Billy Idol "Charmed Life"

Charmed Life is the fourth studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 1 May 1990 by 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".

Charmed Life was certified Platinum by the RIAA and Silver by BPI in 1990.

Unlike Idol's previous two 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.

Track listing

1. "The Loveless" Billy Idol, Mark Younger-Smith 4:17
2. "Pumping on Steel" Idol, Younger-Smith 4:41
3. "Prodigal Blues" Idol 5:41
4. "L.A. Woman" John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison 5:29
5. "Trouble With the Sweet Stuff" Idol, Keith Forsey, Younger-Smith, Dave Concors 5:58
6. "Cradle of Love" David Werner, Idol 4:40
7. "Mark of Caine" Idol 4:31
8. "Endless Sleep" Dolores Nance, Jody Reynolds 3:12
9. "Love Unchained" Idol 4:39
10. "The Right Way" Idol 5:03
11. "License to Thrill" Idol, Forsey 6:01

Keith Forsey – producer

Jeff Aldrich – A&R

Brigid Waters – A&R

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

Eric Barrett – management

Tony Dimitriades – management

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).