Album · Billy Idol
Rebel Yell by Billy Idol
Rebel Yell is an album by Billy Idol, released in 1983. 6 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 199 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Rebel Yell”, on 143 lists with a best position of #3.
Rebel Yell, Billy Idol's second album, hit American shops on 10 November 1983 on Chrysalis, with Britain getting it on 9 January 1984, and it's pure leather-jacket bravado turned up to ten. Idol stuck with the team from his debut: Keith Forsey producing and multi-instrumentalist Steve Stevens, who could play just about anything, cooking up the sound. They made it at Electric Lady Studios in New York, and Forsey and Stevens brought in Thommy Price to drum on some tracks.
The title came from a party with the Rolling Stones, where Idol was drinking Rebel Yell bourbon. That's about right for a record that sounds like the morning after a very good night: the title track is a snarling, fist-pumping stomp, "Eyes Without A Face" is a cool, moody ballad, "Flesh For Fantasy" oozes along on a sleazy groove, and "Catch My Fall" and "Blue Highway" keep the tank full. Brian Griffin shot the sleeve and pictures, and new wave polish meets old-fashioned rock sneer on every track.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Rebel Yell on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rebel Yell#83 of all time | 143 | #3 | – | 1983–2026 | |
| 2 | Eyes Without A Face | 34 | #26 | – | 1984–2025 | |
| 3 | Flesh For Fantasy | 12 | #19 | – | 1984–2021 | |
| 4 | Catch My Fall | 5 | #23 | – | 1984–2003 | |
| 5 | Blue Highway | 4 | #99 | – | 1984–2003 | |
| 6 | Do Not Stand in the Shadows | 1 | #287 | – | 1989 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.