Charmed Life is the fourth studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 30 April 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.

Background

Unlike Idol's previous three 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

Personnel

Handclaps on "The Right Way"

Production

Studios

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications