For those unaware, the 40th Anniversary expanded edition of Billy Idol’s iconic Rebel Yell album is out now and includes the smash hits “Eyes Without a Face,” Flesh for Fantasy” and the titular “Rebel Yell.”

This deluxe reissue features 13 bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased “Best Way Out of Here” and cover of “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” from the original sessions, plus original demos and the Poolside remix of “Eyes Without a Face.”

There are two physical editions of this reissue, a 2CD set and a 2LP vinyl version. The former features 13 bonus tracks, including five that were on the 1999 expanded CD. The extra tracks include the rather good ‘Poolside Remix’ of Eyes Without A Face (a new remix was issued as a digital single in early 2021), the previously unreleased ‘Best Way Out of Here’ and a cover of ‘Love Don’t Live Hear Anymore’ (from the original sessions).

Of the latter, and which is being reviewed here today, Billy has said “We found out Madonna was doing a version on her Like A Virgin album and we had a full compliment songs so we thought we’d leave it off the album”.

Side A:
1. Rebel Yell
2. Daytime Drama
3. Eyes Without A Face
4. Blue Highway

Side B:
1. Flesh For Fantasy
2. Catch My Fall
3. Crank Call
4. (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows
5. The Dead Next Door

Side A of this always magnificent to listen to vinyl recording - and one of the best from its era - opens on the titular Rebel Yell and that is backed by one of the King of Cool’s most underrated tracks, Daytime Drama, the blockbusting Eyes Without A Face and the wild-eyed synth-pop cut Blue Highway.

Flipping the first vinyl LP over, and Side B opens on the brilliant Flesh For Fantasy and the vibrant Catch My Fall before we get brought forth the synth-pop, guitar rocker Crank Call, the original album culminating in the, at first shimmer, latterly fluctuating drum-led rocker (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows and the track everyone always labelled as filler, the haunting song-of-its-time The Dead Next Door.

Side C:
1. Best Way Out Of Here
2. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
3. Daytime Drama (Demo)
4. Flesh For Fantasy (Demo)

Side D:
1. Catch My Fall (Early Version)
2. Crank Call (Demo)
3. (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows (Demo)
4. Eyes Without A Face (Poolside Remix)

Getting the second vinyl LP of extra tracks out and Side C first brings us the synth-tastic, incredible 80’s sound of Best Way Out Of Here and a timeless, hauntingly ethereal cover of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, and then comes a surreal Daytime Drama (Demo) and a completely different sounding, pop-rock rendition of Flesh For Fantasy (Demo) [and which, if you listen closely, also features some guitar parts from Daytime Drama].

Flipping the second vinyl over and Side D opens with a Police-esque, light and breezy Catch My Fall (Early Version), the energetic Crank Call (Demo), the entire package rounding out on the still-thriving (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows (Demo) and a rambunctious Eyes Without A Face (Poolside Remix).

In short, here on this complete banger of a 80’s pop rock album, Billy sure knows how to command a mic and bring the heat on most all of these tracks!

Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face (Poolside Remix)

Official Purchase Link