Vital Idol

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title: "Vital Idol" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1985-remix-albums", "albums-produced-by-keith-forsey", "billy-idol-albums", "chrysalis-records-remix-albums"] description: "1985 remix album by Billy Idol" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vital_Idol" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1985 remix album by Billy Idol ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	Vital Idol
type	remix
artist	Billy Idol
cover	Vital_Idol_1985.jpg
caption	Original 1985 cover
released	31 May 1985
genre
length	42:22
label	Chrysalis
producer	Keith Forsey
prev_title	Rebel Yell
prev_year	1983
next_title	Whiplash Smile
next_year	1986
header	Alternative cover
type	remix
cover	BillyIdolVitalIdol.jpg
caption	1987 edition cover
::

| name = Vital Idol | type = remix | artist = Billy Idol | cover = Vital_Idol_1985.jpg | alt = | caption = Original 1985 cover | released = 31 May 1985 | recorded = | studio = | genre = | length = 42:22 | label = Chrysalis | producer = Keith Forsey | prev_title = Rebel Yell | prev_year = 1983 | next_title = Whiplash Smile | next_year = 1986 | misc = | header = Alternative cover | type = remix | cover = BillyIdolVitalIdol.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = 1987 edition cover

Vital Idol is a remix album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 31 May 1985 by Chrysalis Records. It contains remixed songs from his first two albums and the Don't Stop EP. The album was reissued in the United States with one extra track in September 1987, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200. The US release was supported by a non-album live single version of "Mony Mony".

The original release, sporting a photo from the "Dancing with Myself" video, was first issued in Europe in 1985. It peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, outperforming Idol's previous studio albums. The US release was expanded to feature the "Mother of Mercy Mix" of "To Be a Lover" and reissued in 1987 with different cover art, featuring a photo still from the live video for "Mony Mony" on CD. The 1987 issue was 24-bit digitally remastered and released globally in 2002.

The album has been certified platinum by both the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Background

Most of the tracks are the original 12″ extended versions, except "Catch My Fall", which features a new remix with some re-recorded instruments. "What we would always do is we knew we had certain songs where we wanted to have some space to do remixes," guitarist Steve Stevens said in 2014. "So we'd leave 16 bars or 32 bars in the middle of the song no matter what the song was and then do an edit on it later and that left us room to experiment for a dance remix."

The album's title was inspired by a 1974 single by reggae artist Horace Andy titled "Ital Vital".

Critical reception

| rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = | rev2 = Record Mirror | rev2Score = | rev3 = Robert Christgau | rev3Score = B+ | rev4 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | rev4score =

In his review for AllMusic, Steve Huey wrote: "It doesn't really work as a hits collection, since it's missing key songs like 'Rebel Yell' and 'Eyes Without a Face,' and most of the dance remixes are repetitious and uninteresting compared to the originals." In The Rolling Stone Album Guide, Mark Coleman called the album "both a cynical recycling ploy and the essential Billy Idol album".

Track listing

| headline = Vital Idol (1985) | total_length = 42:22 | extra_column = Origin | title1 = White Wedding (Parts I & II) | writer1 = Billy Idol | note1 = Shotgun Mix | extra1 = Billy Idol, 1982 | length1 = 8:20 | title2 = Dancing with Myself | writer2 = Idol, Tony James | note2 = Uptown Mix | extra2 = Don't Stop, 1981 | length2 = 5:57 | title3 = Flesh for Fantasy | writer3 = Idol, Steve Stevens | note3 = Below the Belt Mix | extra3 = Rebel Yell, 1983 | length3 = 7:04 | title4 = Catch My Fall | writer4 = Idol | note4 = Remix Fix | extra4 = Rebel Yell | length4 = 4:56 | title5 = Mony Mony | writer5 = Tommy James, Bo Gentry, Ritchie Cordell, Bobby Bloom | note5 = Downtown Mix | extra5 = Don't Stop | length5 = 5:01 | title6 = Love Calling | writer6 = Idol, Keith Forsey | note6 = Rub a Dub Dub Mix | extra6 = Billy Idol | length6 = 5:33 | title7 = Hot in the City | writer7 = Idol | note7 = Exterminator Mix | extra7 = Billy Idol | length7 = 5:09

