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

It was about music, it was about drinking, and a little about love.

With a tighter sound than their debut album, Def Leppard's sophomore work High 'N Dry gave the band more recognition in the US with their first ballad (yes, for all of you who are only familiar with Def Leppards music from 1987-present, this album really has only one real love song) "Bringin' On The Heartbreak". This song barely made it onto the final cut of the album because of course "Def Leppard is a heavy metal band, and this is a love song." And a great one it is. But "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" is surrounded by a whole album of great songs.

I was first introduced to Def Leppard with the truly excellent and memory provoking Hysteria, but that's going to be a totally different epinion to be written at a later date.

About ten years ago my uncle played the Def Leppard that he first heard back before the limelight found them... you might have guessed it... High 'N Dry. I was instantly hooked on the raw, yet seemingly perfect sound that this album had to offer. I soon found myself playing it over and over from beginning to end, even at school.

Although I love every song on High 'N Dry, after a few months of listening, a few of the songs started to especially stand out from the rest and became personal favorites. Practically the first Rock instrumental I heard, "Switch 625", with it's grit, harmony of guitar play, and trademark Def Leppard sound, along with the "Ah Ah Ah" part toward the end of the piece, burned it's way into my musical mind, and became my very favorite song at the time. Today it's still of my favorite instrumentals of all time.

Another song that became a favorite of mine off of this album is the song mentioned near the beginning of my opinion "Bringin' On The Heartbreak". I love the mysterious lyrics and the way the song builds and builds with raw emotion until it seems like its actually going to explode right before the guitar solo. This is a song that some of you may not consider to be a ballad because of how heavy it is, but I assure you, it is a ballad.

"Mirror, Mirror" was another song that had me hitting the rewind button after it was over. From the beginning riffs of this well crafted tune I knew that this was no average song. The lyrics and music seem to melt together with a rhyme and rhythm pattern that is unlike any other.

I said in the beginning of this opinion that the music was about drinking, and it is. The title track is about nothing more than partying. Another great song, from this great album.

"Got Me Runnin'" was never a favorite of mine, but it has one of my favorite lines... "Let me through, don't spoil my view. I got to get away, away from you."

"No, No, No" in my opinion is High 'N Dry's low point. It's just far too repetitive for me.

There are a few songs that I didn't talk about, but that doesn't mean they aren't great. I saw Def Leppard in concert during the Euphoria tour last year and I was a little disappointed that "Let It Go" was the only song they played from this album. "Switch 625" or "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" would've been a highlight to hear live.

In 1984, Def Leppard released a remix album of High 'N Dry featuring an excellent drinking song called "Me And My Wine" that was recorded for the original version, but for some reason or another, didn't make the cut. It also included a remix version of "Bringin' On The Heartbreak". The only difference between it and the original is that it has a keyboard riff that stands out. The first cassette tape of High 'N Dry that I bought was indeed the remix version. After I started buying CDs I tried to find it, but haven't been able to yet. So if you happen to have the remix version.... Hold onto it!!! And if you're a Def Leppard fan but don't own either version of High 'N Dry, go out there and give it a listen.