Wait. Before you pull out your guns, let’s not forget Def Leppard have sold over 65 million records and that radio legend John Peel was an early supporter of this infuriatingly named band. The 1992 release of Adrenalize followed the 1987 smash Hysteria (re-released in 2006) and was recorded without original guitarist Steve Clark who had died from an accidental overdose in 1991. Re-released by Universal Music (who seem keen to remaster their entire catalogue) this deluxe edition includes a bonus disc of rare live, acoustic and demo versions alongside a remastered version of the original album.
Like many bands, but perhaps more so with this slice of rock cheese, you either love or hate The Leps. I’m not going to argue either in favour of supporters or detractors: their massive success speaks volumes. Sounding rather like a sub-standard AC/DC with a frontman who sounds like Peter Cetera with a cold, they may have stupid lyrics and a one-armed drummer, but they’ve withstood a great deal more adversity than many bands who would’ve wilted under what these Sheffield hard-men posers let drip off their denim backs. If you’re not bothered by electronic drum sounds, a noticeable absence of hi-hat and heavily chorused guitars, then Def Leppard are the band for you.
Adrenalize continues the band’s obsession with American pop-rock, complete with stadium choruses and verses laden with innuendo. Solid tunes from this album include ‘Let’s get rocked’, ‘Make love like a man’, ‘Stand up (Kick love into motion) and ‘I wanna touch u’.
The remaster fares far better than Pyromania, but the ubiquitous lack of bass from current Universal remasters is cause for concern. Why a simple remaster and not a fully remixed and remastered album? Surely a band as big as this deserve as much, particularly on such an ‘extensive’ release. As such, the whole experience means that should Leppard fans just turn the volume up on their original copies, the listening experience will, in all likelihood, be similar to this ‘deluxe’ edition.
However, much like the recent edition of Pyromania, it is disc two where real treasure is to be found. With a mix of well recorded live tracks (including the brilliant ‘Pour some sugar on me’) and B-sides, it holds a few surprises. For example, a Celtic take on The Rolling Stones’ ‘You can’t always get what you want’ features some of the best production found on either disc; similarly Jimi Hendrix classic ‘Little Wing’, though average, has a fun recorder solo that is worth a listen. You’ll even find Queen‘s ‘Now I’m here’ (live) with an appearance by Brian May taking up his usual six-string duties.
For the fans, this expanded edition is probably worth the money as the edition will also include liner notes and rare photos, but those with nothing more than a passing interest in what hard rock used to sound like; stick to Van Halen albums.
Adrenalize is released on June 8th (Universal)