Wednesday 11/30/22 11am ET: Classic Greatest Hits LP: Billy Idol – Vital Idol (1985)

Vital Idol is a remix album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released in June 1985 by Chrysalis Records. It contains remixed songs from his first two albums and the Don’t Stop EP. The album was reissued in the United States with one extra track in September 1987, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The US release was supported by a non-album live single version of “Mony Mony”.

The original release, sporting a photo from the “Dancing with Myself” video, was first issued in Europe in 1985. It peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, outperforming Idol’s previous studio albums. The US release was expanded to feature the “Mother of Mercy Mix” of “To Be a Lover” and reissued in 1987 with different cover art, featuring a photo still from the live video for “Mony Mony” on CD. The 1987 issue was 24-bit digitally remastered and released globally in 2002.

The album has been certified platinum by both the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

1. “White Wedding (Parts I & II)” (Shotgun Mix) 8:20
2. “Mony Mony” (Downtown Mix) 5:01
3. “Hot in the City” (Exterminator Mix) 5:09
4. “Dancing with Myself” (Uptown Mix) 5:57
5. “Flesh for Fantasy” (Below the Belt Mix) 7:04
6. “To Be a Lover” (Mother of Mercy Mix) 6:49
7. “Love Calling” (Rub a Dub Dub Mix) 5:33
8. “Catch My Fall” (Remix Fix) 4:56

Keith Forsey – producer, remixing
Gary Langan – remixing (“Flesh for Fantasy”, “To Be a Lover”)
Billy Idol – remixing (“Catch My Fall”)
Steve Stevens – remixing (“Catch My Fall”)
Tom Lord-Alge – remixing (“Mony Mony” (Hung Like a Pony Mix), “Mony Mony” (Live), “Shakin’ All Over”)

Friday 4/22/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (1983)

Rebel Yell is the second studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on November 10, 1983 by Chrysalis Records. After the release of his 1982 eponymous debut album, Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and multi-instrumentalist Steve Stevens. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Initially recording without a drummer, utilizing only the electronic drum machine LinnDrum, Forsey and Stevens later decided to hire Thommy Price to play drums on some of the songs. Musically, Rebel Yell is a rock album with a strong influence of new wave music. The cover sleeve and images were shot by Brian Griffin. Idol got the idea of the album’s title after attending a party with The Rolling Stones and drinking the Rebel Yell whiskey.

1. “Rebel Yell” 4:45
2. “Daytime Drama” 4:02
3. “Eyes Without a Face” 4:58
4. “Blue Highway” 5:05
5. “Flesh for Fantasy” 4:37
6. “Catch My Fall” 3:42
7. “Crank Call” 3:56
8. “(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows” 3:10
9. “The Dead Next Door” 3:45

Billy Idol – guitar, vocals
Steve Stevens – lead guitar, bass guitar, guitar synthesizer, synthesizer, keyboards
Sal Cuevas – bass guitar on “Eyes Without A Face”
Steve Webster – bass guitar
Judi Dozier – keyboards
Jack Waldman – additional keyboards
Thommy Price – drums
Mars Williams – saxophone on “Catch My Fall”
Perri Lister – background vocals on “Eyes Without A Face”

Saturday 2/19/22 10am ET: Feature LP: Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile (1986)

Whiplash Smile is the third studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on October 20, 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful album Rebel Yell (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Stevens while writing and producing songs for the album. The album utilizes Stevens’ characteristic guitar work, dance beats, and synth-heavy production.

Whiplash Smile received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Commercially the album noted a success similar to his previous album, as it peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200. In the United Kingdom, it reached number eight and also peaked inside the top ten in many other countries, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Whiplash Smile was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold more than two million copies worldwide.

Three singles were released from the album, with “To Be a Lover”, “Don’t Need a Gun” and “Sweet Sixteen” peaking into the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100. “Soul Standing By” was released as a single only in Australia and New Zealand.

1. “Worlds Forgotten 5:40
2. “To Be a Lover” 3:51
3. “Soul Standing By” 4:35
4. “Sweet Sixteen” 4:14
5. “Man for All Seasons” 4:38
6. “Don’t Need a Gun” 6:15
7. “Beyond Belief” 4:00
8. “Fatal Charm” 3:51
9. “All Summer Single” 4:33
10. “One Night, One Chance” 3:52

Billy Idol – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Steve Stevens – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming
Marcus Miller – bass guitar
John Regan – bass guitar
Phillip Ashley – keyboards
Harold Faltermeyer – keyboards
David Frank – keyboards
Richard Tee – keyboards
Jocelyn Brown – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”
Connie Harvey – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”
Janet Wright – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”

Tuesday 11/30/21 1pm ET: Feature Artist: Billy Idol

William Michael Albert Broad (born November 30, 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer who holds dual British and American citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven “Second British Invasion” in the United States. The name “Billy Idol” was inspired by a schoolteacher’s description of him as “idle”.

Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol (1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles “Dancing with Myself” and “White Wedding” Idol soon became a staple of then newly-established MTV.

Idol’s second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face”. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies in the US. In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Having accumulated three UK top 10 singles (“Rebel Yell”, “White Wedding” and “Mony Mony”) Idol released a 1988 greatest hits album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best; the album went platinum in the United Kingdom. Idol then released Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993).

