All of Idol's best are represented here from his first EP, Don't Stop, to his last album, Cyberpunk. This collection also contains an acoustic version of Rebel Yell recorded live in December 1993, with Steve Stevens on guitar, playing his heart out. It sounds as if not a day had passed since the original studio recording. Also included is Billy's version of Simple Minds' 80's Anthem "Don't You Forget About Me" from the move "The Breakfast Club". Again Stevens helms the guitar & the version is very faithful to the original while still distinctly "Idol". The song was written by Keith Forsey, Idol's long-time producer & was originally offered to Billy but was not recorded back in 1984/85, for reasons unknown.

All of the songs have been "24 Bid Digitally Remastered" and sound fabulous. Kudos to Capitol Records for giving this Artist the treatment he deservs. Idol helped define the 80's MTV Generation & is still a powerful force in the industry as his version of "Don't You" will attest. An album of all new material is expected by year's end & if the last track on this album is any indication we have alot to look forward to......This is an essential purchase for any Idol fan/80's Music fan-

You will really enjoy this CD. It has good tunes and great sound quality. I had never purchased a Billy Idol album/CD before, and watching the TV show "Rock Star" with its several Billy Idol selections done by the competitors made me realize how good Billy had been (where did he go?)and how many catchy dance tunes he gave us (thanks Billy). This old gal was dancing with herself in the kitchen and enjoying every minute of it. Enjoy.

In the world of pop artists inspired by punk and new wave, Billy Idol is certainly above average. He didn't have nearly enough good songs to do toe-to-toe with Duran Duran or Depeche Mode, but the guy definitely had six strong singles that stand the test of time, and this album is worth having because you can find them all here. Dancing With Myself. White Wedding. Rebel Yell. Cradle of Love. Eyes Without a Face. Flesh for Fantasy. You'll find everyone of the greats, as well as his Mony Mony cover, which was also pretty successful.

Those songs along make this album a must-have if you like eighties music. But wait--there's more. Also with the album you get an acoustic, live version of Rebel Yell. That might sound scary, but it's actually not half bad.

On the other hand, you get Billy attempting to cover "LA Woman" by the Doors. No matter what you are imagining in your head, I promise you that it's worse. But it's worse in all the best ways--like a terrible movie that you watch over and over with your friends so you can make jokes about the diabolical acting, ridiculous plot twists, and run-of-the-mill dialog and action. Everyone should own this cover of "LA Woman" so you can break it out at parties and have a laugh with your friends. Equally atrocious--Idol takes a shot at "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (originally recorded by Simple Minds for the movie "The Breakfast Club.") While it's not a full on train wreck, it's pretty bad and good for a laugh when you're down in the dumps.

Had this Billy Idol collection come out in 1991 instead of 2001, it probably would have sold a couple of million copies easy, instead of barely nicking the Billboard album chart. From 1981 to 1990, Idol - with his his spiked hair and exaggerated sneer - made punk palatable to the masses via a series of entertaining videos that were featured on MTV. With images ingrained in the viewer's head, the music from these videos subsequently crossed over to radio.

Idol got his professional start in the music business with the punk band Generation X and it is his bopping remake of their "Dancing With Myself" - from his 1981 ep DON'T STOP - that starts off this collection. Also included here from DON'T STOP is his studio rendition of the Tommy James and the Shondells' hit "Mony Mony" (I prefer Idol's livelier, live version that topped the charts - from 1987's otherwise unvital VITAL IDOL - to this enclosed version).

It was with 1982's BILLY IDOL album that Idol emerged as a major video and radio personality with the sassy "Hot In The City," and, especially, the gothic "White Wedding" (the latter is represented by its less satisfying single edit). 1983's REBEL YELL was Idol's most varied album ever as well as his most hit-filled, with the guitar-driven title track, the eerie "Eyes Without A Face," the earnest, pure pop "Catch My Fall," and his most punkish solo recording "Flesh For Fantasy."

1986's WHIPLASH SMILE - Idol's homage to Elvis Presley - gave us the hits "To Be A Lover," "Sweet Sixteen," and "Don't Need A Gun," while 1990's CHARMED LIFE gave us Idol the rocker with scorching takes on the original "Cradle Of Love" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman." 1993's CYBERPUNK was a noisy mess (and Idol's last studio album to date) and its lone representative here "Shock To The System" is the weakest track on this set.

GREATEST HITS concludes with an unnecessary acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" (I'd have rather seen Idol's haunting CHARMED LIFE single "Prodigal Blues" and/or his riproaring theme for the hit film SPEED included here instead) and a faithful remake of the Simple Minds' hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)." "Don't You" was originally intended for Idol back in 1985 when it was included in the BREAKFAST CLUB film and it is easy to see why Simple Minds got the nod after Idol declined, as Idol and Simple Minds' singer Jim Kerr have extremely similar voices (Idol's being a bit higher and raspier). It is great to have Idol finally tackle it himself as the song suits him well.

With GREATEST HITS, we finally got a decent Billy Idol collection here in the US (the British got IDOL SONGS - which was comprised of his first 11 singles - in 1988). These recordings serve as a great reminder of the fun Idol's unique personality brought to MTV and the radio during the '80s and early '90s. They still sound particularly nifty in the car.

The most amazing thing about this collection is the way in which these songs feel rooted to a very specific time and yet do not seem dated. Each of these sixteen songs shows that there was some genuine talent behind the somewhat cartoonish image (an image that to Idol's credit he seems to recognize is a bit cartoonish as well). The harder songs (especially "Flesh For Fantasy") still kick hard while the softer songs (particularly "Sweet Sixteen") remain truly affecting. It's also nice to see some of the less popular (though still very interesting) singles like "Catch My Fall" and "Don't Need A Gun" get their due. Even "Shock To The System" (from the ill-advised Cyberpunk album) holds it own here. Then there is an intriguing cover of "Don't You Forget About Me," the song (written by Idol's long-time producer Keith Forsey) that made Simple Minds a house-hold name back in 1985. While a brand new song written by Idol himself would have been nice, this recording is still welcome, and it's a nifty way for Idol to salute the era in which he found his greatest fame while still showing himself to be a performer whose best days are not entirely behind him.