Record companies like to release compilations long after a band has broken up as it keeps the band relevant and another opportunity to grab some cash. Unlike most greatest hits compilation, this one has some meat on the bone. EMI records released ‘Anthology’ on February 25, 2003 and it isn’t a one disc type of compilation. No! You get 3 CDs of goodness. The booklet gives us a nice biography of the band plus credits for all the songs on the 3 discs. And it also gives 51 tracks from the Generation X catalog.
But before we get in to the music. Who is Generation X? Well, if you didn’t follow my Billy Idol series, then I will let you know who they are (but go back and read all the reviews in the Series after you are done with this one). Generation X were a punk band out of England that ran from 1976 until 1981 and consisted of Tony James, Bob “Derwood” Andrews, Mark Laff and of course, Billy Idol. That is how discovered them is digging through Billy Idol’s musical history and I am so glad I did. They had 3 albums and went from Generation X to Gen X when there was a line-up change. But I liked most of what I heard so this was easy decision to grab this one…okay…now on to the music included in this set.
DISC ONE:
The first disc in this set are 19 tracks form the band’s three albums with a couple minor exceptions. You also get two songs that were done from the BBC Radio 1 Sessions and some cool covers. And they only had 3 albums, 19 tracks is a large chunk of their music so a great place to start if you want to check out the band. I would list out which are my favorite tracks I would basically list most of the 19 songs. But it does have the song “Dancing With Myself” that Billy released a version in his solo days, but there are also classics that Billy still plays today like “Ready, Steady, Go”, “One Hundred Punks” and “Untouchables”. You can’t go wrong with this disc.
DISC TWO:
After the release of Generation X’s second album, “Valley of the Dolls”, the band started recording the follow-up release. However, during the recording the band started having some creative issues with each other. The album was demoed, but never finished before the band broke-up. Billy Idol and Tony James decided to continue on and they rebranded themselves as Gen X. They released ‘Kiss Me Deadly’ in 1980 to little or moderate success. So, the 3rd Generation X album never saw the light of day.
Well, it never saw the light of day until 1998 when former Generation X guitarist Derwood Andrews released it due to some contract obligations without the consent of Billy Idol and Tony James. Billy & Tony were able to block the release in the U.S., but not anywhere else. The songs were in demo form and not fully realized tracks. I do have that one on vinyl. So, when I got this, I actually had one that was approved by Billy Idol and Tony James. This disc also has a couple bonus tracks and an interview with Tony James. These songs aren’t half bad. I think I scored the album a 3.25 out of 5.0 Stars so it is above average.
DISC THREE:
And lastly, for Disc Three, we actually get a live show from the band. It was a recording from Osaka, Japan in 1978 per the packaging, but 1979 per Wiki. It is a 19 track setlist and it sounds awesome. Such a clean sounding live show. Being 1979, the songs basically cover the first two albums and a lot of songs not on Disc One which is awesome that we get some different tracks. I have a few live shows from the band, and this one is a great one to have in the collection as well. Live you can feel the energy and angst that sometimes didn’t come through in the studio recordings. It is a young Billy before he became a worldwide sensation in the 80’s.
I think this 3 CD set is absolutely awesome. You get a greatest hits compilation, an unreleased album (officially at least) and a full live show. Damn!! That is how you do a greatest hits compilation my friends. It is a great snapshot of early Billy Idol, before he was a massive success as a solo artist. I love pulling this out and give it a spin…and when I do…I do all three CDs in a row. That is a lot of Generation X and worth every minute of my time. My Overall Score is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars as what more could you want. Okay, maybe some rare mixes, single edits, things like that, but this is still way cool!!
THE BILLY IDOL SERIES:
- Generation X – ‘Generation X’
- Generation X – ‘Valley of the Dolls’
- Gen X – ‘Kiss Me Deadly’
- Gen X – “Dancing With Myself” 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Generation X – ‘The BBC Transcription Disc Series No. 126 1978’ (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Don’t Stop E.P.
- Billy Idol – Billy Idol
- Billy Idol – “White Wedding” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
- Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile
- Billy Idol – “Sweet Sixteen” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – To Be A Lover – Single Review
- Billy Idol – Vital Idol
- Billy Idol – “Hot In the City” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Mony Mony Live” – 12″ Maxi-Single (Bonus Edition)
- Idol Songs: 11 of the Best
- Billy Idol – Charmed Life
- Billy Idol – “Cradle of Love” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – California FM 1990 (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Cyberpunk
- Billy Idol – “Shock To The System” – CD Single Promo (Floppy Disk)
- Billy Idol – “Speed” (song from the Speed Soundtrack)
- Generation X – K.M.D. Sweet Revenge
- Billy Idol – VH1 Storytellers (Live)
- Generation X – Anthology (2003)
- Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground
- Billy Idol – Happy Holidays
- Billy Idol – The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
- Billy Idol – Icon
- Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground
- Billy Idol – BFI Live (#RSD 2019)
- Billy Idol – Revitalized
- Generation X – Your Generation (7″ Record Store Day Release)
- Generation X – Generation X Deluxe Edition
- Billy Idol – Rebel Waltz: Live (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Rebel Calling: Live (Bootleg)
- Generation X – ‘Demos 1977’ (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – The Roadside E.P.
- Billy Idol – The Cage E.P.
- Billy Idol – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First
- Billy Idol – The Best and Worst Song From Every Album
- Grant’s Rock Warehaus – Billy Idol Career Retrospective
- Billy Idol – The Collection: Ep. 15 – “Vinyl Idol”
- Generation Sex – ‘Listen To This, Johnny!’ – Bootleg (2024)
