Def Leppard - My Top Twenty Tracks (1996-2022)
Def Leppard - My Top Twenty Tracks (1996-2022)
Many people love classifying Def Leppard as a “sellout” band. I never understood that. Since their so-called NWOBHM days, they have been accused of trying everything to please the U.S. market. Even though they have been flirting with Pop since day one, mainly Hard Rock fans insist on putting them down no matter what.
If you go to online forums, you might find three types of people: Firstly, the ones who say they were good up until “Pyromania”, those who think only the records with Pete Willis are worth listening to, and a few who can’t listen to the band after “Hysteria”, claiming that after Steve Clark passed, the band lost them.
I respect everyone’s taste and opinion, but I feel sometimes people seem to be lazy towards Leppard’s later material, which I find incredible in its own right. Here, I’ll do somewhat of a Top 20 with the tracks I love the most from 1996 onwards, and there are MANY tracks I loved I ended up leaving from the list. So, let’s check them out:
20. “Gift Of Flesh”, Slang (1996)
Written by guitarist Phil Collen, this song rocks to the core. You can hear his Sex Pistols and Nirvana influences belting out on the track. Probably the Slang track with the hardest edge, “Gift Of Flesh” showcases where the Leps were in the mid-90s.
19. “Last Dance”, Self-Titled (2015)
The self-titled record from 2015 brings many faces of their career. You’ve got everything from hard rockers to heartfelt acoustic songs. “Last Dance”, written by bass player Rick “Sav” Savage, is one of its standout tracks. Simple yet effective, this song takes you on a ride that is honest, pure and twinkling with melody.
I honestly prefer the demo version with Sav singing, but the album version is also worth a listen.
18. “It’s All About Believin’”, Mirrorball - Live And More (2011)
The three studio tracks off Mirrorball, the first ones re
leased after 2008’s “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge”, made the fans anxious for a new record, which unfortunately took a few more years to come.
“It’s All About Believin”, written by Phil and his songwriting partner CJ Vanston, is the most “Leppard” out of the three. Melodic, this mid-tempo track is lyrically optimistic and full of hooks. However, it’s the least talked about out of the three (“Undefeated” appeared on their Ded Flatbird Vegas set and “Kings Of The World” is normally played after their gig is over), which is a shame.
17. "Pearl Of Euphoria", Slang (1996)
The closing track off Slang, features Rick Allen recreating Bonham's "When The Levee Breaks" groove and it sonically stands between
Zeppelin and 90's Depeche Mode. I enjoy Joe Elliott's vocals here a lot, and there is a mystique to the song that perfectly closes an
album full of different flavours.
A total far cry from the overproduction of 1992's Adrenalize, but its rawness contains layers that still retain the Def Leppard sound. They will never write an album like it again, and its unique experience within their discography is nothing but special.
16. "Demolition Man", Euphoria (1999).
After the experimentation of Slang, the band decided to return to their melodic rock with an album which, in my opinion, is the best in their catalogue. Call me crazy, but Euphoria contains everything I love about this band. The songwriting is stellar and the mix of current-sounding tunes and their old style works perfectly.
"Demolition Man" opens the album and it is a fast-paced rocker. Cheesy and fun lyrics and a zillion backing vocals all over the place are a statement. Def Leppard is back. Guitarist Vivian Campbell, here more comfortable than ever, wrote the chorus and Formula One driver Damon Hill plays the little guitar solo we hear during the last chorus. Unfortunately, it was played live only during the album's tour.
15. "Open Your Eyes", Diamond Star Halos (2022)
The fat bass sound here reminds me of early Muse, and I know the Leps are into the fellow British band. It could be featured in Slang, but a little more produced. Especially the backing vocals during the chorus.
I love how this album's flow works better than the previous one, the blending of styles never sounds forced or like they are trying too much. I was in awe when I heard this track for the first time and it shows how the boys are never afraid to push the boundaries and try different things.
14. "Tomorrow", Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (2008)
I remember hearing the album being showcased on the radio before its release and loving "Tomorrow" from the get-go.
Written by Phil, the song is about his father's passing and instead of a heartfelt ballad, he delivers an uplifting and catchy Pop/Rock tune.
The song ends with layers of guitars with fantastic tones, giving the emotional touch it deservedly needed.
13."Guilty", Euphoria (1999)
The four slower songs on Euphoria are brilliant. Viv's "To Be Alive" might be my favourite, but I think the mid-tempo "Guilty" represents them better.
A nod to the track "Hysteria" from the album of the same name, the song's textures are full of detail and the backing vocals during the bridge section make the hairs on my arm stand up.
That song has got the Leppard stamp all over it, and many bands tried (and still do) to replicate it. But no one does better than the boys from Sheffield.
12."Unbreakable", Diamond Star Halos (2022)
Yes, I love their latest album. This song rocks on many levels. The guitar tone during the intro is outstanding and so are Joe's vocals. I confess I didn't get the electronic
groove during the verses at first, but after a few listens I was cool with it. The chorus oozes with excitement and never lets the ball drop. I think it should be released as a single.
"Fire It Up" is a great track, but there are so many songs here which are way catchier (and the fact that they had dropped it off their set after a few shows during the Stadium Tour proves my point) and
this is one of them.
11."Where Does Love Go When It Dies", Slang (1996)
DEF LEPPARD "Where Does Love Go When It Dies" - Lyric Video
I love the fact that this song is finally getting its due. It was part of their acoustic medley a few years ago, and with the reissue of the album, a lyric video was released.
Joe sounds great and the writing is phenomenal. Phil's sustained guitar gives it a sweet and sour vibe that is both beautiful and haunting at the same time. The final songs off Slang are epic in their own way. It touches your soul if you let them.
