Rebel Yell (album)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
Rolling Stone	^[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[4]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	9/10^[5]
The Village Voice	C^[6]

Rebel Yell is the second studio album by English rock musician Billy Idol. It was released on 10 November 1983, by Chrysalis Records. After the release of his 1981 eponymous debut album, Idol continued his collaboration with Keith Forsey and 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.

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.

Background and recording

The album reunited the hit-making team of Billy Idol, Steve Stevens and Keith Forsey, after their success with Idol's 1982 solo debut, Billy Idol. 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, and thought that would be a great title for an album.

The title track was recorded in only three days at the Electric Lady Studios in New York City.^[7] Billy was battling Chrysalis Records over creative control, and decided to steal the master tapes. Keith Forsey stated in an interview with Mix magazine that Idol stole the wrong tapes. Idol battled the label, and came back to the studio victorious. Keith then informed him that he had taken the wrong tapes.

Working with Forsey was guitarist Steve Stevens, bassist Phil Feit and later Steve Webster, drummer Gregg Gerson, and keyboardists Judi Dozier and Jack Waldman.

In 1999, EMI Music re-issued 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 Records re-issued a 24-karat CD, remastered in HDCD by Steve Hoffman.

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

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by William Broad and Steve Stevens except where indicated.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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"	William Broad	3:57
7.	"Crank Call"		3:56
8.	"(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows"		3:10
9.	"The Dead Next Door"		3:45

1999 expanded edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Rebel Yell (Session Take)"		5:27
11.	"Motorbikin' (Session Take)"	Christopher Spedding	4:16
12.	"Catch My Fall (Original Demo)"		4:11
13.	"Flesh for Fantasy (Session Take)"		5:09
14.	"Blue Highway (Original Demo)"		5:00

Credits and personnel

Billy Idol – guitar, vocals
Steve Stevens – synthesizer, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
Phil Feit - bass guitar on "Rebel Yell" (Session Take), "Motorbikin'" (Session Take), & "Flesh For Fantasy" (Session Take)
Sal Cuevas – bass guitar on "Eyes Without A Face"
Steve Webster – bass guitar
Judi Dozier – keyboards
Jack Waldman – keyboards
Thommy Price – drums
Gregg Gerson – drums on "(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows", "Rebel Yell" (Session Take), "Motorbikin'" (Session Take), & "Flesh For Fantasy" (Session Take)
Mars Williams – saxophone on "Catch My Fall"
Perri Lister – background vocals on "Eyes Without A Face"
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 McNeil – cover design
Kevin Flaherty – compilation
Stephanie Tudor – production co-ordination

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[8]	16
Canada requires value for chartid=	8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[9]	2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[10]	31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	16
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	36
US Billboard 200^[14]	6

Certifications and sales


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[15]	5× Platinum	500,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[16]	Silver	60,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[17]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Huey, Steve. "Rebel Yell – Billy Idol". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
^ Puterbaugh, Parke (19 January 1984). "Rebel Yell". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Billy Idol". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 402. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
^ Christgau, Robert (28 August 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
^ Keith Forsey discusses the recording of Rebel Yell
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Billy Idol | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
^ "American album certifications – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

External links

Rebel Yell at AllMusic
Rebel Yell at Discogs (list of releases)

[1] Huey, Steve. "Rebel Yell – Billy Idol". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2012.

[2] Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.

[3] Puterbaugh, Parke (19 January 1984). "Rebel Yell". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 January 2012.

[4] Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Billy Idol". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 402. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[5] Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. New York: Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.

[6] Christgau, Robert (28 August 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 7 January 2012.

[Stevens2006-7] Keith Forsey discusses the recording of Rebel Yell

[8] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 306. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.

[ger-9] "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[dut-10] "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[nz-11] "Charts.nz – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[swi-12] "Swisscharts.com – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[uk-13] "Billy Idol | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[bb200-14] "Billy Idol Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[mc-15] "Canadian album certifications – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

[bpi-16] MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.

[riaa-17] "American album certifications – Billy Idol – Rebel Yell". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 April 2016.

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