Idol Songs: 11 of the Best

Personnel: Billy Idol (vocals, guitar); Steve Stevens (guitar, keyboards, programming); Mars Williams (saxophone); Susan Davis, Mike Klvana, Judi Dozier (keyboards); Steve Missal, Thommy Price (drums); Connie Harvey, Perri Lister, Janet Wright, Jocelyn Brown, Paulette McWilliams (background vocals).
Photographers: Bob Gruen; Tim White ; Albert Sanchez.
Billy Idol's first hits collection, Idol Songs: 11 of the Best, was released in Europe in 1988, while he was still a commanding presence on the charts. The U.S. didn't see a compilation on Idol until 2001. That collection includes other hits (and misses) which are not on this one, most notably his 1990 smash "Cradle of Love" and its followup, "L.A. Woman." This collection, however, includes rare single edits and remixes not available on the 2001 release. First of all, Billy Idol's biggest hit, 1987's "Mony Mony," was released as a live single. That live single was the version that topped the U.S. charts, and is included on this disc. On the 2001 release, however, the original studio version is included, and that version lacks the muscle (and Steve Stevens' relentless guitar licks) found on the live version. Second, this disc includes the single remix of "Catch My Fall," which was the final single released from Rebel Yell. The 2001 set includes the original album version. This disc also includes shorter, more edited versions of "Eyes Without a Face," "Don't Need a Gun," "Flesh for Fantasy," "White Wedding," and "Dancing With Myself." Until 2001, then, this was the only Idol hits collection on the market. If one doesn't mind not having the single remix of "Catch My Fall" and the live version of "Mony Mony," go with the 2001 release. ~ Jose Promis