1983 studio album by Billy Idol

Rebel Yell is the second studio album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 10 November 1983 by Chrysalis Records. After the release of his 1982 eponymous debut studio 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 LinnDrum and Roland TR-808 drum machines,[6] Forsey and Stevens later decided to hire Thommy Price to play drums on some of the songs.[7] Musically, Rebel Yell is a new wave album with hard rock and other influences. 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 Rebel Yell bourbon whiskey.

Background and recording

The album reunited the hit-making team of Idol, Steve Stevens and Keith Forsey after their success with Idol`s solo debut, Billy Idol (1982). Idol got the idea to name the album "Rebel Yell" after attending a party with the Rolling Stones. He explained on VH1 Storytellers that people were drinking Rebel Yell bourbon whiskey and he thought that would be a great title for an album.[8] The title track was recorded in only three days at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.[7]

Working with Forsey were guitarist Steve Stevens, bassist Phil Feit and later Steve Webster, drummer Gregg Gerson, and keyboardists Judi Dozier and Jack Waldman. Drummer Thommy Price was brought in towards the end of the recording sessions.[9]

Idol was battling Chrysalis Records over creative control, and decided to steal the master tapes; he eventually returned to the studio victorious. Forsey then informed him that he had taken the wrong tapes.[citation needed]

All of the singles, but particularly "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face" and "Flesh for Fantasy", would eventually have successful music videos on MTV. Idol`s longtime girlfriend Perri Lister can be seen in the front row during the video for "Rebel Yell".

Cover art

When the album was in production, Idol had a disagreement with the record company over the image that would be used on the album cover: he saw it as flawed, but the company refused to change it. In response, Idol stole the master tapes for the album and gave them to his drug dealer so that he could blackmail the company, saying "This guy I`ve given them to, he`ll have them out on the street bootlegged in a couple of days if you don’t change this picture."[10]

Release and critical reception

Upon its release, Rebel Yell received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and also peaked into the top ten in other countries, such as Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it double platinum for shipment of two million copies across the United States. Four singles were released from the album. The accompanying music videos for all singles received heavy airplay on television channel MTV.

Rating the album 4.5 stars out of 5, The Rolling Stone Album Guide described the album`s music as wide-ranging: "a brilliant combination of punk, disco, synth pop, glam rock, metal and mud wrestling."[16] Concluding the review of the album for AllMusic, editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine claimed, "Each stylistic turn is distinguished by Idol`s gusto. He`s unafraid to be gloriously, shameless tacky, a quality that separated him from his new wave peers then and continues to give Rebel Yell a trashy kick years after its release."[2]

In 1999, EMI Music reissued the album as part of their "Expanded" series. The new version of the album included previously unreleased bonus tracks and expanded liner notes. In 2010, audiophile label Audio Fidelity reissued a 24-karat CD remastered in HDCD by Steve Hoffman.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, except where noted

Personnel

Musicians

• Billy Idol – guitar, vocals
• Steve Stevens – lead guitar, bass guitar, guitar synthesizer, synthesizer, keyboards
• Steve Webster – bass guitar
• Judi Dozier – keyboards
• Thommy Price – drums
• Sal Cuevas – bass guitar on "Eyes Without a Face"
• Jack Waldman – additional keyboards
• Gregg Gerson – drums on "(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows", "Rebel Yell" (Session Take), "Motorbikin`" (Session Take) and "Flesh for Fantasy" (Session Take)
• Mars Williams – saxophone on "Catch My Fall"
• Perri Lister – backing vocals on "Eyes Without a Face"
• Phil Feit – bass guitar on "Rebel Yell" (Session Take), "Motorbikin`" (Session Take), and "Flesh for Fantasy" (Session Take)
• Keith Forsey – drum programming (uncredited)[6]

Technical

• Keith Forsey – producer
• Michael Frondelli – engineer, mixing
• Dave Wittman – engineer, mixing
• Gary Hellman – engineer
• Steve Rinkoff – engineer
• Pete Thea – engineer
• George Marino – mastering
• Brian Griffin – photography
• Michael MacNeil – cover design
• Stephanie Tudor – production co-ordination
• Bob Norberg – mastering (1999 expanded edition)
• Kevin Flaherty – compilation (1999 expanded edition)

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Rebel Yell