Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (40th Anniversary Edition) (1983/2024)

Billy Idol’s second studio album, 1983’s Rebel Yell, is being reissued for its 40th Anniversary. The album features the singles ‘Eyes Without a Face’, ‘Flesh for Fantasy’, ‘Catch My Fall’ and ‘Rebel Yell’. There are two physical editions of this reissue, a 2CD set and a 2LP vinyl version. The former features 13 bonus tracks, including five that were on the 1999 expanded CD. The extra tracks include the rather good ‘Poolside Remix’ of Eyes Without A Face (a new remix was issued as a digital single in early 2021), the previously unreleased ‘Best Way Out of Here’ and a cover of ‘Love Don’t Live Hear Anymore’ (from the original sessions). Of the latter, Billy said “We found out Madonna was doing a version on her Like A Virgin album and we had a full compliment songs so we thought we’d leave it off the album”.

Rebel Yell Review by Steve Huey
A slick, carefully crafted follow-up to his debut, Rebel Yell was Billy Idol's catchiest, most consistent fusion of synth-driven new wave pop and hard rock guitar pyrotechnics (courtesy of Steve Stevens). The eerie ballad "Eyes Without a Face" gave Idol his first U.S. Top Ten hit, while "Flesh for Fantasy" and the title track became MTV staples. Like much of Idol's solo output, it's all calculated for maximum appeal, but Rebel Yell also works too well not to be an infectiously guilty pleasure.

Tracklist
CD1
01 - Rebel Yell
02 - Daytime Drama
03 - Eyes Without A Face
04 - Blue Highway
05 - Flesh For Fantasy (Remastered 1999)
06 - Catch My Fall (Edit)
07 - Crank Call
08 - (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows
09 - The Dead Next Door

CD2
01 - Best Way Out Of Here
02 - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
03 - Daytime Drama (Demo)
04 - Flesh For Fantasy (Demo)
05 - Catch My Fall (Early Version)
06 - Crank Call (Demo)
07 - (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows (Demo)
08 - Rebel Yell (Session Take_Remastered 1999)
09 - Blue Highway (Original Demo_Remastered 1999)
10 - Flesh For Fantasy (Session Take_Remastered 1999)
11 - Catch My Fall (Original Demo_Remastered 1999)
12 - Motorbikin' (Session Take_Remastered 1999)
13 - Eyes Without A Face (Poolside Remix)