Just to be forthright here, I am 100% a Billy Idol poser. I only know the hits. And even then, I’m only vaguely familiar with them.
However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying this Expanded Edition of his 1983 album, where eight bonus tracks accompany the original nine tunes.
The title track starts the listen, and you don’t need me to tell you it’s stood the test of time, where Idol’s growl, Thommy Price’s thumping drums and Steve Stevens’ strong riffs make it one of the best anthems from the ’80s.
Lesser known tracks from the original disc include the moody, New Wave inspired “Daytime Drama”, and the driving punk energy of the melodic yet gritty “Blue Highway”. “Flesh For Fantasy” then puts Steven Webster’s skilled bass to good use alongside Stevens’ colorful synth and Idol’s rugged versus smooth pipes, while the initially dreamy “(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows” takes a sharp turn into a punchy and animated rocker that’s got plenty of bite but also immediately invites a sing-along.
Of the bonus material, the flowing keys from Judi Dozier and guitar acrobatics from Stevens are impressive across “Best Way Out Of Here”, but it’s the dark mood of the introspective “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” that shows the true depth of Idol’s multi-dimensional voice.
The record exits with “Eyes Without A Face (Poolside Remix)”, where Perri Lister’s unmistakable backing vocals and Sal Cuevas’ charming bass illuminate the sparkling delivery that’s beat heavy and even a bit tropical.
Although you won’t find me pledging any allegiance to Billy Idol’s artistry, I have to say, I had only heard of two of these songs before, and it wasn’t hard to enjoy the disco, synth, glam and metal ideas of the rest of them, too
