High 'N' Dry - Def Leppard (CD 1992)

When most people think of Def Leppard, they think of the commercialized poser-band that they became after the release of 1983's "Pyromania", but prior to that album, Def Leppard was a hard-rocking working-class metal band from Sheffield, England.

Their first release, 1980's "On through the night" was met with mediocre sales in the United States, because of a lousy recording, some very cheesy lyrics, and a couple of completely forgettable songs, but in places it was a showcase of what the band was capable of. It's also important to note that when "On through the night" was recorded, the oldest member of the band was 18 years old, with the youngest being 16.

With the release of "High n' Dry" in 1981, Def Leppard hit an all-time high. The album was an absolute masterpiece of hard rock, with great songwriting and guitar work, albeit with some (still) somewhat cheesy lyrics here and there. Met with yet more mediocre sales in the U.S., Def Leppard was quite frustrated and I believe this is what prompted them to go the commercial route, beginning with the next release "Pyromania", which was recorded very anally note by note and word by word. Needless to say, this commercial turn ruined the band, although it spelled financial success for both the band and the record companies.

Here then, is the breakdown of "High n' Dry", track by track:

1. "Let it Go" - A very catch song with a great riff and some hum-along vocals. Excellent lead guitar work, and one of the stronger tracks on the album.

2. "Another hit and Run" - Starts out with a really cool single-guitar riff, then cuts into a serious hard-rock groove. Excellent vocals and just plain kick-a$$ guitar work. Top-of-the-line.

3. "High n' Dry (Saturday Night)" - Somewhat of a rock anthem at the time, the cover track is a very memorable song with some great composing and guitar work. This one actually got some radio play back in the day, as I recall, and was probably responsible for a good portion of the album's sales.

4. "Bringin' on the heartbreak" - This song set the tone for all of the rock power ballads that would permeate the rock scene later in the 80's. Truly groundbreaking in that it basically created the structure for all power ballds to come. A very good song with excellent guitar work, and some intriguing vocals. This one got a lot of airplay, and was likely the reason for all sales not attributable to "High n' Dry". A Def Leppard standard.

5. "Switch 625" - An instrumental that explores the contrasts possible with rock & roll. Starts out quite subtle, then builds to an almost operatic crescendo. Classic, and an all-time favorite of Def Leppard fans.

6. "You got me runnin'" - One of the weaker songs on the album, this one is just a straightforward rocker. I say weak because the song does not have much composition to it, just a main riff and a chorus, but still a great, catchy hard-rock song.

7. "Lady Strange" - Another song following the same pattern as "Bringin' on the heartbreak", but I like this one a bit better. Great composition, contrast, and some excellent guitar work make this a favorite Def Leppard track of mine.

8. "On through the night" - A holdover from the previous album of the same title, this was one of the first songs the Leps wrote. A good song, if a bit poppy. Not one of the stronger tracks on this album.

9. "Mirror, Mirror (Look into my eyes)" - I think this is probably my favorite Def Leppard song of all time. Another lesson in contrast, this one starts out quite slow, then builds into a very catch chorus. Great lead guitar work, and a brain-looping rhythym track. Just excellent.

10. "No, No, No" - The hardest song on the album, and one that sticks in your mind for hours after listening to it. Basically it's a one riff song, but it's played hard and fast. Very good.

Well, there ya have it, the album that proves that Def Leppard weren't always a bunch of commercial pretty-boy posers. It's a shame they couldn't have stuck with this formula.

As an interesting side-note, this was the very first CD I ever bought!

--Thrasher