| headline = Vital Idol – US version (1987) | total_length = 49:45 | extra_column = Origin | title1 = White Wedding (Parts I & II) | note1 = Shotgun Mix | writer1 = Idol | extra1 = Billy Idol | length1 = 8:20 | title2 = Mony Mony | note2 = Downtown Mix | writer2 = James, Gentry, Cordell, Bloom | extra2 = Don't Stop | length2 = 5:01 | title3 = Hot in the City | note3 = Exterminator Mix | writer3 = Idol | extra3 = Billy Idol | length3 = 5:09 | title4 = Dancing with Myself | note4 = Uptown Mix | writer4 = Idol, James | extra4 = Don't Stop | length4 = 5:57 | title5 = Flesh for Fantasy | note5 = Below the Belt Mix | writer5 = Idol, Stevens | extra5 = Rebel Yell | length5 = 7:04 | title6 = To Be a Lover | note6 = Mother of Mercy Mix | writer6 =William Bell, Booker T. Jones | extra6 = Whiplash Smile, 1986 | length6 = 6:49 | title7 = Love Calling | note7 = Rub a Dub Dub Mix | writer7 = Idol, Forsey | extra7 = Billy Idol | length7 = 5:33 | title8 = Catch My Fall | note8 = Remix Fix | writer8 = Idol | extra8 = Rebel Yell | length8 = 4:56

| headline = Vital Idol – Japan reissue (1987) | total_length = 58:30 | extra_column = Origin | title1 = White Wedding (Parts I & II) | note1 = Shotgun Mix | writer1 = Idol | extra1 = Billy Idol | length1 = 8:20 | title2 = Mony Mony | note2 = Hung Like a Pony Mix | writer2 = James, Gentry, Cordell, Bloom | extra2 = Don't Stop | length2 = 7:00 | title3 = Hot in the City | note3 = Exterminator Mix | writer3 = Idol | extra3 = Billy Idol | length3 = 5:10 | title4 = Dancing with Myself | note4 = Uptown Mix | writer4 = Idol, James | extra4 = Don't Stop | length4 = 5:59 | title5 = Flesh for Fantasy | note5 = Below the Belt Mix | writer5 = Idol, Stevens | extra5 = Rebel Yell | length5 = 7:04 | title6 = To Be a Lover | note6 = Mother of Mercy Mix | writer6 =Bell, Jones | extra6 = Whiplash Smile | length6 = 6:48 | title7 = Love Calling | note7 = Rub a Dub Dub Mix | writer7 = Idol, Forsey | extra7 = Billy Idol | length7 = 5:33 | title8 = Catch My Fall | note8 = Remix Fix | writer8 = Idol | extra8 = Rebel Yell | length8 = 4:56 | title9 = Shakin' All Over | note9 = Live | writer9 = Johnny Kidd | extra9 = "Mony Mony" (Live) single, 1987 | length9 = 4:39 | title10 = Mony Mony | note10 = Live | writer10 = James, Gentry, Cordell, Bloom | extra10 = "Mony Mony" (Live) single | length10 = 4:06

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

• Keith Forsey – producer, remixing
• Gary Langan – remixing ("Flesh for Fantasy", "To Be a Lover")
• Billy Idol – remixing ("Catch My Fall")
• Steve Stevens – remixing ("Catch My Fall")
• Tom Lord-Alge – remixing ("Mony Mony" (Hung Like a Pony Mix), "Mony Mony" (Live), "Shakin' All Over")

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="1985 weekly chart performance for ''Vital Idol''"] | Chart (1985) | Peak position | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | European Albums (Music & Media) | Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 38 | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | 13 | | | | | ::

::data[format=table title="1987–1988 weekly chart performance for ''Vital Idol''"] | Chart (1987–1988) | Peak position | Australian Albums (Australian Music Report) | |---|---|---| | 12 | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="1985 year-end chart performance for ''Vital Idol''"]

Chart (1985)	Position	German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	UK Albums (Gallup)
36
50
67
::

::data[format=table title="1987 year-end chart performance for ''Vital Idol''"]

Chart (1987)	Position	Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
21
::

::data[format=table title="1988 year-end chart performance for ''Vital Idol''"]

Chart (1988)	Position	Australian Albums (ARIA)	Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)	US Billboard 200
49
41
71
::

Certifications

''Vital Idol: Revitalized''

| name = Vital Idol: Revitalized | type = remix | artist = Billy Idol | cover = Vital_Idol_Revitalized.jpg | alt = | released = 28 September 2018 | recorded = | studio = | genre = | length = 42:43 | label = Capitol | producer = | prev_title = Kings & Queens of the Underground | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = The Roadside | next_year = 2021

Vital Idol: Revitalized is a remix album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 28 September 2018. The album has been described as a "modern-day upgrade" of Vital Idol. The digital version features four additional remixes, including a new Billy Idol and Steve Stevens remix of "Mony Mony" and "Save Me Now" (Lost Dog Remix), reworked by Idol's son, Willem Wolfe with Brandon Rauch and Ed Bedrosian.

