Mony mony (live) - Billy Idol

'Mony mony' was originally recorded in 1968 by Tommy James and the Shondells. The title was inspired by Tommy James' view of the "M.O.N.Y." sign atop the Mutual of New York Building on the New York City skyline from his Manhattan apartment.

Billy Idol made a studio recording of the song in 1981. Six years later the live version was released as a single and went to number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, coincidentally displacing Tiffany's cover of another Tommy James song, 'I think we're alone now', from the top spot. Idol's version gave rise to an interesting custom. When the song was performed live in concert or played at a club or dance, people would shout a certain formulaic (and usually obscene) variation of a particular phrase in the two measures following each line, for example, "Hey, say what… get laid get fucked!" Or "Hey, motherfucker… get laid get fucked!". This led to the song being banned at high-school dances across North America, although the custom continues at Idol concerts and sporting events today. It became so widespread that Idol would eventually commit the lyrics to record in the "Idol/Stevens Mix" of the song on the 2018 remix album Vital Idol: Revitalized. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7392
Found: Flashback Records, London, 21 October 2024
Tracks: 'Mony mony (live)' / 'Shakin' all over (live)'

Hot in the city - Billy Idol

I bought Billy Idol's 'Hot in the city' a long time ago. I didn't know back then that there's also a promotional version of that single, featuring a remix of the track. The 'Exterminator fix' is a shorter version of the 'Exterminator mix' that appears on the album Vital Idol, that was released in 1985. 

This single was released in 1987, making it obvious that Billy actually had success with some of his songs for several years.

My collection: 7" single no. 7337
Found: Discogs.com, received 24 September 2024
Tracks: 'Hot in the city (Exterminator fix)' / 'Catch my fall (Remix fix)'

White wedding - Billy Idol

'White wedding' was originally released as the second single from Billy Idol's self-titled studio album in 1982. Although not Idol's highest-charting hit, it is often considered one of his most recognizable songs. In the US, it reached number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was re-issued in 1983. 

This clear vinyl edition was released in 1985, when the Vital Idol remix album had to be promoted. This is also why a 'Mega-Idol mix' appears on the B-side. It was a successful re-release: it peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6897
Found: Discogs.com, received 4 March 2023
Tracks: 'White wedding' / 'Mega-Idol mix'

To be a lover - Billy Idol

It may seem like I am on a buying spree with regards to Billy Idol singles recently, but that's all because I discovered some very delicious limited editions. Take this one: a double pack of singles, featuring 'To be a lover' and 'White wedding'. The latter appears in a record company sleeve, and it is of course a previous single by Billy that the record company probably had to get rid of.

Still, if you bought this you got four pretty great tracks, because even the B-sides are worth a spin. I've never heard the 'Mega-Idol mix' before; a medley of 'Flesh for fantasy' and 'Hot in the city' which you have to hear to believe. It's actually quite messy... But great fun, as most of the Billy Idol tracks at that time.

My collection: 7" single no. 6870
Found: Discogs.com, received 18 February 2023
Tracks: 'To be a lover' / 'All summer single' // 'White wedding' / 'Mega-Idol mix'

Don't need a gun - Billy Idol

'Don't need a gun' is a single taken from Billy Idol's third album 'Whiplash smile'. The song was written by Billy Idol himself. The song lyrics are all about the risk of using firearms. The chorus of the song includes references to 'Tutti Frutti', 'Flip, Flop and Fly' and 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy'. The final verse name-checks Elvis Presley, Johnnie Ray and Gene Vincent. 

The single peaked at number 26 in the UK singles chart and reached number 37 in the US Billboard Hot 100. My copy was released in a special gatefold sleeve, featuring an extra large photograph of Billy on the inside.

My collection: 7" single no. 6861
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 February 2023
Tracks: 'Don't need a gun' / 'Fatal charm'

Catch my fall - Billy Idol

The re-release of Billy Idol's 'Catch my fall' in 1988 was aided by a special box set featuring 4 cards and a badge. Sets like this are always a nice incentive for casual buyers to get the single - which in turn helps the single to reach higher positions in the charts. 

In this case, it helped just a little. When this single was originally released it didn't reach the UK singles chart at all, and with the help of this box set it peaked at a rather unimpressive number 63. Billy would reach the UK top 40 on two occasions after this: with Cradle of love in 1990 and 'Shock to the system' in 1993.

