The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (CD/DVD) [Deluxe Edition]

Billy Idol | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 24, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Deluxe Edition
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B0018TLRTU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,517 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

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

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Dancing With Myself

2. Hot In The City (Uncensored Version) - previously unreleased

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

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Idolize Yourself with the Very Best of Billy Idol which includes a DVD! 18 tracks on the CD plus 13 tracks on the DVD. All the hits from 'Dancing With Myself', 'Hot In The City', 'White Wedding', 'Rebel Yell', 'Eyes Without A Face' and other greats. Good luck trying to sit still with these mega hits! After getting his start with '70s punks Generation X, singer Billy Idol left the band for a solo career in the early '80s. An early MTV favourite with his blond spiked hair and "tough guy" looks, Idol combined his punk roots with top-40 hooks, resulting in many '80s rock classics.

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
(REAL NAME)   

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
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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!!!!!!!!

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars FORGOT TO BE A "A DIFFERENT GREATEST HITS PACKAGE", July 19, 2008

By 

Grappler "grappler" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (CD/DVD) (Audio CD)

I remember the first time I ever saw a Billy Idol video, I was 8 yrs old. in the old Howard's Department Store(Remember those?) it was 1982 on the new MTV channel was Billy Idol doing his new "White Wedding" it was the first music video I ever saw. When they showed the scene of the nails going into the coffin I remember turning to my brother and going "He's a devil worshipper." Fast forward to 1987 Im riding my BMX Bike and on the Top 40 after they play "La Bamba" the new Billy Idol "Mony Mony Live" comes on, and I've fallen in love. Billy Idol became the cool image I wanted to be when I grew up, the look, the personality, the total awesomeness. To this day he is my favorite artist of all time. When I finally saw my first concert in 2002 and I was able to get up against the stage and almost touch him (missed by less then an inch) I almost died.
When I first got the internet my screen name was "Fatalcharm" after a song off "Whiplash Smile". So I'm a fan, get over it.

Billy Idol is going through the Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick stage where you keep re-releasing greatest hits packages within every 2 studio albums, that way you have a package to tour to. This album has all of his hits some 10 top 40 hits counting 4 top 10 hits or so. Its a good lineup of solid rockers, crossing the strange mix of music Billy has been successfull at pop-metal "White Wedding" Hard Rock "Rebel Yell" Punk "Dancing With Myself" Pop "Eyes Without A Face".

So whats the Problem.....

This album wasn't necessary its the 2001 album plus 2 new tracks, a Devil's Playground Track and not much more. For the purpose of the DVD its a good add on I guess but that doesn't excuse the same line up.
Its pretty much the same as Idol Songs,(minus a few tracks after 88) and 2001's greatest hits.

Now you ask how could it have been different?

Here's an idea Billy's only #1 hit was the live version of "Mony Mony" not the 1981 or studio version on the last 2 greatest hits package and thats what really gets me this version is so dry. Its rare for a live song to hit #1 and here we don't even get it on the greatest hits package. The song only made its appeareance on the Idol Song's Import and a few singles.

Where are the Vital Idol Tracks?

Vital Idol was the FIRST remix album to ever go Platinum. Its version of "Flesh For Fantasy" and "Forgot To Be A Lover" haunted dance clubs for years. Not to mention these version rock harder then the studio versions. Yet once again we get the same old rehashed versions. Which is really a let down for the newer fans who never heard these on the radio which isn't remix friendly.

Newer Tracks on a greatest hits, how innovative....

The newer tracks are okay but how about the tracks that just dissappeared, such as "Im gonna find my Way", that was yanked from Mp3.com a few years back on the song he played in his 2001 concert something along the lines of "My Monster" (I can't remember the exact title) these tracks just straight up dissappeared. And Cyberpunk "Shock To The System" was not the trademark to this album a small metro area where I live still has "Wasteland" in their rotation. "Adam In Chains" deserved a spot on this disc, is there a moodier Billy Idol song?

So this isn't a bad album just a bad concept, no Vital Idol, his biggest hit of All time Live "Mony Mony" is missing for 2 greatest hits packages and Cyberpunk is once again understated. This album if not for a dvd isn't really necessary. Giving this album 5 stars would be like writing a different review for the Mona Lisa everyday for eternity and giving it 5 stars each time. I mean where is the variety?