The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself

Billy Idol | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 24, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0018TLRTK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,660 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > New Wave

Track Listings

1. Dancing With Myself

2. Hot In The City

3. White Wedding Part 1

4. Rebel Yell

5. Eyes Without A Face

6. Flesh For Fantasy

7. Catch My Fall

8. To Be A Lover

9. Don't Need A Gun

10. Sweet Sixteen

11. Mony, Mony (Live)

12. Cradle Of Love

13. L.A. Woman

14. Shock To The System

15. Speed

16. World Comin' Down

17. John Wayne - new exclusive track

18. New Future Weapon - new exclusive track

Editorial Reviews

Billy Idol, The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself

16 Classic Bill Idol tracks including: White Wedding, Rebel Yell, Mony Mony (Live), Eyes Without A Face, Dancing With Myself and more. Also includes 2 brand new tracks: John Wayne and New Future Weapon. (Deluxe CD/DVD edition also available.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should fit the needs of most casual fans, July 3, 2008

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best Of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (Audio CD)

Given Billy Idol's "Greatest Hits" (2001) came out a mere seven years ago, it seems kind of odd that a second compilation album is out now with "The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself" (2008). After all, since the last greatest hits, Billy's only released one more album, the underappreciated, hard rocking "Devil's "Playground," (2005) so what's the point?

Necessary or not, "Idolize Yourself" is still a strong compilation that's probably a cut above the first "Greatest Hits."

18 tracks total, "Idolize Yourself" contains almost an identical track listing as "Greatest Hits," except that "Rebel Yell (acoustic)" and a cover of the Simple Minds "(Don't You) Forget about me" are left off, and replaced with "Speed" from the soundtrack of the same name (1994), "World Comin' Down" from "Devils Playground" as well as two new songs "John Wayne" and "New Future Weapon." While the Simple Minds cover is missed, the loss of "Rebel Yell (acoustic)" isn't that big a deal.

Much like "Greatest Hits," "Idolize Yourself" does a pretty good job at selecting the hits and best tracks from Idol's first three albums "Billy Idol," (1982) "Rebel Yell" (1983) and "Whiplash Smile," (1986) although a more dedicated listener will probably want to get all three of those albums as they are all worth owning and contain many gems that aren't as well known. I do have to say, however, that I am displeased that the radio edit of "Don't Need a Gun" is included here instead of the album version (from "Whiplash Smile"). While it's only about a minute or so shorter and may not seem like a big deal--it is. The radio edit really misses something, as Stevens awesome solo is cut short.

I also have a bone to pick with the selections from some of the later day albums. While you have to include "Cradle of Love," from "Charmed Life," (1990) "Idolize Yourself" would have been better served if it had left off the cover of the Doors "LA Woman," as it is just plain terrible. Yes, it was a hit, but a hit to forget. "The Loveless" or "Prodigal Blues" are far stronger and would have made better choices.

"Idolize Yourself" also could have done without "Shock to the System." That song as well as all of "Cyberpunk" (1993) just plain sucks. Hey if Van Halen didn't acknowledge "3," on their best of anthology, Mr. Idol can do the same for his one misguided venture.

It's also a shame that only one track from "Devil's Playground" is included as that album is pretty killer. On the plus side, however, is the inclusion of the excellent "Speed," which has been hard to come by.

The two new songs, the moody new-wave-ish "John Wayne" and the hard rocking "New Future Weapons" are pretty solid and should please most Idol enthusiasts.

In conclusion, while some tracks could have been left off and others included, "Idolize Yourself" is still an excellent compilation that should fit the needs of most casual fans.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OMG!!!!, June 26, 2008

By 

Denise Ogerly (Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

I have been a Billy fan since I was a kid, and he just gets better with age!!! John Wayne is a GREAT song, one of the best songs out there right now! All his greatest hits are on here, and are still great to listen to after all these years!!
The videos are AWESOME!! Just really takes you back to younger, more care-free days of watching MTV and listening to all your favorite CASSETTES and ALBUMS. Billy's voice has always made me shiver, and when you can actually SEE that perfect specimen snarling at you, life is pretty darn SWEET!!!!!!!!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Tracks Worth the Price Alone, June 29, 2008

By 

Gianmarco Manzione (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

Though Billy is apparently struggling to strip himself of the conviction that we need to hear yet another reissued version of "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" all over again on this second greatest hits package in 7 years, the new singles it includes are better by leaps and bounds than that lame cover of "Don't You Forget About Me" he slapped onto the last hits CD in 2001.

Idol's got a penchant for really terrible covers-if you've somehow managed to survive Charmed Life's "LA Woman" in its entirety without slammin gthe "Stop" button, you already know this. If not, well, I don't blame you. So it is of considerable relief that he stuck to his own guns this time around with a strong new track called "John Wayne," an eerily Cure-ish and radio-ready rock ballad that summons the ghosts of "Eyes Without A Face" and "Blue Highway."

Age isn't something that was supposed to happen to Billy Idol; but that the man is making music as strong as "John Wayne" and 2005's Devil's Playground as he prepares to turn 53 years-old suggests that we may have failed to see past the glitter back in the day to catch a glimpse of the grit. Check him out on tour this summer and come to your own conclusions.

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