Idol Songs: 11 of the Best

Updated on Oct 24, 2023

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Released 1988 Length 43:50 Artist Billy Idol Producer Keith Forsey		Recorded 1981 – 87 Idol Songs 11 of the Best (1988) Charmed Life (1990) Release date 1988 Label Chrysalis Records

Genres Rock music, New wave, Post-punk Similar Billy Idol albums, Rock music albums

Idol Songs: 11 of the Best is a compilation album by English rock vocalist Billy Idol, released in 1988. It comprises all the singles released from his first three albums, Billy Idol, Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile, plus the live version of "Mony Mony" and re-recorded Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", both of which appeared on Idol's debut EP Don't Stop. A limited edition version also contained a further four remixes. The album reached number 2 in the UK. The album has been certified by BPI platinum. It was reissued with a different title and cover artwork in 2003 as The Essential.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Billy Idol except where noted.

"Rebel Yell" – 4:48
"Hot in the City" – 3:38
"White Wedding" – 3:34
"Eyes Without a Face" (Idol, Steve Stevens) – 4:10
"Catch My Fall" – 3:43
"Mony Mony" (live) (Bobby Bloom, Ritchie Cordell, Bo Gentry, Tommy James) – 4:09
"To Be a Lover" (William Bell, Booker T. Jones) – 3:52
"Sweet Sixteen" – 4:15
"Flesh for Fantasy" (Idol, Stevens) – 3:49
"Don't Need a Gun" – 4:28
"Dancing with Myself" (single version) (Idol, Tony James) – 3:20

Limited Edition bonus track version (DBILCD1)

"Don't Need a Gun" (Melt Down Mix) – 7:08
"Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Mix) – 7:02
"Eyes Without a Face" (Extended Version) – 4:58
"To Be a Lover" (Mother of Mercy Mix) – 6:49

Note: "Don't Need a Gun" (Melt Down Mix) was unavailable elsewhere on CD and remained exclusive to the limited edition version. The "Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Mix) was also available on the Japanese issue of the "Vital Idol" compilation. These two tracks are easily available since 2012 on the So80s compilation.

Personnel

Kenny Aaronson – bass on "Mony Mony"

Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals on "To Be a Lover"

Sal Cuevas – bass on "Eyes Without a Face"

Terry Chimes – drums on "Dancing with Myself"

Susan Davis – keyboards on "Mony Mony"

Judi Dozier – keyboards on "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face", "Catch My Fall" and "Flesh for Fantasy"

Phil Feit – bass on "White Wedding"

Harold Faltermeyer – keyboards on "Don't Need a Gun"

Keith Forsey – drums on "Hot in the City" and "Sweet Sixteen"; Juno 60 on "To Be a Lover"; keyboards on "Sweet Sixteen"; drum programming on "Don't Need a Gun"

Connie Harvey – backing vocals on "To Be a Lover"

Billy Idol – vocals and guitars, bass on "To Be a Lover"

Tony James – bass on "Dancing with Myself"

Steve Jones – guitar on "Dancing with Myself"

Michael Klvana – additional keyboards on "Mony Mony"

Perri Lister – backing vocals on "Eyes Without a Face"

Marcus Miller – bass on "Sweet Sixteen"

Steve Missal – drums on "White Wedding"

Steve New – guitar on "Dancing with Myself"

Ainsley Otton – guitar on "Hot in the City"

Thommy Price – drums on "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face", "Catch My Fall", "Mony Mony" and "Flesh for Fantasy"

Mick Smiley – bass on "Hot in the City"

Stephanie Sprull – backing vocals on "Hot in the City"

Steve Stevens – guitar on all tracks except "Hot in the City" and "Dancing with Myself"; bass, Casio and keyboards on "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face", "Catch My Fall", "To Be a Lover" and "Flesh for Fantasy"; programming on "To Be a Lover"; bass on "Don't Need a Gun"

Richard Tell – piano on "To Be a Lover"

Steve Webster – bass on "Rebel Yell" and "Catch My Fall"

Mars Williams – saxophone on "Catch My Fall"

Janet Wright – backing vocals on "To Be a Lover"

Songs

1Rebel Yell4:48
2Hot in the City3:38
3White Wedding3:34

References

Idol Songs: 11 of the Best Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Track listing

Personnel

Songs

References