While this original of Billy Idol does not have “Dancing With Myself” it does have a couple of memorable Idol singles including “Hot In the City” which was released as a the first single in ‘82 when it hit #23 in the US and #58 in the UK; it was re-released in ‘87 when it charted again at #13 UK and #48 US. The other single was “White Wedding (part 1)” which went to #36 in the US and #6 in the UK (in ‘85 with yet another single re-release). I didn’t know there was a “White Wedding (part 2)” but there is – it’s a synth-heavy continuation of part 1 that appears on the “White Wedding (part 1)” 12″ single. I totally remember hearing “White Wedding” in ‘82, mainly because for some reason my parents hated it and thought it was one of the worst things they’d ever heard on the radio. I was 11 years old and just really getting into music in a big way, especially rock and all things British so of course I LOVED it. Though Idol has a solid punk background in Chelsea and Generation X, Billy Idol is rock, and skews pop/new wave in the rock genre, especially on tracks like “Hot in the City,” “Nobody’s Business” and “Love Calling” (which reminds me of Adam Ant’s style) and even some soft-focused new wave like on “It’s So Cruel,” though guitarist Steve Stevens’ shredding helps offset the pop to make it more hard-rocking on tracks like “Come On, Come On” (which Stevens co-wrote) and “Hole In the Wall.”

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While Idol’s look was stereotypical punk, Rebel Yell is only vaguely punk in attitude but is very slick heavy metal/new wave pop in delivery, with the guitar playing prowess and writing contribution of Steve Stevens a heavy influence. (Steve Stevens Wiki entry made me laugh: after listing his various work with artists like Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Robert Palmer, etc. etc., it says “Sometimes he smokes a cigarette while playing a song” like this is some hugely unique talent.)

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