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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.
| Billy Idol | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 July 1982 | |||
| Studio | Westlake (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | Rock, new wave | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Chrysalis | |||
| Producer | Keith Forsey | |||
| Billy Idol chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Cover for the 1983 reissue of the album. | ||||
| Singles from Billy Idol | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B[3] |
| Smash Hits | 1/10[4] |
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.[5]
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| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Come On, Come On" | Billy Idol, Steve Stevens | 4:00 |
| 2. | "White Wedding (Part 1)" | Idol | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Hot in the City" | Idol | 3:40 |
| 4. | "Dead on Arrival" | Idol | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Nobody's Business" | Idol | 4:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Calling" | Idol, Keith Forsey | 4:48 |
| 2. | "Hole in the Wall" | Idol | 4:14 |
| 3. | "Shooting Stars" | Idol, Stevens | 4:30 |
| 4. | "It's So Cruel" | Idol, Philip Hawk | 5:20 |
| 5. | "Congo Man" (Reprise of "Love Calling") | Idol, Forsey | 1:07 |
| Total length: | 39:51 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Dancing with Myself" | Idol, Tony James | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 43:11 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "White Wedding" (Clubland Extended Remix) | 12:38 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baby Talk" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:12 |
| 2. | "Untouchables" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:01 |
| 3. | "Come On, Come On" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Hot in the City" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:05 |
| 5. | "Dead on Arrival" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:12 |
| 6. | "Heavens Inside" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:00 |
| 7. | "Ready Steady Go" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:18 |
| 8. | "Hole in the Wall" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:12 |
| 9. | "Shooting Stars" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:24 |
| 10. | "Kiss Me Deadly" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:10 |
| 11. | "White Wedding" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 6:48 |
| 12. | "Nobody's Business" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:44 |
| 13. | "Dancing with Myself" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 5:47 |
| 14. | "Mony Mony" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 4:29 |
| 15. | "Triumph" (Live from The Roxy, West Hollywood, August 12, 1982) | 3:58 |
- "Dancing with Myself" recorded September 1980, AIR Studios, London.
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- Musicians
- Billy Idol – vocals, guitar
- Steve Stevens – guitars, keyboards, synthesizer, bass (track 6)[7]
- Phil Feit – bass (tracks 1–5, 7–10)
- Steve Missal – drums (tracks 1, 4–5, 7–10)
- Additional musicians
- Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals[8][9]
- Keith Forsey – drums (tracks 2, 3 and 6)[10][11]
- Ashley Otten – guitar (track 3)[8][9]
- Mick Smiley – bass (track 3)[8][9]
- Steve New − guitar (track 11)[12]
- Steve Jones − guitar (track 11)[12]
- Tony James – bass (track 11)[12]
- Terry Chimes – drums (track 11)[12]
- 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
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Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[22] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[23] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[24] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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