Def Leppard announced today (March 26) the first of a projected four-volume career-spanning box set series. Volume One, coming June 1 from Bludgeon Riffola/Mercury/UMe, will be released in multi-disc LP and CD collections. The collection arrives in time for this summer’s highly anticipated Def Leppard co-headline tour with Journey. (Tickets are available at Ticketmaster and StubHub.)
This first volume of the band’s complete recorded output comes in both limited-edition 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and CD box sets, each featuring Def Leppard‘s first four studio albums — along with some choice bonus live and studio material — all spread across 8-LPs and 7-CDs. (Click on the links for complete track listings and to order).
The first collection includes bonus material including Live At The LA Forum 1983, originally released as a bonus disc in the deluxe CD version of Pyromania, making this the first-ever vinyl offering of the complete show.
Rarities Volume 1 has been specially compiled by Joe Elliott, containing rare B-sides and recordings from Def Leppard’s early years, all in a newly commissioned sleeve. Rounding out this collection is the 7-inch vinyl single and 3-inch CD of Def Leppard’s original, self-titled EP.
Def Leppard (photo from their website)
Def Leppard formed in 1977. Since 1992, their lineup has been Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums).
The Volume One collection contains all of Def Leppard’s 1980s recordings with reproductions of the original packaging in both formats, plus the added bonus of a replica 7-inch single and 3-inch CD of the band’s original independent EP, the self-titled The Def Leppard E.P.
Housed in rigid boxes, the collection also contains a hardback book with rare photos by longstanding band confidant Ross Halfin and liner notes by Classic Rock‘s Paul Elliott. Def Leppard bandmembers Elliott, Savage, Allen, and Collen have all also contributed their personal introductions to the collection.
Def Leppard have a cumulative sales tally of over 100 million albums worldwide and consistently sold-out world tours.
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
This first collection kicks off with Def Leppard’s 1980 debut album On Through The Night, which immediately put the rock world on notice that the band were destined for big things, having charted at #15 in the U.K. and #51 in the U.S. Produced by Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), On Through The Night features many of the band’s live favorites (“Rock Brigade,” “Hello America”), along with updated versions of early singles (“Rocks Off”). The album achieved platinum status in 1989, and the version included here is the rare Australian gatefold-sleeve version.
Released in 1981, High ‘N’ Dry was Def Leppard’s second platinum album and the first to be produced by Robert “Mutt” Lange (AC/DC, Foreigner).
Pyromania, released in 1983, saw the band become indisputable rock legends. It was the first record to feature guitars by Collen, who had replaced Pete Willis. The album contains massive MTV hits “Photograph” and “Rock Of Ages,” as well as fist-pumper “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop).” Pyromania reached #2 in the U.S., where it has sold over 10 million copies.
Def Leppard released Hysteria in 1987, the band’s best-selling record to date having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It went to #1 in the U.K., U.S., and Australia, and is also the band’s second album to achieve Diamond status in the U.S.
Watch Elliott talk about Hysteria‘s success
Notes Collen: “Not many people even get Platinum albums anymore! Going Diamond is going 10 times Platinum in America, which is a huge deal — and we’ve got two of those. We’re really pleased that we got them. It’s pretty cool that we’ve achieved that.”
Produced by Mutt Lange, Hysteria took over three years to make, ultimately featuring seven charting singles (including the #1 smash “Love Bites” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me”). Clocking in at just over 62 minutes, Hysteria was then one of the longest albums ever issued on a single vinyl record — but for this special box set release, it has been made into a double LP for maximum sound-quality purposes.
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationAre there drop dates for the remaining collections? I already have #1– absolutely love the LA Live…DL has completely ruined me for ‘recorded’ music..I play it live and loud on my Bose!