My collection: 7" single no. 6860
Found: Discogs.com, received 17 February 2023
Tracks: 'Catch my fall' / 'All summer single'

Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

I have posted some duplicates on this blog since it started, and this is another one. I already owned the gatefold sleeve version of Rebel Yell when I came across this one. That one was the 1985 re-release, this one is the original 1984 release. I bought it mainly for the beautiful sleeve which is glossy and in mint condition.

Billy Idol's output in the first half of the Eighties is nothing short of legendary, since he and his guitarist Steve Stevens churned out catchy tunes almost non-stop.

My collection: 7" single no. 5451
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Rebel yell' / 'Crank call'

Hot in the city - Billy Idol

Billy Idol's 'Hot in the city' was originally released in 1982. This is a re-release from 1987. It features a remix of 'Catch my fall' on the B-side, taken from the album 'Vital Idol' which features several remixes of Billy Idol hits. I've been partial to that album ever since I got it from my parents during a holiday in Germany. Very cool music.

Although the released version of 'Hot in the city' contains a verse in which Idol shouts 'New York', other versions of the song were recorded for various radio stations, including one in which he shouts 'Amarillo' or 'New Haven'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5271
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, January 27, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Hot in the city' / 'Catch my fall (remix fix)'

Cradle of love - Billy Idol

'Cradle of love' is a good example of how a rather unremarkable song is brought to attention by an imaginative music video. The video was played often on MTV at the time, and since the video makes you want to watch things go wrong again and again, the song sticks in your mind. Not a surprise, then, that I ended up buying the single.

Billy Idol released 'Cradle of love' in April 1990. The single reached number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1340
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Cradle of love' / '311 man'

L.A. Woman - Billy Idol

It was quite a brave move for Billy Idol to record a cover version of the Doors' famous track 'L.A. Woman', the title track of the band's last album before Jim Morrison died. But his version turns out surprisingly well, adding a lot of power to the track that was already fast paced to begin with.

It was released as the second single from Billy Idol's fifth album 'Charmed life'. It reached number 70 in the UK singles chart and number 52 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. I bought the album not so long after I bought the single, because an edit is always too short.

My collection: 7" single no. 1281
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 23, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'L.A. Woman (edit)' / 'License to thrill'

Sweet sixteen - Billy Idol

Billy Idol's third studio album 'Whiplash smile', released in 1986, contained the midtempo ballad 'Sweet sixteen', which was subsequently released as a single in 1987. At the time of its release, I bought a cassette single in London, and only got around to buying the 7" single two years later.

The single reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 17 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1086
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Sweet sixteen' / 'Beyond belief'

Rebel yell - Billy Idol

Although the rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, Billy Idol reportedly refers to the whiskey brand of the same name, a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and bottled at the Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. During an event he attended, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones were taking swigs of 'Rebel Yell'; Billy decided and stated that he would set off to write a 'Rebel Yell' song.

The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. The single was originally released in 1984, but re-released in a gatefold sleeve in the UK in 1985 and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart on that occasion.

My collection: 7" single no. 1740
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 18, 1992
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Rebel yell' / '(Do not) Stand in the shadows'

Flesh for fantasy - Billy Idol

Released in September 1984, 'Flesh for fantasy' was the third single from Billy Idol's third solo album 'Rebel Yell'. After the international success of the previous single 'Eyes without a face', this single did almost equally well, reaching number 11, 20 and 30 in Germany, Switzerland and Italy respectively. The single also reached number 54 in the UK singles chart and number 29 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In the UK, the single was issued in a gatefold sleeve. I was happy to find one of these, 14 years after its original release.

My collection: 7" single no. 2985
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 23, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Flesh for fantasy' / 'Blue highway'

Eyes without a face - Billy Idol

Coincidence or not? In 1960, a French horror movie called 'Les yeux sans visage' was released. Billy Idol came up with the song 'Eyes without a face' in 1984, in which Perri Lister sings exactly those French words in the background.

Although Billy Idol usually recorded more rock-oriented tracks, it was this midtempo ballad that gave him a worldwide hit. The single reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40, number 18 in the UK singles chart and number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2673
Found: Record Exchange, London, June 30, 1996
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Eyes without a face' / 'The dead next door'

Catch my fall - Billy Idol

'Catch my fall' is a track from Billy Idol's second solo album 'Rebel yell' (1983). On the sleeve of the single, Idol is pictured with red and black paint on his face, which I'm sure has to mean something, although nobody knows what.

The single was not a hit in the UK when it was originally released in 1984, but a re-release in 1988 caused the single to peak at number 63.

My collection: 7" single no. 4330
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, December 1, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Catch my fall' / 'Daytime drama'