10. "Scar", X (2002).
I know X gets a lot of heat from being a Poppier album, but the production and songwriting are stellar. However, I agree that if the album had a couple of extra rockers and a different running order, it would become more appreciated among Rock fans. And the record company not promoting it properly hurt things as well.
"Scar" is the closing track and maybe the closest song we hear to the classic Leppard sound. Phil Collen once said he felt the late Steve Clark's presence while working on it, and I won't say he's making it up.
It has got his old mate's vibe throughout it. The guitar work is emotional and so is the anthemic chorus that stays in your head for a while. It's a shame that it has never been played live and is often forgotten even by band members (Joe once thought the song was off Euphoria during an interview, and quickly corrected himself).
09. "Cruise Control", Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (2008).
As much as I dislike the album’s muddy mix, there are some great tunes on Sparkle Lounge. “Cruise Control” makes me wish that Viv would write a few more songs every now and then. His Les Paul tone is tasty and Sav’s bass line is surely hypnotic. I hear a Slang vibe and with a clearer and punchier sound, Sparkle Lounge could have achieved higher goals.
08. "SOS Emergency", Diamond Star Halos (2022).
2022’s Diamond Star Halos was mostly written by Joe and Phil, with Sav chiming in here and there. They worked on the album during the pandemic and were sending files back and forth (Joe lives in Dublin, Sav in Sheffield and Phil in California). “SOS Emergency” is a result of the lead singer and the shirtless axeman’s online collaboration. It rocks. It has got that particular riff that brings us back to the 80s and melodies that would make Mutt Lange proud. Unfortunately, like many songs off the album, it hasn’t been played live yet.
07. "10x Bigger Than Love ", B-side (2002).
A B-side. When I said X could do with a few extra rockers, this one came to mind immediately. I love every single bit of it. It’s fun and the lyrics start quite cheesy, but during the wonderfully built bridge section, they become almost poetic. The guitar solo stands out as well.
I’m happy it was released on the Rarities: From The Vault set. British melodic rock band Vega released a version of it featuring Joe that is worth checking out, too. It is featured on their album Stereo Messiah (2014).
06. "Four Letter Word ", X (2002).
One of my favourite tracks from their catalogue, this song features a few AC/DC-inspired licks and beautifully layered backing vocals. It wouldn’t hurt if it was released as a single before “Now”, which I think could work better as a follow-up to it.
It’s bluesy and poppy at the same time, a bit like “Armageddon It”, but with an early 2000s approach. There is out there a cool acoustic version with Phil and Viv singing it on a radio show. I highly recommend it.
05. "Work it Out ", Slang (1996).
Campbell’s first collaboration as a songwriter, the song was released as a single and there’s an accompanying video as well. Showing the band fooling about with a photo booth. Their look couldn’t be more 90s than that.
Interestingly, the demo was a bit bluesy, almost sounding like Free, and after being Leppardized, the song gained life, with an interesting groove and a bombastic chorus. The middle section with Sav playing his bass with a wah-wah pedal, adds much to it.
04. "Promises ", Euphoria (1999).
DEF LEPPARD - "Promises" (Official Music Video)
They worked with producer Mutt Lange again for a few tracks on Euphoria. “Promises” being one of them, became their biggest hit after 1995’s “When Love And Hate Collide” and is the only track from the album to be quite constant into their live set.
Just like KISS’s “Psycho Circus” became a late 90’s “Detroit Rock City” for them, “Promises” was like “Photograph” part II.
03. "Dangerous ", Self-titled (2015).
DEF LEPPARD - "Dangerous" (Official Audio) - Album Out Now!
When I first heard “Let’s Go”, the first single off the self-titled record, I thought, OK, it sounds a bit like “Sugar”, it has got the Leppard vibe.
But it was “Dangerous”, the second single, that made me excited about the album and unfortunately, it was cut out of the set when I saw them with Aerosmith in 2017.
An exciting Melodic rocker, it’s catchy, fun and electric. Can’t say the same thing about the video, though.
02. "Take What You Want ", Diamond Star Halos (2022).
Def Leppard - Take What You Want (Audio)
I must confess, the opening track off DSH was a bit of a grower. At first, I thought the song was OK, but after a few spins, I realised how great it was.
I saw The World Tour with Mötley, and the song’s intro with its buildup is as effective as the one from “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)”. I guess that’s what they wanted to deliver to us, fans.
It’s got everything to become a classic. Written by Sav and Joe, the song rocks on many levels and it’s the kind of hard rock they excel at.
01. "Paper Sun ", Euphoria (1999).
This is my favourite Def Leppard song of all time (with “Die Hard The Hunter” being a close second). Its slow tempo and hazy vibe bring me to another dimension. The backing vocals are stellar, mainly during the bridge. The guitar solos are a particular show themselves, the first one by Viv is short, melodic and sweet and Phil’s during the final part is haunting and oozes with desperation. It stays with you. The theme the lyrics are based on is heavy. It refers to the Omagh bombing that happened in Northern Ireland in 1998. The attack ended 29 lives and about 220 were injured.
The song was included in their set during the album’s promotion and returned in 2015, while they were on tour with Styx and in 2019 during their Vegas residency.
Although quite long, this list encompasses what I think is their best material from 1996 onwards. Of course, there are other tracks I love and should be featured. However, these twenty tracks can serve as a starting point for those High N’ Dry widows, even though I think they would be adamant about it and pass. But, I know they have got Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet and maybe Nelson’s After The Rain hidden somewhere in their collection.
Here’s the Spotify track featuring the songs. Enjoy:
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