On Through the Night
 |
Artist: Def Leppard
Label: Universal
Category: Music
Average customer rating:
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 4988005348791
ASIN: B0000QX0WE
Release Date: 2003-11-24 |
On Through the Night
Related Categories:
New Wave
| New Wave & Post-Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
British Metal
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Pop Metal
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Classic Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Tracks:
- 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
Customer Reviews:
what's the difference.......2005-06-03
this is an awesome album, if you consider yourself a true Leppard fan, this is a must have!!!
i just wanted to see if anyone knew the difference between this import cd and the original (american) cd. im a big fan but i dont want to get ripped of just for some japanese characters on the cover.... anyone got any advice?
An NWOBHM masterpiece from Def Leppard's infancy.......2004-12-24
On Through The Night (1980.) The first Def Leppard studio album.
INTRODUCTION:
In the eighties, Def Leppard would rise in popularity to become one of the most famous rock bands in the world. From the band's days an eighties hard rock group right up to their less-favorable modern days as a pop band, they have always remained consistently popular, even through many lengthy hiatuses that threatened to tear the band apart. What many people don't know, however, is the band's earliest material. Before they were a pop band, or even a hard rock band, they were a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band, and one of the finest of their era! The band had formed circa 1977 out of the remnants of an earlier group, Atomic Mass. After going through some personnel changes and recording some early, frequently-bootlegged demos and a three-song EP, the band entered the studio to record a studio album. They were fortunate enough to score Tom Allom of Judas Priest production fame as the producer on their debut! What resulted was a raw, straight-up live sound that beautifully captured the early NWOBHM sound of the band. Unfortunately, the album flopped commercially, and the album is now forgotten in favor of the more popular successors, Pyromania and Hysteria. So, despite lack of popularity, how well does On Through The Night measure up? To find out, keep reading.
OVERVIEW:
Def Leppard released their first studio album, On Through The Night, on March 14, 1980. Tom Allom produced the album. Louis Austin and Dick Plant were the engineers. For their debut album, Def Leppard consisted of vocalist Joe Elliott, drummer Rick Allen (he had both arms on this one!), bassist Rick Savage, and guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis. Other backing musicians on the album include guests Dave Cousins and Chris Hughes. Tracklist consists of 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, and Overture.
REVIEW:
I'd heard a few Def Leppard tracks before I picked up this album, and when I listened to this one, I was shocked at what I heard - in a GOOD way! This wasn't the pop metal the band was known for, it was pure NWOBHM! On the album, the band sounded NOTHING like what they would turn into a few short years later. In fact, if you play this album for any random person, it's extremely unlikely they'll even be able to tell you who it is. In my opinion, the band never sounded better. In my collection of well over a thousand albums, this one definitely ranks in the top ten. Let's take a look at the tracks that comprise On Through The Night!
-SIDE A-
-Rock Brigade: The band doesn't waste any time getting right down to rocking hard on their debut album. With some hard and heavy riffs and that awesome early version of Joe Elliott's voice, this one flat-out rocks. The guitar instrumental sequence from Steve Clark and Pete Willis is a major highlight - it's a shame both of these guys would eventually lose their places in the band. All in all, an AWESOME opener.
-Hello America: The album's second track is one of its most memorable. It's a mid-paced hard rocker with extremely catchy and memorable lyrics. It's got a big lighter of a sound than the track that came before, due in no small port to the synthesizers in the chorus, but these things only add to the song's charm. Definitely one of my all-time favorite Def Leppard tunes. This song was released as a single A-Side, and an alternative version appeared as a B-Side on the Wasted Single.
-Sorrow Is A Woman: One of the best songs on the album, if not the best overall. It's a half-ballad of sorts. The verses are slow and melodic, while the chorus rocks hard and never lets up. With good lyrics and melodies, it's one of the crowning achievements of early-era Def Leppard. Not to be missed.
-It Could Be You: Fast-paced rock the way it was meant to be experienced. The band rocks on this one, and does a damn good job doing what they do. Everything about this song is excellent - melodies, vocals, instrumentation, it's all good. Once again, it's a quintessential classic of a song that never got the proper credit.
-Satellite: There are no shortage of awesome tunes on this album, and this one proves to be no exception. This one is mid-paced, rocks hard, and has a chorus that sticks with you long after you're done listening to the song .The guitar riffs in this song are among the finest on the whole album. More essential listening.
-When The Walls Came Tumbling Down: A mini-epic of sorts, many of those who listen to and grow to love this album proclaim this song as one of their favorites. It starts out of an gloomy and melodic intro with spoken words, which serves as an excellent way to grab the listener's attention. It's not long before the band whips out the hard and heavy stuff, though. It's a true classic, even if it never got any major critical acclaim.
-SIDE B-
-Wasted: Here we have a fast-paced hard rocker about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Def Leppard takes this age-old song theme, and makes an awesome little tune out of it. Hard, heavy, and fast - this is everything an NWOBHM song should be. An alternative version of this song was released as an A-Side single (actually, the band's very first single!)
