Billy Idol (album) explained

Billy Idol
Type:	studio
Artist:	Billy Idol
Cover:	Billy Idol 1982.jpg
Studio:	Westlake (Los Angeles)
Genre:	Rock, new wave
Length:	39:51 (original) (1983 reissue)
Label:	Chrysalis
Producer:	Keith Forsey
Prev Title:	Don't Stop
Prev Year:	1981
Next Title:	Rebel Yell
Next Year:	1983

Billy Idol is the debut studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 16 July 1982 by Chrysalis Records. After the breakup of the band Generation X and the release of his first solo extended play, Don't Stop (1981), Idol began working on his debut album. Produced by Keith Forsey, Billy Idol is a rock album with strong influences of new wave music.

Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success, peaking at number forty-five on the Billboard 200. Billy Idol was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Three singles were released from the album: "Dancing with Myself" was already released in 1981 as Idol's debut single. The lead single, "Hot in the City", peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard 100. "White Wedding" was released as the album's second single. After it peaked at number three on Mainstream Rock chart in 1983, the album was reissued with an addition of the earlier single "Dancing with Myself". The song "White Wedding (Part 1)" is so-named due to the less-heard "White Wedding (Part 2)", which is a more synthesiser-based continuation of the first part. It can be heard on the 12-inch version of the single and the compilation Vital Idol (1985).

"Hot in the City" was originally recorded for Idol's debut EP Don't Stop, but his label Chrysalis considered it too good just to release as part of the EP. They felt it could be a single and decided to keep it for the album.^[1]

Track listing

• "Dancing with Myself" recorded September 1980, AIR Studios, London.

Personnel

Musicians

• Billy Idol – vocals, guitar
• Steve Stevens – guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, bass (track 6)^[2]
• Phil Feit – bass (tracks 1–5, 7–10)
• Steve Missal – drums (tracks 1, 4–5, 7–10)

Additional musicians

• Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals^{[3] [4]}
• Keith Forsey – drums (tracks 2, 3 and 6)^{[5] [6]}
• Ashley Otten – guitar (track 3)^{[3] [4]}
• Mick Smiley – bass (track 3)^{[3] [4]}
• Steve New − guitar (track 11)^[7]
• Steve Jones − guitar (track 11)^[7]
• Tony James – bass (track 11)^[7]
• Terry Chimes – drums (track 11)^[7]

Technical

• Keith Forsey – producer
• Brian Reeves – engineer
• Nigel Walker – engineer (track 11)
• Steve Bates – assistant engineer
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Jules Bates – photography
• Perri Lister – make-up
• Janet Levinson – design
• Steve Stevens – arrangements
• Billy Idol – arrangements

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1982–1983)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[8]	66
US Rock Albums (Billboard)^[9]	15

Year-end charts

Chart (1983)! scope="col"

Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[10]	31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	21

Chart (1984)! scope="col"

Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[12]	23

References

Bibliography

• Book: Idol, Billy . 2014 . Dancing With Myself . Simon & Schuster. London, England . 978-0-85720-559-9.

External links

• [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000652281|pure_url=yes}} ''Billy Idol''] at AllMusic

Notes and References

1. Idol 2014, p. 146.
2. Idol 2014, p. 168.
3. Idol 2014, p. 145.
4. . CD liner notes. Billy Idol. . 1988.
5. Idol 2014, pp. 164-168.
6. Web site: Erik . Eldenius . What Do You Know About...? Keith Forsey . moderndrummer.com . July 3, 2019.
7. Idol 2014, p. 125.
8. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . illustrated . St Ives, N.S.W. . Australian Chart Book . 1993 . 147 . 0-646-11917-6.
9. Rock Albums . Billboard . 95 . 19 . 7 May 1983 . 24 . 0006-2510 . World Radio History.
10. The Top Albums of 1983 . RPM . 39 . 17 . 24 December 1983 . 15 . 0033-7064 . Library and Archives Canada.
11. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1983 . . 21 August 2021.
12. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1984 . Recorded Music NZ . 21 August 2021.