Charmed Life is the fourth studio album by the English rock musician Billy Idol, released on 30 April 1990 by Chrysalis Records. Like its predecessor, Whiplash Smile (1986), the album shows a more emotional side of Idol, but with a more organic and less technologically-dependent sound. Primarily a new wave and hard rock album, Charmed Life also experiments with other genres, such as jazz on "Endless Sleep" and electro-blues on "Trouble With The Sweet Stuff."
Background
Unlike Idol's previous three albums, Charmed Life did not feature guitarist Steve Stevens, and most of the guitar work was handled by Mark Younger-Smith instead. Idol told Sounds in 1990, "Meeting Mark Younger-Smith gave me a lynchpin, someone I could work with by forming a sound and an idea for this album." Idol finished sessions for the album on 5 February 1990. During the following morning, after picking up the final mixes from Conway Studios, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.
"Love Unchained" was inspired by a friend of Idol's who died in a motorcycle accident.
Release
The lead single, "Cradle of Love", appeared on the soundtrack of The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. The song was famous for its video, which won the 1990 MTV Video Music Award for "Best video from a film". The video directed by David Fincher, involved Betsy Lynn George as a teenager who knocks at her neighbour's door and asks to play a tape, before stripping to the music. The album's second single is a cover version of "L.A. Woman" by The Doors. Its video was also directed by Fincher. The third single off the album was "Prodigal Blues".
Charmed Life was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 1990.
Track listing
Personnel Billy Idol – vocals, acoustic guitar (3, 7), arrangements, horn arrangements (11) Greg Mathieson – keyboards (1) John Philip Shenale – programming (2), additional bass (2) Arthur Barrow – keyboards (3, 4, 6–9), programming (6, 11), additional bass (6), bass (8, 11) Mark Younger-Smith – guitars, bass (2) Jimmy Johnson – bass (1) Phil Soussan – bass (3, 10), additional bass (11) Vito – bass (4, 5, 6, 9) Randy Jackson – bass (7) Keith Forsey – drums (1, 2, 3, 5–9), percussion (11), arrangements Mike Baird – drums (3, 4, 10, 11), programming (11), drum programming (11) Alex Brown – backing vocals (3, 5) Bunny Hull – backing vocals (3, 5) Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals (3, 5) The P.L.S. Singers – backing vocals (11)
Handclaps on "The Right Way" The "Rude Dudes" (John Diaz, Keith Forsey, Billy Idol, Art Natoli and Mark Younger-Smith)
Production Keith Forsey – producer Tommy Vicari – mixing, engineer (1, 6, 8, 9) Dave Concors – engineer (2–5, 7, 10, 11) Kevin Becka – assistant engineer (1) Bryan Carlstrom – assistant engineer (2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11) Ken Paulakovich – second engineer (5) Ian Minns – assistant engineer (6) Craig Porteils – mix assistant (1, 6), assistant engineer (6) Paul Wertheimer – mix assistant (2, 10) Bryant Arnett – mix assistant (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11), assistant engineer (4, 6, 8, 9) Bernie Grundman – mastering (1–5, 7–11) George Marino – mastering (6) AWest – art direction, cover design, cover illustration Brass Ring Circus Studio – art direction Billy Idol – cover design Max Aguilera-Hellweg – photography Art Natoli – personal assistant
Studios Recorded at Lighthouse Studios (Los Angeles, California); Track Record Studios and Oasis Recording Studios (North Hollywood, California ); Conway Studios (Hollywood, California). Mixed at Record Plant (Los Angeles, California) and Conway Studios Tracks 1–5 & 7–11 mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California). Track 6 mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Charmed Life Chart (1990) Peakposition European Albums (Music & Media) 8 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 1 Icelandic Albums (Tónlist) 6 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Charmed Life" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca". 17 US AOR Albums (Radio & Records) 1
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Charmed Life Chart (1990) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 33 European Albums (Music & Media) 61 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 47 US Billboard 200 49
Certifications
See also List of most expensive albums
References