Album artwork for Billy Idol by Billy Idol

The eponymous debut studio album by English rock vocalist Billy Idol.

The cover shot alone perfectly encapsulates the clichés (the sultry pout, black leather vest, tattoos, and spiked bleached hair) of an entire era. After leaving the popular British punk outfit Generation X (represented here by their ubiquitous, if belated American breakthrough hit, "Dancing with Myself"), Idol was shrewd and/or lucky enough to pump up his image just in time for the rise of MTV, infuse his music with guitarist Steve Stevens's metal flash, and hook up with Kiss's former manager--though not necessarily in that order. Former Gen X producer Keith Forsey further burnished Idol's trademark snarl with accessible pop flourishes and yielded two sizable hits, "White Wedding" and "Hot in the City." While "Love Calling" weds some catchy vocal hooks with a Burundi beat to good effect, much of the rest comes off as flaccid, rushed filler. Though 24-bit mastering enhances the sound greatly, the album's brief 10 tracks could have benefited greatly from the inclusion of an original-release track ("Congo Man" was replaced by "Dancing with Myself" shortly after the album's initial '82 release) and several contemporary EP songs that are strangely MIA here

Billy Idol

Billy Idol

Capitol Records
Album artwork for Billy Idol by Billy Idol
LP

$29.99

Released 10/20/2017Catalog Number

b002626501

Learn more
Album artwork for Billy Idol by Billy Idol
CDx2

$24.99

Features an unreleased 1982 concert from the Roxy in West Hollywood and an epic unreleased 12+ minute(!) extended version of White Wedding.

Released 07/28/2023Catalog Number

B003782402

Learn more
Billy Idol

Billy Idol

Capitol Records
Album artwork for Billy Idol by Billy Idol
LP

$29.99

Released 10/20/2017Catalog Number

b002626501

Learn more
Album artwork for Billy Idol by Billy Idol
CDx2

$24.99

Features an unreleased 1982 concert from the Roxy in West Hollywood and an epic unreleased 12+ minute(!) extended version of White Wedding.

Released 07/28/2023Catalog Number

B003782402

Learn more

The eponymous debut studio album by English rock vocalist Billy Idol.

The cover shot alone perfectly encapsulates the clichés (the sultry pout, black leather vest, tattoos, and spiked bleached hair) of an entire era. After leaving the popular British punk outfit Generation X (represented here by their ubiquitous, if belated American breakthrough hit, "Dancing with Myself"), Idol was shrewd and/or lucky enough to pump up his image just in time for the rise of MTV, infuse his music with guitarist Steve Stevens's metal flash, and hook up with Kiss's former manager--though not necessarily in that order. Former Gen X producer Keith Forsey further burnished Idol's trademark snarl with accessible pop flourishes and yielded two sizable hits, "White Wedding" and "Hot in the City." While "Love Calling" weds some catchy vocal hooks with a Burundi beat to good effect, much of the rest comes off as flaccid, rushed filler. Though 24-bit mastering enhances the sound greatly, the album's brief 10 tracks could have benefited greatly from the inclusion of an original-release track ("Congo Man" was replaced by "Dancing with Myself" shortly after the album's initial '82 release) and several contemporary EP songs that are strangely MIA here