Charmed Life (Billy Idol album)

Charmed Life
Studio album by Billy Idol
Released	May 1990
Recorded	1989–1990
Genre	Hard rock, new wave
Length	54:20
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Keith Forsey
Billy Idol chronology
Idol Songs: 11 of the Best (1988) Charmed Life (1990) Cyberpunk (1993)
Singles from Charmed Life
"Cradle of Love" Released: 17 April 1990 "L.A. Woman" Released: July 1990 "Prodigal Blues" Released: December 1990

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

Charmed Life is the fourth studio album by English rock vocalist Billy Idol, released in 1990 through Chrysalis Records.

"Cradle of Love" was featured 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, featured 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.

Charmed Life has been certified platinum by the RIAA and Silver by BPI.

Track listing

1. "The Loveless" (Idol, Mark Younger-Smith) – 4:17
2. "Pumping on Steel" (Idol, Younger-Smith) – 4:42
3. "Prodigal Blues" (Idol) – 5:41
4. "L.A. Woman" (Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek, Morrison) – 5:29
5. "Trouble with the Sweet Stuff" (Idol, Younger-Smith, Keith Forsey, Dave Concors) – 5:50

6. "Cradle of Love" (Idol, David Werner) – 4:39
7. "Mark of Caine" (Idol) – 4:33
8. "Endless Sleep" (Dolores Nance, Jody Reynolds) – 3:13
9. "Love Unchained" (Idol) – 4:41
10. "The Right Way" (Idol) – 5:05
11. "License to Thrill" (Keith Forsey, Idol) – 6:02

Charting album and singles

• 1990 Charmed Life LP Billboard 200 No. 11
• 1990 "Cradle of Love"
  • Billboard Hot 100 No. 2
  • Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 1
  • Modern Rock Tracks No. 7
  • UK Singles Chart No. 34^[4]
• 1990 "L.A. Woman"
  • Billboard Hot 100 No. 52
  • Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 18
  • UK Singles Chart No. 70^[4]
• 1991 "Prodigal Blues"
  • Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 35
  • UK Singles Chart No. 47^[4]

Certification

Country	Certification	Sales
United States	Platinum	1,000,000
United Kingdom	Silver	60,000

Personnel

• Billy Idol – vocals, guitar, horn arrangement on "License to Thrill"
• Mark Younger-Smith – guitar, bass guitar
• Phil Soussan – bass guitar
• Jimmy Johnson – bass guitar
• Phil Shenale – bass guitar, programming
• Vito – bass guitar
• Arthur Barrow – keyboards, programming
• Greg Mathieson – keyboards
• Mike Baird – drums
• Keith Forsey – drums, producer

References

1. Loftus, Johnny. "Charmed Life - Billy Idol". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
2. "CG: billy idol". Robert Christgau. 1993-08-10. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
3. "Album Reviews and Ratings". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 266. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.