Monday, October 3, 2016

Def Leppard - Hysteria II - 1987-88



This album had SEVEN singles.  That has to be some sort of world record.  What's amazing, is they could have released ALL of the album tracks as singles, as every single one of them was an absolute classic.  I bet I've listened to this album, literally, almost a thousand times.  It will go down as my most favorite Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album ever.

A rundown of the tracks...

-  Tracks 2, 9, 11, and 13 were all remixes that were released on their respective singles.
-  Track 1 was a remix for the Hystoria documentary, but sounds right in place here, and is good enough to be included on this compilation.
-  Track 3 was a rare (and I think unreleased) mix that I happened upon on a bootleg.
-  Tracks 5, 6, and 7 were all recorded during the Hysteria sessions, but were not released until the Retroactive compilation.
-  Track 8 was originally recorded as a b-side during the Hysteria sessions, but was re-recorded during the Adrenalize sessions and released on that album.
-  Tracks 10 and 14 were recorded during the Hysteria sessions, but were never released.
-  Track 12 was a b-side (for PSSOM) and then re-released on the Retroactive compilation.

I saw these guys in the summer of 1988 in Chicago at the Rosemont Horizon.  I was almost 17, had a girlfriend, and friends from work who all wanted to go.  Needless to say, the show was fantastic.  If I could see this show again, I would in a heartbeat.  I saw this show and the INXS Calling All Nations tour in the same summer.  What a fucking awesome summer....

7 comments:

  1. -= Martin L. Gore =-October 4, 2016 at 11:34 AM

    GREAT START for METAL WEEK, even though it may not be considered by "real" metal fans ... lol

    This album clearly redefined the sound of metal. I was only into Hardcore Punk and Death Metal at the time, and I remember liking this album despite being on the exact opposite spectrum of Metal. The song-writing on this album is absolutely superb!!!

    YOUR version is so damn good, I am surprised that the record label never thought of re-releasing this album in a 2xCD format with YOUR version as CD2. It just makes perfect sense, since this was probably the first metal album featuring remixes for all their songs, and rightfully so!

    Cover is phenomenal, as always, and better than the original.

    Definitely psyched about the rest of METAL WEEK!

    Rock out with your cock out!

    _\m/


    thanks

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  2. What's interesting is that smack dab in the middle of this album's run, and all of its singles, there was "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car".

    Ol' Mutt got around. Though he totally lost the plot with Shania, I'm afraid.

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  3. You have taste my friend, looking forward to listening to this again.

    What I love about Def Leppard is:

    a) When Rick lost his arm they could have carried on with a new drummer, they didn't. Because they were mates. You know?

    b) The second best selling album in the US in 1983 was Pyromania. Only the second? The best selling was Thriller. And this after their homeland really didn't want to know them.

    c)After all their problems, and 4 years (and back then 4 years was a long time to make an album) they come back with Hysteria. Class.

    d) Joe Elliott's hair. Only he could have got away with it. 'Cos, he's a top bloke, right? Right.

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  4. hi. any chance of a re-up? would like to replace my old one. thanks.

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  5. I want to buy a copy of this album, but cant find any relevant results at google. What is the catalog number? What web site is selling this version?

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