Top Ten Songs by Def Leppard
Over 25 years since their debut, the band hasn’t lost a step. Trends have come and gone, but Def Leppard has consistently delivered for their fans. Their story is made even more amazing when considered with the death of founding member Steve Clark and that the drummer, Rick Allen, lost his arm in a car crash.
Allen’s accident derailed Def Leppard temporarily as the stranglehold they had on radio with their multi-million selling Pyromania, raised the odds for their follow-up to be a sink or swim affair.
After Allen relearned the drums on a customized drum kit, the band released Hysteria. The record charted six top twenty hits, has sold over ten million albums and made Def Leppard the unavoidable face of MTV in the late 80’s.
This would be the band’s pinnacle, but they have soldiered on as a popular concert attraction and consistently good recording artist. The recent Leppard greatest hits disc is a sprawling double album with highlights from each of their albums. Here is just ten of the best.
“High and Dry (Saturday Night)” from High and Dry – Before Def Leppard became a global pop/rock phenomenon they played loud AC/DC riff rock. The ballad “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” became the big hit but this track, along with a few others from their sophomore release had all the mullets banging.
“Photograph” from Pyromania – This song is one in a long line of Def Leppard songs that is simply undeniable. It may have single-handedly spawned hair metal; at least the good hair metal.
“Rock Rock (Till You Drop)” from Pyromania – An completely stomping lead off track that shows the bands knows a thing or two about a great rock riff as well as some pop hooks.
“Rock of Ages” from Pyromania – This is rock music in the 1980’s. It’s completely bombastic, overblown and ridiculous. “Rock of Ages” is the 1985 formula for rock perfection displayed in four minutes.
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” from Hysteria – This is the signature Def Leppard song. If you don’t know and love this song, you must be dead inside.
“Armageddon It” from Hysteria – Another big dumb rock song that helped Hysteria become one of the best selling records ever.
“Hysteria” from Hysteria – Mutt Lange took Def Leppard songs and created flawless, confectionary, pop/rock masterpieces. Just another perfect track by a band that was invincible at the time.
“Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)” from Adrenalize – Def Leppard followed up the outstanding success of Hysteria with a less than stellar carbon copy. However, “Stand Up” may be the best ballad in the Leppard catalog; devoid of any schmaltz and full of real emotion.
“Slang” from Slang – The critically and commercially ignored Slang album deserved better treatment. This was the anti-grunge song that got lost in the sea of flannel.
“Promises” from Euphoria – The band went back to basics and delivered another perfect pop/rock gem that could have been in the middle of Pyromania.
“Def Leppard’s most recent release Yeah! is an all covers album that is an amazing ride through the 1970’s glam rock that basically created Def Leppard. It is also the brightest and most fun record you may hear all year, with covers of songs by T. Rex, Sweet, Mott the Hoople and Roxy Music.