Idol spent the second half of the 1990s focusing on his personal life out of the public eye. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil’s Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014).

Monday 10/4/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile (1986)

Whiplash Smile is the third studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on October 20, 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful album Rebel Yell (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Stevens while writing and producing songs for the album. The album utilizes Stevens’ characteristic guitar work, dance beats, and synth-heavy production.

Whiplash Smile received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Commercially the album noted a success similar to his previous album, as it peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200. In the United Kingdom, it reached number eight and also peaked inside the top ten in many other countries, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Whiplash Smile was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold more than two million copies worldwide.

Three singles were released from the album, with “To Be a Lover”, “Don’t Need a Gun” and “Sweet Sixteen” peaking into the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100. “Soul Standing By” was released as a single only in Australia and New Zealand.

1. “Worlds Forgotten 5:40
2. “To Be a Lover” 3:51
3. “Soul Standing By” 4:35
4. “Sweet Sixteen” 4:14
5. “Man for All Seasons” 4:38
6. “Don’t Need a Gun” 6:15
7. “Beyond Belief” 4:00
8. “Fatal Charm” 3:51
9. “All Summer Single” 4:33
10. “One Night, One Chance” 3:52

Billy Idol – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Steve Stevens – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming
Marcus Miller – bass guitar
John Regan – bass guitar
Phillip Ashley – keyboards
Harold Faltermeyer – keyboards
David Frank – keyboards
Richard Tee – keyboards
Jocelyn Brown – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”
Connie Harvey – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”
Janet Wright – background vocals on “To Be a Lover”

Friday 2/19/21 1pm ET: New Music Show

We feature New Music Releases this week featuring:  Benny Sings Feat. Tom Misch, Big Mother Gig Feat. Leah Wellbaum, Billy Idol, Bonzie, Chris Roberts, Edie Brickell, Fruit Bats, Ghost of Vroom, Goldpark, Jeremy Ivey, Litt Gloss X Bathsheba, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and more . . . 

Tuesday 4pm ET: Sounds of The 80s

This week on the Sounds of The 80s we feature music from:  Tom Petty, Steely Dan, Toto, Huey Lewis and The News, Steve Perry, Styx, Billy Idol, Stars On 45, Traveling Wilburys, Michael Jackson, George Harrison and many more . . .

Tuesday 4pm: Sounds of The 80s

This week on The Sounds of The 80s we feature tunes from:  Leslie Pearl, Whitesnake, Chicago, Pretenders, David Bowie, Pebbles, Wham!, Erasure, Billy Idol, Alabama, John Mellencamp and more . . . 

Saturday 12pm ET: Brit Rock with Dominic Forbes

On Brit Rock this week music from Gary Moore, AC/DC, Jeff Lynne, Extreme, Billy Idol, Faith No More, Fish, Aerosmith,Quireboys, Black Crowes, Stranglers, Boston, Deep Purple, Killers, The Eagles, Chris Cornell, The Fray, Kings Of Leon, U2, The Scorpions, Genesis, Dire Straits, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, Frijid Pink, Queen, Cinderella, Foreigner, Russ Ballard, Peter Gabriel, Gun, The Hooters, ZZ Top, Richard Marx, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Rainbow.  Join Dominic Forbes 12pm ET on RadioMaxMusic.  Encore at 12am Sunday morning.

Tuesday 9pm: Feature Artist

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He first achieved fame in the 1970s as a member of the punk rock band Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to an international recognition and made Idol one of the lead artists during the MTV-driven “Second British Invasion” in the United States.

Idol began his career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group and along with his bandmate Tony James formed Generation X with Idol being the lead singer. The band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three albums on Chrysalis Records before disbanding. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album Billy Idol (1982) was a commercial success and with music videos for singles “Dancing with Myself” and “White Wedding” Idol soon became a staple of then newly established MTV.

His second studio album Rebel Yell (1983) was a major commercial success with hit singles “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face”. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies across the United States. He followed with a number of successful albums, including Whiplash Smile (1986), Charmed Life (1990) and Cyberpunk (1993). Idol spent the second half of the 1990s out of the public eye focusing on his personal life. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil’s Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014). – Wikipedia

Tuesday 7pm: Rock Talk with Dominic Forbes

This edition of Rock Talk features a discussion with Billy Idol.  Join Dominic Forbes 7pm ET on RadioMaxMusic.

Artist Countdown: Billy Idol Top 20 8pm ET @BillyIdol

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, and was a member of the MTV-driven “Second British Invasion” of the United States. A series of music videos for songs such as “Dancing With Myself“, “White Wedding“, “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face” made him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens.  (Source: Wikipedia)

1	To Be a Lover
2	Eyes Without a Face
3	Cradle of Love
4	Mony Mony (Live)
5	Sweet Sixteen
6	Flesh for Fantasy
7	Don’t Need a Gun
8	Shock to the System
9	Dancing with Myself
10	Rebel Yell
11	Hot in the City
12	White Wedding
13	Speed
14	L.A. Woman
15	Prodigal Blues
16	Scream
17	Soul Standing By
18	Catch My Fall
19	Heroin
20	John Wayne