Hysteria - Def Leppard (CD 1987)

I like to think of myself a connoisseur of all types of music; as long as it is good I will listen and appreciate. Of course I get to be the judge of what is good and what isn t; and for me most (hard) rock-n-roll doesn t sound good to me. So it was a surprise when one day while watching MTV (a rare occasion), sometime in the latter part of the last century that a video (Pour Some Sugar on Me) by the now legendary rock group Def Leppard came on and I liked the song. It had driving bass and guitar riffs and seriously infectious drum beats; never mind the lyrics, which I had a hard time understanding, I was hooked. After hearing and seeing two more releases from the album Hysteria, I bought the CD and still enjoy it to this day.

And no wonder, the album was produced by Robert John Mutt Lange, the same Mutt Lange who would go on the produce to much success and marry Country Music siren Shania Twain. Upon reflection, now that I am familiar with his work, Def Leppard s Hysteria is classic Mutt Lange material, from start to finish.

Hysteria represents Def Leppard's finest work to date and is clearly one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It is an album that is always fresh, always inviting, always contemporary. I can put the CD away and take it out months later and still fill that same pull, that same thrill of listening to it as I did the first time I slipped it into the CD player. And Hysteria is an album that nearly never made it to the recording studio, because Rick Allen the drummer lost an arm in a car accident, the band had disagreements with producers, and the album was is disarray before "Mutt" Lange came to the rescue; he not only produced but heavily contributed to the songwriting. The result is clearly heard in the music, Hysteria is track after track of drive unapologetic rock, with heavy guitar riffs, driving bass and drums, and an energy I couldn t resist.

But, I did not like every track on the CD; for various reasons some of the tracks did not appeal to me; there was not enough of a draw to compel me to listen. I will admit that I can barley understand most of the lyrics in any of the songs, but they seem an afterthought to the music itself. But when the music is not appealing, like track No. 1 Woman, or track No. 8 Don t Shoot the Shotgun, or track No. 9 Run Riot, the album goes off track for me. Not that the formula wasn t there, it just wasn t enough for me to fully enjoy the song in question.

The rest of the album is definitely a hit with me; to be sure some songs stand out as my favorites, but overall affect is positive. Hysteria is fast paced, even on the slow jams Love Bites and Pour Some Sugar on Me, the energy levels are high and the music loud and inviting. And at least on Love Bites, I can understand and appreciate the lyrics.

Since the heyday of Hysteria Def Leppard, like many of the great bands of the '80 s has faded into virtual rock obscurity, but they are still recording and touring. But Hysteria was their greatest achievement and unless lighting strikes twice and the world s musical tastes change, it is destined to remain so. That being the case Hysteria is a must have for any fan of the band, or for someone who wants to appreciate the musical genius of one Mutt Lange.


Def Leppard was on Hysteria:

Wing Commander Steve Steamin , Dreamy, Snikker, Mayhem, P.T.W. Clark, A.H.D.: Guitars
Air Commander Phil Felix, The Guru, Wambo, Tap Collen: Guitars
Joe King Kreosote, The Diplomat Elliott: Lead vocals
Baron Beaverbrook Sir Richard Rick Sav Savage: Bass
Civillian Rick O.B. Oblivion, Dick, Bus Head Allen: Drums


Track Listing

1. Woman
2. Rocket
3. Animal
4. Love Bites
5. Pour Some Sugar On Me
6. Armageddon It
7. Gods Of War
8. Don't Shoot Shotgun
9. Run Riot
10. Hysteria
11. Excitable
12. Love and Affection