1990 Billy Idol – Charmed Life

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

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”.

Tracks

1  The Loveless (Billy Idol; Mark Younger-Smith) 04:17
2  Pumping On Steel (Billy Idol; Mark Younger-Smith) 04:43
Prodigal Blues (Billy Idol) 05:41
L.A. Woman (Jim Morrison; John Densmore; Ray Manzarek; Robby Krieger) 04:02
5  Trouble With The Sweet Stuff (Billy Idol; Dave Concors; Keith Forsey; Mark Younger-Smith) 05:59
6  Cradle Of Love (Billy Idol; David Werner) 04:40
7  Mark Of Caine (Billy Idol) 04:32
8  Endless Sleep (Dolores Nance; Jody Reynolds) 03:13
9  Love Unchained (Billy Idol) 04:40
10  The Right Way (Billy Idol) 05:04
11  License To Thrill (Billy Idol; Keith Forsey) 06:02

Musicians

1 The Loveless

BassJimmy Johnson
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
KeyboardsGreg Mathieson
VocalsBilly Idol


2 Pumping On Steel

BassMark Younger-Smith
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
ProgrammingPhil Shenale
VocalsBilly Idol


3 Prodigal Blues

BassPhil Soussan
DrumsKeith Forsey
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
Acoustic GuitarBilly Idol
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
Background VocalsAlex Brown
Background VocalsBunny Hull
Background VocalsStephanie Spruill
VocalsBilly Idol


4 L.A. Woman

BassVito
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsBilly Idol


5 Trouble With The Sweet Stuff

BassVito
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
Background VocalsAlex Brown
Background VocalsBunny Hull
Background VocalsStephanie Spruill
VocalsBilly Idol


6 Cradle Of Love

BassVito
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
ProgrammingArthur Barrow
VocalsBilly Idol


7 Mark Of Caine

BassRandy Jackson
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
Acoustic GuitarBilly Idol
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsBilly Idol


8 Endless Sleep

BassArthur Barrow
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsBilly Idol


9 Love Unchained

BassVito
DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsBilly Idol


10 The Right Way

BassPhil Soussan
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
VocalsBilly Idol


11 License To Thrill

BassPhil Soussan
Drums (programming)Mike Baird
GuitarMark Younger-Smith
ProgrammingArthur Barrow
PercussionKeith Forsey
VocalsBilly Idol

Other Musicians

Backing Vocals – The P.L.S. Singers (Track 11)

Liner Notes

Producer – Keith Forsey
Arranged By – Billy Idol, Keith Forsey
Arranged By (Horns) – Billy Idol (Track 11)
Engineer – Tommy Vicari (Tracks 1, 6, 8, 9)
Engineer – Dave Concors (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11)
Engineer (Assistant) – Kevin Becka (Track 1)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bryan Carlstrom (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bryant Arnett (Tracks 4, 6, 8, 9)
Engineer (Assistant) – Craig Porteils, Ian Minns (Track 6)
Engineer (Second Assistant) – Ken Paulakovich (Track 5)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman, George Marino
Mixed By – Tommy Vicari
Mixed By (Assistant) – Craig Porteils (Tracks 1, 6)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Paul Wertheimer (Tracks 2, 10)
Mixed By (Assistant) – Bryant Arnett (Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11)

Art Direction – AWest, Brass Ring Circus Studios
Design Concept – AWest, Billy Idol
Illustration – AWest
Photography – Max Aguilera-Hellweg

Glass Mastered At EMI Swindon
Mastered At Bernie Grundman Mastering
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Mixed At Conway Studios
Mixed At Record Plant, Los Angeles
Recorded At Lighthouse Studios
Recorded At Track Record
Recorded At Conway Studios
Recorded At Oasis Recording Studios
Phonographic Copyright Chrysalis Records Inc
Copyright Chrysalis Records Inc