Hysteria - Def Leppard (Cassette 1987)

Well, speaking of music, I might not be a legitimate 80s child though born in 1982 I only really started listening to music in the end of the 90s but those of you who have seen some of my reviews probably know I love that decade.


For that there is a handful of reasons. But this review is not about the 80s. Since you are here and (hopefully) reading, I would like to share with you one of my favorite bands, of which I only like one album. This album.


Boys and girls, please welcome: Def Leppard. 1987. The legend. HYSTERIA .




Def Leppard in the prime of their glory were:

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




Some mean nicknames, eh?


And it starts like this



In the beginning
God made the land
Then he made the water and creatures
Then he made man

He was born with a passion
Love and hate
A restless spirit
With a need for a mate

But there was something missing
Something lost
So he came with an answer
Here s what it cost

One part love
One part wild
One part lady
One part child

I give you

Women! Women!
Lots of pretty women
Men! Men!
They can t live without them



Surprisingly enough, WOMEN, the opener and the first single did not become that huge a hit it should. Starting off to some wailing guitars, it features a steady, heavy beat enter (Allen s drum machine, he lost one hand prior to Hysteria recording sessions) and then Joe begins to sing. His vocals give the song it s amazing sense of melody, he takes it to the bridge and finally some slightly heavier chords arrive in the chorus, dropped by the band s air force Steve Clark, Phil Collen, and the bassist Rick Savage. I say slightly, because this is pop music. And even though my old folks used to hate it when I d put in on and loud in my room, Def Leppard s roots undoubtedly are in pop music

Shouldn t surprise you this band was produced by John Mutt Lange the poppiest producer to ever lay his hands on rock music.



All songs on Side A are superb, all of them became huge hits, suddenly for everyone taking the band out of the shade and onto everybody s MTV screens. ROCKET has some of the 80s most unforgettable riffs ANIMAL is a perfect pop song, the cascading riffs in the chorus make it also one of those you once having heard will probably find hard to ever forget.


A wild ride
Over stony ground
Such a lust for life
Circus comes to town

We are the hungry ones
On a lighting raid
Just like a river runs
Like a fire needs flame

I burn for you


I gotta feel it in my blood
Oh whoa

I need your touch don t need your love
Oh whoa


And I want
And I need
And I lust
Animal



LOVE BITES is one of the best ballads in rock music, as well as one of the best pop songs ever. Never actually cheesy, it s nevertheless drop dead beautiful. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME is one of the songs I should consider putting in top 100 rock anthems even though it suspiciously reminds me of Queen s We Will Rock You , go figure.


Red light, yellow light, green-a-light go
Crazy little woman in a one man show
Mirror queen, mannequin, rhythm of love
Sweet dream, saccharine, loosen up

Loosen up

You gotta squeeze a little, squeeze a little, tease a little more
Easy operator come a knocking on my door
Sometime, anytime sugar me sweet
Little miss ah innocent sugar me, yeah

Give a little more



ARMAGEDDON IT features yet some more unforgettable riffs, epic GODS OF WAR opens side B with a sort of a reflection of the state of the world, DON T SHOOT SHOTGUN and especially RUN RIOT rock wonderfully, never losing the melodic sound of Clark s Gibson guitar in the process HYSTERIA is a gorgeous pop song. EXCITABLE suggests some party time and LOVE AND AFFECTION is perhaps the weakest track on the album, closing it with a ballad.

But by that time, it doesn t really matter. You wanna hear it all again.



Final thoughts:
HYSTERIA became Def Leppard s best and last great album. One might call on 1983 s Pyromania as another nice DL album I don t think so. Pyromania is ok, but it never sounds as good, nor are all songs as strong as here. While Vault is a good choice if you want to have all their hits, including the wonderful Photograph from Pyromania , HYSTERIA remains the band s best album, all songs in the same vein, 12 tracks, 11 of them ranking among 80s very best pop and rock tunes. Well I never bought Adrenalize .



Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out, on a lightning raid easy operator come a sugar me sweet



Thanks for reading, y all