Rebel Yell was released to commercial success. In the United States, the album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, and it also peaked in the top ten in other countries, including Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it double platinum for shipments of two million copies across the United States. Four singles – "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face", "Flesh for Fantasy", and "Catch My Fall" – were released from the album. The accompanying music videos for all singles received heavy airplay on television channel MTV. Idol's longtime girlfriend Perri Lister can be seen in the front row during the video for "Rebel Yell".
Upon its release, Rebel Yell received positive reviews from critics. Parke Puterbaugh of Rolling Stone called it "a ferocious record, sharp as a saber, hard as diamond, as beautiful and seductive as the darker side of life with which it flirts", and ultimately "an intelligent assault upon the senses" at a time "when too much of what comes over the airwaves is all sweetness and light, or mere undifferentiated head-banging".
Technical
- Keith Forsey – producer
- Michael Frondelli – engineer, mixing
- Dave Wittman – engineer, mixing
- Gary Hellman – engineer
- Steve Rinkoff – engineer
- Pete Thea – engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Brian Griffin – photography
- Michael MacNeil – cover design
- Stephanie Tudor – production co-ordination
- Bob Norberg – mastering (1999 expanded edition)
- Kevin Flaherty – compilation (1999 expanded edition)
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Rebel Yell
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1984–1985)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| 16
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)
| 40
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1984 year-end chart performance for Rebel Yell
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1984)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| 53
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
| 18
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
| 62
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
| 7
|-
! scope="row"| US Billboard 200
| 16
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 1985 year-end chart performance for Rebel Yell
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1985)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
| 20
|}