Def Leppard: The Early Years 79-81′ Box Set (Review)

Artist: Def Leppard
Album: The Early Years Box Set 79-81′ Box Set
Genre: Hard Rock / Melodic Metal
Label: Ume/Virgin
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Reviewed by: Bobby Caughron

Review:

If you were to add Pyromania to this box set, it would be the perfect box set of what I call Def Leppard Mach 1.  From their early beginnings, they had more in common with AC/DC soundwise, than the sugary pop sounds that defined their sound from Hysteria on.  Again, if you add Pyromania to this, it’s my favorite timeframe of Def Leppard.  The newly remastered On Through The Night and High N’ Dry albums sound incredible.  The mix is so much better than the original and really allows you to hear all of the parts as they were meant to be heard. But what really made this box set a must-have for me is the collection of early live concert recordings and unreleased material. I mean, there are 64 tracks of quality Def Leppard material here.  Any true fan of the band will surely add this to their collection.  It’s quite interesting to hear some of the songs morph from early versions, complete with different titles and lyrics into the songs that you now know and recognize from these albums.  Songs like Medicine Man, Glad I’m Alive, When the Rain Falls and Good Morning Freedom are simply part of rock music history as Def Leppard continued to hone their sound and style leading up to their worldwide breakthrough with the “Pyromania” album. This box set brings back a lot of great memories for me as I reflect back on discovering the band years ago, buying these albums and hearing them for the first time.  Def Leppard obviously was on to something special with their sound, and it’s easy to hear that in these early recordings. This a great set for any Def Leppard fan or any rock music fan that’s interested in exploring the origins and history of one of the biggest rock bands of the 80’s!

This is an easy 5 stars out of 5!

Box Sett Track Listing: 

CD ONE: ON THROUGH THE NIGHT – RE-MASTERED

Rock Brigade
Hello America
Sorrow Is A Woman
It Could Be You
Satellite
When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Wasted
Rocks Off
It Don’t Matter
Answer to The Master
Overture

CD TWO: HIGH ‘N’ DRY – RE-MASTERED

Let It Go
Another Hit and Run
High N Dry (Saturday Night)
Bringin’ On the Heartache
Switch 625
You Got Me Runnin’
Lady Strange
On Through the Night
Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
No No No

CD THREE: WHEN THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN – LIVE IN OXFORD 26/04/1980

When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
It Could Be You
Rock Brigade
Satellite
Medicine Man
Answer to the Master
When the Rain Falls
Sorrow Is a Woman
Good Morning Freedom
Don’t Matter to Me
Overture
Lady Strange
GetchaRocks Off
Hello America
Wasted
Ride into The Sun

CD FOUR: TOO MANY JITTERBUGS – B-SIDES AND RARITIES

Ride into The Sun – The Def Leppard EP
Getcha Rocks Off – The Def Leppard EP
The Overture – The Def Leppard EP
Wasted -Single
Hello America – Single
Rock Brigade – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
Glad I’m Alive – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
Good Morning Freedom – Single
Let It Go – Single Edit
Switch 625 – Single Edit
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak – Single Edit
Me and My Wine – Original Version
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak – Remix
Me and My Wine – Remix

CD FIVE: RAW – EARLY BBC RECORDINGS

Glad I’m Alive (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Sorrow Is A Woman (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Wasted (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Answer to The Master (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Satellite (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Rock Brigade (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Wasted (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Good Morning Freedom (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Satellite / When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Medicine Man (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
The Overture (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Lady Strange (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Getcha Rocks Off (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)

Band Members:

Joe Elliott – lead vocals, backing vocals
Steve Clark – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Pete Willis – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Rick Savage – bass guitar, backing vocals
Rick Allen – drums, backing vocals