I spent considerable time with Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell last year, and found the record so good I knew I needed to devote more attention to the legend's early years. This quick debut EP, originally released in 1981, is resurrected on limited edition, in lemon color vinyl, and comes with a fold out poster. Even better are the four tracks that are quintessential Idol rockers.
The pounding drums and bright synth of “Mony Mony” gets the party started. We all love the song. We all know the words. I hadn’t realized it was such an early track for Idol (it’s actually a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' #1 hit) and it’s clearly aged well.
“Baby Talk” lands in slot #2, and it’s a scrappy and punchy, punk-influenced three minutes. Aseley Otten’s swirling guitar and Idol’s smooth voice are joined by the rhythm section of Mick Smiley and Frankie Banali, alongside call and response vocals.
On the back side, the dreamy, even pop spirited “Untouchables” immediately invites singing along. The melodies are fluid, the singing memorable and the New Wave spirit sure is appreciated.
“Dancing With Myself,” the long version, exits, and uses an entirely different cast for the classic tune. Steve Jones and Steve New’s razor sharp guitars, Tony James’ animated bass and Terry Chimes’ lively drums align well with Idol’s unforgettable singing that’s gritty yet tuneful.
Interestingly enough, both “Untouchables” and “Dancing With Myself” are songs by Idol’s previous band. The latter was a single that flopped the first time around and wasn’t re-recorded for this EP. The former was re-recorded for Don’t Stop.
This was Idol’s first release after the dissolution of his punk band, Generation X, and it set him on a path for worldwide fame that still exists to this day. He even released a new album in 2025, which is also on my list to sit down with.