hailed from. Still this is the type of cd that everyone should have. It's simply a strong collection of songs that are totally enjoyable. The entire cd covers Billy's career from his debt EP 'DON'T STOP' to his last album 1994's CYBERPUNK. Dance rock hits like DANCING WITH MYSELF, MONY MONY and HOT IN THE CITY are still excellent crowd pleasers at dances. Whereas rockers like WHITE WEDDING, CRADLE OF LOVE, TO BE A LOVER and REBEL YELL are defining moments in rock history. Idol also proved he could do more than just 'rock' he could also do some fine love ballads like EYES WITHOUT A FACE, CATCH MY FALL, and SWEET SIXTEEN. FLESH FOR FANTASY is the ultimate cruising tune. Idol even had a small portion of his failed CYBER PUNK album shown here with the amazing rocker SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM. Other tracks like a mildly successful 1986 follow up single DON'T NEED A GUN, a cover of the Doors classic L.A. WOMAN, a live acoustic version of REBEL YELL and a new recording of the 80's classic DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) are nice additions but could have made way for stronger tracks from his self titled 1982 debut ( SHOOTING STARS, COME ON COME ON, HOLE IN THE WALL etc;) and the Rebel Yell album (BLUE HIGHWAY?). These are still great tracks regardless if they pale in comparison to the classics.

Overall Billy Idol's Greatest Hits is an essential recording that no music listener should be without. Even the casual listener should enjoy this collection of rock songs, dance grooves and restful ballads that have made Billy Idol's career so diverse. Highly recommended!

The most amazing thing about this collection is the way in which these songs feel rooted to a very specific time and yet do not seem dated. Each of these sixteen songs shows that there was some genuine talent behind the somewhat cartoonish image (an image that to Idol's credit he seems to recognize is a bit cartoonish as well). The harder songs (especially "Flesh For Fantasy") still kick hard while the softer songs (particularly "Sweet Sixteen") remain truly affecting. It's also nice to see some of the less popular (though still very interesting) singles like "Catch My Fall" and "Don't Need A Gun" get their due. Even "Shock To The System" (from the ill-advised Cyberpunk album) holds it own here. Then there is an intriguing cover of "Don't You Forget About Me," the song (written by Idol's long-time producer Keith Forsey) that made Simple Minds a house-hold name back in 1985. While a brand new song written by Idol himself would have been nice, this recording is still welcome, and it's a nifty way for Idol to salute the era in which he found his greatest fame while still showing himself to be a performer whose best days are not entirely behind him.