Billy Idol has always been a cool artist. I was hip to him when he fronted Generation X. When he went solo, I would get all of his albums. To me though, his crowning glory, album wise, was his "Rebel Yell" album in 84. The production on this album is top notch. He blended rock with funk in a very cool way. Billy's soulful singing in spots made it all work. He definately had his ear to the turntable while listening to P's "1999" album. He brought that "blue" feel from the "1999" album and incorporated it to his thing. This is evident in tracks like "Eyes Without A Face", the killin' "Flesh For Fantasy" and the underrated but groovin' "Daytime Drama". With the help of Stevie Stevens, a very cool guitarist and a huge P fan, he and Billy carved out a cool niche of polished funk/rock that worked on the radio. When this was released, I WORE this album out. Went and saw Billy in concert on this tour at the Forum. Dez Dickerson was the opening act, which was very fitting. Anyway, who else digs the "Rebel Yell" album?

i love this album! initially, i didn't like the song rebel yell, but after eyes without a face and flesh for fanstasy were released as singles, i had to get the album! Rebel yell ended up becoming one of my favs off the album. a lot of crictics thought and still do think Billy was just a poser. whatever. i'm still loved that album! Daytime Drama was the shit!

MOW MOW MOW edits!
[Edited 11/16/05 14:59pm]

Billy Idol is the bomb and rebel yell is a great album. I only got it a few months ago but he rocks and is still hot.

How is the first cd? I'm thinking of geting that one day too.

dancerella said:

All of Idol's albums are good. But his early shit, to me, like most artists early shit, is the best.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Most folks have always slept on Daytime Drama. It's one of the better cuts on that album.

I also went to see Idol again at The Roxy about 4 years ago. The joint was packed. Over packed actually. But he and Stevie brought it that night. The crowd went straight nuts whenever Billy opened his mouth. These were all grown folks. People who were kids during the 80's MTV days. We knew all of the words and shit. Folks in their 30's, still sportin' mohawks. These are the true punks. Wasn't no posing. The real deal. Similar thing, also at The Roxy, was Duran Duran. Place was packed with the same intensity. Grown ass 40 year old women crying their eyes out during "Save A Prayer". That shit was real for those folks.

blackguitaristz said:

Hey BG, what up?

You know I have to have another listen to the daytime drama jam. I never thought it was that great before....

More!! More!! More!!..

With a rebel yell!!!


[Edited 11/17/05 0:50am]

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah it's great. Nailed the dance/rock crossover perfectly. It's also his last consistently good album. Whiplash Smile and Charmed Life were patchy, despite some killer highlights, Cyberpunk was rubbish and Devil's Playground has all of two good songs on it.

Glad to see you mention Generation X too. Highly underrated.

Saw Billy in London last week. He was rubbish.

dancerella said:

Personally, I think it's killin'.

Shapeshifter said:

Wow, that's a drag. He was great both times I seen him.

stupid glitchy org!

what i was trying to say: "eyes without a face" is one of my favorite songs of all time...




edits without a face
[Edited 11/17/05 11:11am]

YES! LOVE BILLY IDOL. It's a NICE DAY FOR A WHITE WEDDING.... HE played BEACON HALL years ago and DEZ opened for him.... GREAT CLUB I used to go to THE CHINA CLUB ALL the TIME also wayyy back. I believe this was with his first solo cause it was same year Morris, Jesse,Jill were all playing clubs. I saw Billy at this Old club in NYC called THE PEPPERMINT LOUNGE also. Billy IDOL ALWAYS put on a GREAT DAMN SHOW and looks HOT and FIT and STILL is SINGING GREAT. LOVE him. Have all his albums GEN X and Solo.

Shapeshifter said:

What made him so crap?

blackguitaristz said:

I'll check that song out tonight. I meant to do it last night but was too tired.

The video singles from this album - Eyes Without a Face, Rebel Yell and Flesh for Fantasy - are among the first I remember seeing in regular rotation on Night Tracks. Good tunes. I also like the Sesame Street version, Rebel L.

RipHer2Shreds said:

i remember seeing that, it was cute...little punky muppets and the letter L, rockin out.

funkpill said:

I knew u could dig it, pill!

I lived on this album for a while. Caught him in concert w/The Cult as openers. Great show, but the Cult turned it out. Now you've got Catch my Fall on replay in my head.