Track listing

| headline = Vital Idol: Revitalized track listing | extra_column = Origin | title1 = White Wedding | note1 = CRAY Remix | writer1 = Idol | extra1 = Billy Idol | length1 = 3:28

| title2 = Dancing with Myself | note2 = RAC Remix | writer2 = Idol, James | extra2 = Don't Stop | length2 = 3:33

| title3 = Eyes Without a Face | note3 = Tropkillaz Remix | writer3 = Idol, Stevens | extra3 = Rebel Yell | length3 = 3:50

| title4 = Rebel Yell | note4 = The Crystal Method Remix | writer4 = Idol, Stevens | extra4 = Rebel Yell | length4 = 5:23

| title5 = (Do Not) Stand in the Shadows | note5 = Moby Remix | writer5 = Idol, Stevens | extra5 = Rebel Yell | length5 = 4:21

| title6 = Flesh for Fantasy | note6 = St Francis Hotel Remix | writer6 = Idol, Stevens | extra6 = Rebel Yell | length6 = 3:37

| title7 = Catch My Fall | note7 = Juan Maclean Remix | writer7 = Idol | extra7 = Rebel Yell | length7 = 5:31

| title8 = One Breath Away | note8 = Paul Oakenfold Remix | writer8 = Idol, Stevens, Billy Morrison | extra8 = Kings & Queens of the Underground, 2014 | length8 = 3:21

| title9 = To Be a Lover | note9 = DJDS Remix | writer9 =Bell, Jones | extra9 = Whiplash Smile | length9 = 3:04

| title10 = Don't Need a Gun | note10 = Shiba San Remix | writer10 = Idol | extra10 = Whiplash Smile | length10 = 3:26

| title11 = Hot in the City | note11 = Shotgun Mike Remix | writer11 = Idol | extra11 = Billy Idol | length11 = 3:09

| total_length = 42:43

| headline = Digital version (bonus tracks) | extra_column = Origin | title12 = Mony Mony | note12 = Idol/Stevens Remix | writer12 = James, Gentry, Cordell, Bloom | extra12 = Don't Stop | length12 = 5:41

| title13 = One Breath Away | note13 = Paul Oakenfold Remix – Extended Version | writer13 = Idol, Stevens, Morrison | extra13 = Kings & Queens of the Underground | length13 = 4:58

| title14 = (Do Not) Stand in the Shadows | note14 = Moby Remix – Half Speed Version | writer14 = Idol, Stevens | extra14 = Rebel Yell | length14 = 4:30

| title15 = Save Me Now | note15 = Lost Dog Remix | writer15 = Idol, George William Lewis, Greg Kurstin | extra15 = Kings & Queens of the Underground | length15 = 4:42

Release history

::data[format=table title="Release history for ''Vital Idol: Revitalized''"]

Region	Date	Format	Label	Various
28 September 2018		Capitol
16 November 2018	LP
::

References

References

1. "Billy Idol, Vital Idol, Album".
2. Greg Prato. "Billy Idol | Awards". AllMusic.
3. (9 September 2017). "30 Years Ago: Remixes Prove 'Vital' for Billy Idol".
4. Rachel Brodsky. (11 October 2018). "Billy Idol On Remixing Vital Idol, Finding New Life In Old Songs, And Listening To Post Malone".
5. (1978). "Ital Vital". [[Discogs]].
6. Steve Huey. "Vital Idol - Billy Idol | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic.
7. Strike, Andy. (8 June 1985). "Albums".
8. (1993-08-10). "CG: Billy Idol". Robert Christgau.
9. Sheffield, Rob. (2004). "[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide". [[Simon & Schuster]].
10. Coleman, Mark. (1992). "[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]". [[Random House]].
11. "Vital Idol (Europe, 2002)". Discogs.
12. (1988). "Vital Idol (Japan, 1988)". Discogs.
13. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
14. (16 September 1985). "European Top 100 Albums".
15. Pennanen, Timo. (2006). "Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972". [[Otava (publisher).
16. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1985". GfK Entertainment.
17. "Top Selling Albums of 1985". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
18. (18 January 1986). "Top 100 Albums (January 5–December 28, 1985)".
19. (26 December 1987). "Top 100 Albums of '87".
20. "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1988". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
21. (24 December 1988). "Top 100 Albums of '88".
22. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988".
23. "Billy Idol - "Vital Idol: Revitalized": Album Review". Beatselector Magazine.
24. (7 September 2018). "Billy Idol's 'Vital Idol' Is 'Revitalized'". [[Capitol Records]]/[[Universal Music Enterprises.
25. "iTunes - Music - Vital Idol: Revitalized by Billy Idol". [[iTunes Store]].

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