Idol Songs: 11 of the Best
1988 greatest hits album by Billy Idol
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Idol Songs: 11 of the Best is a greatest hits album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 20 June 1988 by Chrysalis Records.[4] It comprises all the singles released from his first three studio albums—Billy Idol, Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile—as well as 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 of the album contains two extra remixes, and another limited edition contains four extra remixes. The album reached number two on the UK Albums Chart[5] and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 2003, the album was reissued with a different title and cover as The Essential.[6]
| Idol Songs: 11 of the Best | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 20 June 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1981–1987 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 43:49 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer | Keith Forsey | |||
| Billy Idol chronology | ||||
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Track listings
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rebel Yell" | Rebel Yell (1983) | 4:48 | |
| 2. | "Hot in the City" | Idol | Billy Idol (1982) | 3:38 |
| 3. | "White Wedding" (Part 1) | Idol | Billy Idol (1982) | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Eyes Without a Face" |
| Rebel Yell (1983) | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Catch My Fall" | Idol | Rebel Yell (1983) | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Mony Mony" (live) | Don't Stop EP (1981) | 4:10 | |
| 7. | "To Be a Lover" | Whiplash Smile (1986) | 3:52 | |
| 8. | "Sweet Sixteen" | Idol | Whiplash Smile (1986) | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Flesh for Fantasy" |
| Rebel Yell (1983) | 3:49 |
| 10. | "Don't Need a Gun" | Idol | Whiplash Smile (1986) | 4:28 |
| 11. | "Dancing with Myself" (single version) |
| Kiss Me Deadly (1981) | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 43:49 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Don't Need a Gun" (Meltdown Mix) | Idol | Whiplash Smile (1986) | 7:08 |
| 13. | "To Be a Lover" (Mother of Mercy Mix) |
| Whiplash Smile (1986) | 6:47 |
| Total length: | 57:42 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Don't Need a Gun" (Melt Down Mix) | Idol | Whiplash Smile (1986) | 7:08 |
| 13. | "Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Mix) |
| Don't Stop EP (1981) | 7:02 |
| 14. | "Eyes Without a Face" (extended version) |
| Flesh for Fantasy (1983) | 4:58 |
| 15. | "To Be a Lover" (Mother of Mercy Mix) |
| Whiplash Smile (1986) | 6:49 |
| Total length: | 69:46 | |||
Note: "Don't Need a Gun" (Melt Down Mix) was unavailable elsewhere on CD and remained exclusive to the limited edition versions. The "Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Mix) was also available on the Japanese issue of the Vital Idol remix album. These two tracks have been available since 2012 on the So80s compilation.[citation needed]
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"
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[19] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[20] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[21] | Platinum | 50,000[21] |
| France (SNEP)[22] | Gold | 100,000* |
| Sweden (GLF)[23] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[24] | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[4] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
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* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||