-Rocks Off: Here's one of those songs that fans of this album hold in high regard. It's fast and heavy, but it's a fun song to listen to. It's tough to create songs that will appeal to both pop rock and hard rock fans, but this is one that succeeds beautifully. An earlier, alternative version of this song with Frank Noon on drums appeared on the band's debut EP, under the title Getcha Rocks Off. The earlier version from the EP does not have the fake audience the album version does.
-It Don't Matter: This song is a complete mystery to me, at least its reputation is. Many of the listeners consider this to be one of the weaker songs on the album. All I can say is WHY!? A hard and heavy rocker with all the elements needed to create an awesome song, and people consider it a weak song in comparison to the others here? Unbelievable. It's actually one of my favorite songs on the album! Don't listen to everyone else. Give this one a listen, and see what you think. I think one listen will prove the critical acclaim wrong.
-Answer To The Master: Although never wildly successful, this song is still an awesome one. The opening riffs are among the band's finest ever. Despite its nature as hard and heavy NWOBHM music, it is a surprisingly catchy piece. There's even a short drum solo by (then two-armed) Rick Allen! It's guitar playing on songs like this that make you wish Pete Willis and Steve Clark had never been forced out of the band.
-Overture: Def Leppard ends their first full-length album with a bang - an epic bang that nearly approaches eight minutes! The intros and outros are slow and melodic, but the lengthy bridge in the middle is a fast-paced rocker that will hold onto your attention for the duration of the piece. An awesome album closer. The band's debut EP featured an alternative version of this song with Frank Noon on drums.
OVERALL:
On Through the Night is a great album - definitely one of the finest albums I have ever heard. Even as my compact disc collection rapidly grows, this one remains near the top of that lengthy list. Any true fan of hard rock/heavy metal/NWOBHM would be doing themselves a real favor by picking up this album. It's definitely some of the finest stuff the golden age of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal has to offer! And the best part? You don't even have to like Def Leppard to enjoy this album, because it sounds like a completely different band! Final verdict? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
EDITION NOTES:
If one Def Leppard album is in need of a reissue, revamp, and remaster, this is the one. It was only released on compact disc once in America, and this lone issue of the album has weak sound quality and low-content liner notes. There are a TON of rare tracks from this era (bootlegged and unofficially-released tracks, single and EP versions, etc.) that would make awesome bonus tracks. Those two-disc Legacy Editions and Deluxe Editions that record companies do - this album would be an awesome candidate for something like that. Until then, one can only dream...
An NWOBHM masterpiece from Def Leppard's infancy.......2004-12-24
On Through The Night (1980.) The first Def Leppard studio album.
INTRODUCTION:
In the eighties, Def Leppard would rise in popularity to become one of the most famous rock bands in the world. From the band's days an eighties hard rock group right up to their less-favorable modern days as a pop band, they have always remained consistently popular, even through many lengthy hiatuses that threatened to tear the band apart. What many people don't know, however, is the band's earliest material. Before they were a pop band, or even a hard rock band, they were a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band, and one of the finest of their era! The band had formed circa 1977 out of the remnants of an earlier group, Atomic Mass. After going through some personnel changes and recording some early, frequently-bootlegged demos and a three-song EP, the band entered the studio to record a studio album. They were fortunate enough to score Tom Allom of Judas Priest production fame as the producer on their debut! What resulted was a raw, straight-up live sound that beautifully captured the early NWOBHM sound of the band. Unfortunately, the album flopped commercially, and the album is now forgotten in favor of the more popular successors, Pyromania and Hysteria. So, despite lack of popularity, how well does On Through The Night measure up? To find out, keep reading.
OVERVIEW:
Def Leppard released their first studio album, On Through The Night, on March 14, 1980. Tom Allom produced the album. Louis Austin and Dick Plant were the engineers. For their debut album, Def Leppard consisted of vocalist Joe Elliott, drummer Rick Allen (he had both arms on this one!), bassist Rick Savage, and guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis. Other backing musicians on the album include guests Dave Cousins and Chris Hughes. Tracklist consists of 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, and Overture.
REVIEW:
I'd heard a few Def Leppard tracks before I picked up this album, and when I listened to this one, I was shocked at what I heard - in a GOOD way! This wasn't the pop metal the band was known for, it was pure NWOBHM! On the album, the band sounded NOTHING like what they would turn into a few short years later. In fact, if you play this album for any random person, it's extremely unlikely they'll even be able to tell you who it is. In my opinion, the band never sounded better. In my collection of well over a thousand albums, this one definitely ranks in the top ten. Let's take a look at the tracks that comprise On Through The Night!
-SIDE A-
-Rock Brigade: The band doesn't waste any time getting right down to rocking hard on their debut album. With some hard and heavy riffs and that awesome early version of Joe Elliott's voice, this one flat-out rocks. The guitar instrumental sequence from Steve Clark and Pete Willis is a major highlight - it's a shame both of these guys would eventually lose their places in the band. All in all, an AWESOME opener.
-Hello America: The album's second track is one of its most memorable. It's a mid-paced hard rocker with extremely catchy and memorable lyrics. It's got a big lighter of a sound than the track that came before, due in no small port to the synthesizers in the chorus, but these things only add to the song's charm. Definitely one of my all-time favorite Def Leppard tunes. This song was released as a single A-Side, and an alternative version appeared as a B-Side on the Wasted Single.
