Description
Billy Idol – The Very Best Of Billy Idol Idolize Yourself – Double 180 Gram Vinyl Records
Idolize Yourself: The Very Best of Billy Idol is a greatest-hits compilation by Billy Idol, released in 2008. The album serves as a career-spanning retrospective that highlights Idol’s most recognizable songs from the early 1980s through the early 1990s, capturing the era when he became one of the most visually and musically iconic figures of the MTV generation. By the time this compilation came out, Idol had already spent decades influencing rock, punk, and pop audiences, so the collection functions both as an introduction for new listeners and a nostalgic overview for longtime fans.
Billy Idol first rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of the British punk band Generation X, but his international fame came after he launched his solo career in the early 1980s. Teaming up with guitarist and longtime collaborator Steve Stevens, Idol crafted a distinctive sound that blended punk attitude, hard rock riffs, and synth-driven new wave production. That mixture proved perfect for the early days of MTV, where Idol’s sneering vocals, leather-clad image, and energetic videos made him a major visual presence.
Idolize Yourself compiles many of the songs that defined that era. Tracks like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Dancing with Myself illustrate how Idol merged punk energy with pop-friendly hooks. “White Wedding,” originally from his 1982 self-titled album Billy Idol, became one of his signature songs thanks to its dramatic guitar riffs and rebellious tone. “Rebel Yell,” from the album Rebel Yell (1983), pushed that style even further, pairing Stevens’ explosive guitar work with a huge arena-rock chorus that helped solidify Idol as a global rock star.
The compilation also includes Eyes Without a Face, one of Idol’s most distinctive songs. Unlike his harder rock material, this track has a haunting, atmospheric feel driven by synthesizers and a slower tempo. Its introspective mood showed that Idol’s music could be emotionally layered rather than purely rebellious. The song became one of his biggest hits, reaching the top five on the Billboard charts in 1984.
Another key song featured on the compilation is Cradle of Love, from the 1990 album Charmed Life. The track helped keep Idol relevant in the early 1990s rock landscape and became widely known for its memorable music video, which received heavy rotation on MTV. It also earned Idol a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
One of the interesting aspects of Idolize Yourself is that it includes two previously unreleased tracks recorded specifically for the compilation: John Wayne and New Future Weapon. These songs show Idol revisiting the aggressive rock style that defined his earlier work while updating the production to sound more contemporary. For longtime fans, these tracks were an added incentive to pick up the compilation rather than simply revisiting older albums.
The album also highlights how much Idol’s career was shaped by the collaboration between him and Steve Stevens. Stevens’ guitar playing—often flashy, melodic, and technically impressive—was a crucial component of Idol’s sound. His riffs and solos are especially prominent in songs like “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding,” where they help create the explosive energy that made those tracks rock staples.
From a historical perspective, Idolize Yourself: The Very Best of Billy Idol functions as a reminder of how important Billy Idol was during the early years of MTV. Alongside artists like David Bowie, Madonna, and Prince, Idol helped define the visual side of pop and rock music in the 1980s. His snarling lip curl, spiky blond hair, and leather-punk aesthetic became instantly recognizable symbols of that era.
Ultimately, this compilation captures the core of Billy Idol’s appeal: rebellious energy, memorable hooks, and a blend of punk attitude with mainstream rock accessibility. Whether listeners discovered his music during the MTV era or later through compilations like this one, Idolize Yourself provides a concise portrait of an artist who bridged the gap between underground punk roots and global pop-rock stardom.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Dancing With Myself
Hot In The City
White Wedding (Pt.1)
Rebel Yell
Eyes Without A Face
Flesh For Fantasy
Catch My Fall
To Be A Lover
Don’t Need A Gun
Sweet Sixteen
Mony, Mony
Cradle Of Love
L.A. Woman
Shock To The System
Speed
World Comin’ Down
Exclusive Bonus Tracks:
John Wayne
New Future Weapon
