Whiplash Smile

Whiplash Smile
Studio album by Billy Idol
Released	20 October 1986
Recorded	1985–86
Studio	Right Track Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	Hard rock new wave
Length	45:29
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Keith Forsey
Billy Idol chronology
Vital Idol (1985) Whiplash Smile (1986) Idol Songs: 11 of the Best (1988)
Singles from Whiplash Smile
"To Be a Lover" Released: 23 September 1986 "Don't Need a Gun" Released: 1986 "Sweet Sixteen" Released: 1987

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	C+[2]

Whiplash Smile is the third studio album by English rock vocalist Billy Idol. It was released on 20 October 1986 by Chrysalis Records. After his successful album Rebel Yell (1983), Idol continued his collaboration with Keith Forsey and Steve Stevens while writing and producing songs for the album.

Whiplash Smile received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Commercially, the album noted a success similar to his previous album. It peaked at number six on Billboard 200. In the United Kingdom, it reached number eight and also peaked inside the top ten in many other countries, such as Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Whiplash Smile was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold more than two million copies worldwide.

Three singles were released from the album, with "Don't Need a Gun" and "Sweet Sixteen" peaking into the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100. "Soul Standing By" was released only in Australia.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Worlds Forgotten Boy"	Billy Idol Steve Stevens	5:40
2.	"To Be a Lover"	William Bell Booker T. Jones	3:51
3.	"Soul Standing By"	Idol	4:35
4.	"Sweet Sixteen"	Idol	4:14
5.	"Man for All Seasons"	Idol Stevens	4:38
6.	"Don't Need a Gun"	Idol	6:15
7.	"Beyond Belief"	Idol	4:00
8.	"Fatal Charm"	Idol Stevens Keith Forsey	3:51
9.	"All Summer Single"	Idol	4:33
10.	"One Night, One Chance"	Idol Stevens	3:52
Total length:			45:29

Credits and personnel

• Billy Idol – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
• Steve Stevens – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming
• Marcus Miller – bass guitar
• John Regan – bass guitar
• Phillip Ashley – keyboards
• Harold Faltermeyer – keyboards
• David Frank – keyboards
• Richard Tee – keyboards
• Thommy Price – drums, percussion
• Jocelyn Brown – background vocals
• Connie Harvey – background vocals
• Janet Wright – background vocals
• Produced by Keith Forsey
• Recording Engineers: Dave Concors, Debi Cornish, Neil Dorfsman, Moira Marquis, Bill Miranda, Steve Tjaden, Dave Wittman
• Mixing Engineer: Gary Langan
• Assistant Mixing Engineer: Craig Vogel
• Mastering: George Marino

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986) Peak position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[3] 18 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[4] 6 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 9 Italian Albums (FIMI)[6] 15 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[7] 30 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] 5 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[9] 12 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 4 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 4 UK Albums (OCC)[12] 8 US Billboard 200[13] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position Italian Albums (FIMI)[6] 67 US Billboard 200[14] 28

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[15]	3× Platinum	300,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[16]	Gold	25,000[16]
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[18]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Johnny Loftus. "Whiplash Smile". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
2. "CG: billy idol". Robert Christgau. 10 August 1993. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
3. "Austriancharts.at – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue {{{chartid}}}." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
5. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
6. "Hit Parade Italia gli album più venduti del 1986". FIMI. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
7. "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
8. "Charts.org.nz – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
9. "Norwegiancharts.com – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
10. "Swedishcharts.com – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
11. "Swisscharts.com – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
12. "Billy Idol | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 10 April 2016.
13. "Billy Idol – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Billy Idol. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
14. "Billboard 200 Year End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
15. "Canadian album certifications – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Music Canada. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
16. "Billy Idol" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
17. "British album certifications – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 April 2016. Enter Whiplash Smile in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
18. "American album certifications – Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 10 April 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

• Whiplash Smile at AllMusic
• Whiplash Smile at Discogs (list of releases)