-Sorrow Is A Woman: One of the best songs on the album, if not the best overall. It's a half-ballad of sorts. The verses are slow and melodic, while the chorus rocks hard and never lets up. With good lyrics and melodies, it's one of the crowning achievements of early-era Def Leppard. Not to be missed.
-It Could Be You: Fast-paced rock the way it was meant to be experienced. The band rocks on this one, and does a damn good job doing what they do. Everything about this song is excellent - melodies, vocals, instrumentation, it's all good. Once again, it's a quintessential classic of a song that never got the proper credit.
-Satellite: There are no shortage of awesome tunes on this album, and this one proves to be no exception. This one is mid-paced, rocks hard, and has a chorus that sticks with you long after you're done listening to the song .The guitar riffs in this song are among the finest on the whole album. More essential listening.
-When The Walls Came Tumbling Down: A mini-epic of sorts, many of those who listen to and grow to love this album proclaim this song as one of their favorites. It starts out of an gloomy and melodic intro with spoken words, which serves as an excellent way to grab the listener's attention. It's not long before the band whips out the hard and heavy stuff, though. It's a true classic, even if it never got any major critical acclaim.
-SIDE B-
-Wasted: Here we have a fast-paced hard rocker about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Def Leppard takes this age-old song theme, and makes an awesome little tune out of it. Hard, heavy, and fast - this is everything an NWOBHM song should be. An alternative version of this song was released as an A-Side single (actually, the band's very first single!)
-Rocks Off: Here's one of those songs that fans of this album hold in high regard. It's fast and heavy, but it's a fun song to listen to. It's tough to create songs that will appeal to both pop rock and hard rock fans, but this is one that succeeds beautifully. An earlier, alternative version of this song with Frank Noon on drums appeared on the band's debut EP, under the title Getcha Rocks Off. The earlier version from the EP does not have the fake audience the album version does.
-It Don't Matter: This song is a complete mystery to me, at least its reputation is. Many of the listeners consider this to be one of the weaker songs on the album. All I can say is WHY!? A hard and heavy rocker with all the elements needed to create an awesome song, and people consider it a weak song in comparison to the others here? Unbelievable. It's actually one of my favorite songs on the album! Don't listen to everyone else. Give this one a listen, and see what you think. I think one listen will prove the critical acclaim wrong.
-Answer To The Master: Although never wildly successful, this song is still an awesome one. The opening riffs are among the band's finest ever. Despite its nature as hard and heavy NWOBHM music, it is a surprisingly catchy piece. There's even a short drum solo by (then two-armed) Rick Allen! It's guitar playing on songs like this that make you wish Pete Willis and Steve Clark had never been forced out of the band.
-Overture: Def Leppard ends their first full-length album with a bang - an epic bang that nearly approaches eight minutes! The intros and outros are slow and melodic, but the lengthy bridge in the middle is a fast-paced rocker that will hold onto your attention for the duration of the piece. An awesome album closer. The band's debut EP featured an alternative version of this song with Frank Noon on drums.
OVERALL:
On Through the Night is a great album - definitely one of the finest albums I have ever heard. Even as my compact disc collection rapidly grows, this one remains near the top of that lengthy list. Any true fan of hard rock/heavy metal/NWOBHM would be doing themselves a real favor by picking up this album. It's definitely some of the finest stuff the golden age of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal has to offer! And the best part? You don't even have to like Def Leppard to enjoy this album, because it sounds like a completely different band! Final verdict? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
EDITION NOTES:
If one Def Leppard album is in need of a reissue, revamp, and remaster, this is the one. It was only released on compact disc once in America, and this lone issue of the album has weak sound quality and low-content liner notes. There are a TON of rare tracks from this era (bootlegged and unofficially-released tracks, single and EP versions, etc.) that would make awesome bonus tracks. Those two-disc Legacy Editions and Deluxe Editions that record companies do - this album would be an awesome candidate for something like that. Until then, one can only dream...
Music Album:
- Bring on Da Funk, Vol. 2 ~ Various Artists
- Live at Winterland ~ Janis Joplin , and Big Brother & The Hold
- Such is the Way of Things ~ Consafos
- Paint the Moon ~ Sullen
- Another Side of Bob Dylan ~ Bob Dylan
- The Rest of Your Life ~ Kevin Johnson & the Linemen
- Boarding House Rules ~ Tom Heyman
- You Gotta Go There to Come Back ~ Stereophonics
- A Tribute to the Eagles ~ Various Artists
- Bump ~ Bump
Music Album
Music Album
Music
The Woman I Loved So Well ~ Planxty
Happy People ~ Paulinho DaCosta
Bright and Breezy ~ Red Garland Trio
Autumn Mood ~ McCoy Tyner
Masters of Metal: It's A-Live ~ Various Artists
Bouger Bouger ~ Wenge Musica
Kira Ika No Osushi ~ Kira
Dust My Broom
Enchanting Welsh Choirs ~ Various Artists
2 Ases ~ Porca Veia