If you remember my discussions last week, while at a record show here in Charlotte, I came across that Billy Idol Picture Disc for “Eyes Without A Face”, but that wasn’t all I found. I also found a couple 7″ Singles from Billy Idol as well. First up was this release of “Hot in the City” with the B-Side “Catch My Fall”. The release was actually done in 1987 to promote the release of the classic Idol album ‘Vital Idol’. This version is the U.S. version of the single and nothing overly special, I like collecting all of Billy’s singles and if you get one with a half way decent picture slip cover, it is worth grabbing…in my opinion.
“Hot in the City” is about Billy’s time in New York and his love for the city. It is a slower dance track with some lovely ladies assisting with background vocals. He uses some synthesizers on top of the fantastic bass and drum rhythm section. It is really a stellar track and his scream of “New York” towards the end is epic. The version on this single is straight off the debut album, ‘Billy Idol’ from 1982. This is not a remix and it is not on the album ‘Vital Idol’ so a little strange. It is the same front cover as the original single back in the day, but the cover has the ‘Vital Idol’ album and not the debut, plus a different B-Side.
My copy has this Sale Price sticker of $4 and it fell off right after I took this picture so it had been on there a long while.
“Catch My Fall” (Remix Fix) really changes up from the original and not in a bad way. Very techno and actually a lot of fun. I swear part of it sounds like Tiffany’s song, “I Think We’re Alone Now” towards the beginning when the electronic drum beats come in. To completely change up a song and still make it good and the original song noticeable is a hard thing to do, but I feel they nailed it.
My copy has the B-Side stamped with “Demonstration – Not for Sale”, but this is not a promo copy that I can tell. Plus, why would the stamp be only on the B-Side and not both and not on the sleeve. A stranger mystery and if anyone has the answer, please let me know.
And there you have the first of two 45’s from Billy Idol. The next one we will discuss next week is for the song “Sweet Sixteen”.
Now, if you want to check out the full reviews and the entire Billy Idol Series, click on any and all of the links below…
- Generation X – ‘Generation X’
- Generation X – ‘Valley of the Dolls’
- Gen X – ‘Kiss Me Deadly’
- Gen X – “Dancing With Myself” 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Generation X – ‘The BBC Transcription Disc Series No. 126 1978’ (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Don’t Stop E.P.
- Billy Idol – Billy Idol
- Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
- Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile
- Billy Idol – To Be A Lover – Single Review
- Billy Idol – Vital Idol
- Billy Idol – ‘Hot In the City’ – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Charmed Life
- Billy Idol – Cyberpunk
- Billy Idol – “Speed” (song from the Speed Soundtrack)
- Generation X – K.M.D. Sweet Revenge
- Billy Idol – VH1 Storytellers (Live)
- Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground
- Billy Idol – Happy Holidays
- Billy Idol – The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
- Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground
- Billy Idol – BFI Live (#RSD 2019)
- Billy Idol – Revitalized
- Generation X – Your Generation (7″ Record Store Day Release)
- Generation X – Generation X Deluxe Edition
- Billy Idol – Rebel Waltz: Live (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Rebel Calling: Live (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
Catch My Fall is another good Idol track. I completely forgot about that one. Great stuff sir. When all is said and done Billy has a pretty decent run career wise. Course it helps when you have Stevens on the 6 string as a sidekick.
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Yeah, Stevens does help since it is his guitar that is the Idol sound we all know and love. One of the greatest partnerships in music of all time I believe. Separate, these guys are ok, but together, they are awesome!
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All about Synchronicity Mr. Snow. I thought Stevens was awesome on Exposed but that Atomic Playboys was pretty meh..
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Well it is not unusual for a promo to be stamped, and the fact they stamped it over the bar code means it couldn’t be scanned at a cash register.
I like the remix. Good 80s sound.
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Yeah, my guess is they ran out of promos and used regular stock to send out as promos thus the stamp, but who knows.
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Possibly. I have a lot of stamped promos so I don’t see it as that unusual.
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Probably nothing strange to it, I’m just curious.
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Either way you have something pretty cool. Picture sleeve and all!
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and it is Hot in the City!
Do u own Vital Idol: Revitalized as well? I don’t.
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Yes, I have that one. The only Idol albums I don’t have are his Christmas album and there is the final Gen X Sweet Revenge album I haven’t found yet.
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Funny, I got the Christmas album a few years back and haven’t listened to it yet. Shuffle hasn’t brought it up either. I’m a big fan of shuffle. At the moment it gave me Paul Weller Hit Parade, disc 4.
I don’t have vital idol:revitalized and have never gotten into Gen X. But love Billy solo albums. Was so happy that he made a comeback. 2 really cool albums. Still think that Rebel Yell is unbeatable.
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Rebel Yell is probably his best, but man I do love his latest Kings & Queens of the Underground.
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These are such cool finds. Right on!
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Well, I am glad you think so because right now I have a post every week on either 7″ Singles or 12″ Singles from now until the end of October.
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HOLY SMOKES!
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Hey as a teen did u practice that Billy Idol sneer look in front of the mirror? I sure did, lol.
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A teen? Hell, I just practiced it right after you said something.
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Got me…
and thanks, needed the laugh!
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I have a few 12 inch singles with remixes but I wanted extra tracks or live tracks. Whitesnake did a good job with em, as they included tracks from their old albums pre Geffen era.
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Leppard did great and so did Bon Jovi. But Billy didn’t do a good job with extra tracks. Oh well, still cool to collect.
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I agree. I’m a sucker for these kind of things as well.
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When ever I hear Idol I think of the rumor in the 80s…that Billy Idol was really Jim Morrison.
I like a lot of his music.
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I don’t think he is, but I enjoy him nonetheless.
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No he is not but it was a fun rumor at the time.
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