Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1983)

Note: My edition is not the 1999 reissue with 5 bonus tracks.

The sound of the sneer. This is a wonderful album that combines New Wave synths and hard rock guitar, courtesy of Steve Stevens. This album lives in the seldom-visited world between head-banging and technopop. I dubbed a copy of a friend's cassette of this album and it was played quite a bit during May and June of 1984, a period of time that included high school graduation and a two-week trip to Southern California. This is heavily produced and the hooks are plentiful. The music is fun and harmless and Stevens steals the show.

Press of the time:

• Record Mirror (+): "lame metal pop"
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "a ferocious record"
• Smash Hits (8 out of 10): "stirring together rock, disco and punk elements without forgetting the importance of a good tune."
• Stereo Review: "exhilarating"
• Trouser Press: "another semi-serviceable piece of disposable commercial product"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #6
• Billboard Rock: #9
• CashBox: #8
• Rolling Stone: #6
• CashBox CD: #15

Tracks: To be honest, I usually listen to the first five tracks (Rebel Yell, Daytime Drama, Eyes Without A Face, Blue Highway, and Flesh For Fantasy) then call it quits.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: On this date 28 years ago, I saw Idol promoting this album with a concert at Astroworld. Concert admission was included with park admission. I had graduated from high school the night before and had stayed up all night with friends going to parties at the beach and LeTulle Park. If we slept it wasn't for but a couple of hours before Scott, Roy, and I piled into a car and drove to Houston. After spending all day at the amusement park eating bad food and riding the rides (Greezed Lightnin' was a favorite), we saw Idol in a huge field in the back of the park. This was the year before Astroworld's performance venue, the Southern Star Amphitheater, opened, so the concert was general admission - about 10,000 people standing on dirt and grass in front of a stage. We stood about 50 yards from the stage, avoiding the crush up front. I don't remember an opening act. Probably because of exhaustion, I don't remember much about the concert except that Idol closed with Dancing With Myself and we did as we were told: we danced.