Billy Idol, Billy Idol - Vital Idol

What would the iconography of the '80s be without Billy Idol? Considerably less leather-bound and blindingly blonde, for sure. And what would the era sound like without its plethora of extended 12-inch "hit" remixes? This album focuses largely on the latter, to the decided disadvantage of the former. While an anthology of the era's best-remixed dance tracks isn't a bad idea, this doesn't come close. Lacking early hits like the rousing "Rebel Yell" and the apparently not-for-the-dance-floor "Eyes Without a Face," it's not even a real Idol greatest-hits collection. Every track here clocks in at five minutes-plus, thanks to ample doses of 4/4 drum loops, pulsing synths, and vocal hooks that are repeated ad nauseam. It may evoke a few dizzy club memories, but it's certainly no way to get acquainted with Idol's punk-pop catalog of hits. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

holy misconceptions about this totally vital piece of Idol's catalog

Many reviews here seem to think that this is a compliation of either a) greatest hits or b) remixes done at a later date. That simply isn't the case. By the time this disc was released on CD it had already been released as an import vinyl LP 2 years earlier, which I original had, but which did not have "To Be A Lover" on it because the song hadn't been release yet. This compilation was a collection of Billy's 12" mixes. These are all 12" mixes that were released at the time of each song's popularity. Most of these mixes, in fact, were on the 12" single of Dancing with Myself in 1983! Other than that, the remix of Flesh for Fantasy is the remix from the original 12", which included the LP version as well since this version doesn't have all the vocals. "To Be A Lover", which was added to this collection in 1987 when it was re-released on CD, is the original vinyl 12" version. The reason songs such as "rebel yell" and "eyes without a face" are not included is because there were no 12" mixes released of these songs. If you want Billy's greatest hits, then by all means, get his greatest hits. If you want these unique 12" mixes that would otherwise be impossible to get in digital quality, forcing you to keep all your old 12" vinyl singles, then don't hesitate to get this disc.

And for hardcore fans who might shun this disc because they consider these versions 'inferior', just consider this. White Wedding was CALLED 'part 1' on Billy's LP, so obviously, he actually recorded a part 1 AND 2, which you have here. What's surprising about this however is that there are lyric verses on this version that are not used on the LP mix (makes sense since this is a longer version), BUT there is also a lyric verse on the LP mix that isn't on this long version! August 19, 2008

Not so vital, though with a few interesting remixes

Released in 1987 when Billy Idol reached #1 with a live version of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Mony Mony," Vital Idol became at that time, the closest thing to a best of until the much-needed Greatest Hits compilation. Thing is, it was a bunch of remixes and in the case of "White Wedding," the concatenation of a Part II, namely more guitarwork, space age synths, and an additional verse to make it an eight minute plus number. And face it-key numbers like "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without A Face" were missing, which given this collection, may be a relief, because they avoided being tampered with.

Unfortunately, the version of "Mony Mony" here isn't the live version that made it to the top. Rather, it's the Downtown Mix. And as if to capitalize on the success of that live version, "Hot In The City" was reissued, where it placed at #48, worse than its original #23 peak in 1982. The Exterminator Mix of this song isn't too bad.

Not much has changed with the Uptown Mix of the punk-disco of Idol's classic, "Dancing With Myself" though an extended bass, the clapping drum track, and reprises of instrumental bridge and last verse make it close to six minutes.

As for "Flesh For Fantasy," from the repeated snarling guitar and tweaked stretching of Idol going "flesh," I recognize the version used in the video for the same song, although there are a lot more added sounds and segments in this Below The Belt Mix, which clocking in at 7:04 makes it the second longest song.

"Superstars Return to Splendor with Rock and Roll Inferno" barks Idol before the harder guitar riffs set against the familiar drum machines opens the Mother of Mercy Mix of "To Be A Lover." This mix doesn't tweak the original too much, so I don't mind it as much. The presence of some seductive female vocals in some instrumental parts give it an extra something.

Some poppy techno synths give "Catch My Fall" the Remix Fix an interesting treatment. The thudding opening basso-type synths ironically sound like the same synths that open Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now," the other artist who went to #1 covering a Tommy James song. Gee, maybe he could've done his own version as a joke...

With only eight songs, and its being eclipsed by the official domestic greatest hits, the bottom line on Vital Idol now can be summed up as, "Yeah, it's not bad, but why?" November 16, 2005

TO CORREST THE FALSE

THIS CD IS COMMONLY REFERED TO AS THE CD WITH BILLY'S #1 SMASH HIT VERSION OF MONY MONY. THIS IS FALSE, THE IT VERSION WAS A LIVE VERSION NOT FOUND ON THIS CD BUT ON 11 BEST OR THE ESSENTIAL November 8, 2005

Vital Idol Rocks!

If you want the best output done by Billy Idol-this is the album for you. August 2, 2005

A punk-pop dance oddity...

I can't say that this release, despite it's popularity is one to be taken too seriously. While it's sometimes slick remixes and extended versions of old tracks make for an interesting listen, they bring little new out in these classic songs to make anyone hooked for more than a moment. By dance standards, these songs aren't as hot as one might think and by rock and roll standards they come across as watered down in this setting.

If you're a huge Billy Idol fan I'd get this...but it's not the casual listener. April 15, 2005

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