Both bonus tracks were omitted from the mid-1990s re-releases of the album. Videos for both were made, featuring Phil Collen (who was not in the band at the time of the album's recording). " Me & My Wine" (Remix), a remixed version of a 1981 B-side.The remix was released in 1984 as a single, peaking at #61 in the US charts. " Bringin' On the Heartbreak" (Remix), essentially the same recording with a few synthesiser overdubs.32 years after the fact, it stands very strong and firm.Following the success of Pyromania, High 'n' Dry was reissued on with two bonus tracks: there's this very raw but well written album that shouldn't be forgotten about. Just before Def Leppard became known for pop production for hard rock and set the standard for bands to follow ( Scorpions, Motley Crue, Poison, etc). Every song needs to be listened to and by the time it's over, it's ready to start back again and you'll be ready to hear it again. I'm not picking standout songs because the whole thing is a standout. It's so severely underrated and undersold, and if you're somehow not familiar with it. But they blended the elements of hard rock and heavy melodic metal and made an album that blows the roof off and can be compared to ANYthing put out in the 80's and stand directly with it. At that time, Def Leppard took what those 2 bands were doing and made themselves fit directly in the middle and somehow seemingly got lost in the shuffle until they made Pyro. Especially if you're an Iron Maiden and AC/DC lover. Pyromania has forever overshadowed it as the "classic rock/metal album", but take that step back into High 'n Dry.
I see this album to be the most consistent, solid, perfectly written and produced, hard rock borderline heavy metal album that has ever been made. They are all catchy in their own ways while never being too poppy, including Heartbreak. The songs never get boring or are too long.
The drums are doing everything they should be. The band were still hungry and had something to prove after their debut not really making a dent the way they'd hoped. But what I truly believe, is that High 'n Dry took the Back in Black formula and gave it something that much better. And I very much believe Back in Black is a standard in rock n roll and certainly an essential in any music collection, and IS my favorite album by them. Mutt helped refine and strengthen these young little brits into a songwriting powerhouse and it starts on this album. Following Def Lep's 1st album, On Through the Night, and AC/DC's hugely massively successful Back in Black, Mutt Lange and Def Leppard were about to begin a marriage that was completely more than meant to be. All are perfect hard rock songs right at the height of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and the rock dominating the new decade (the much loved and adored, 1980's). And all 11 are absolutely everything they are and were supposed to be. And it all begins with the #1 song of my life.Ĭounting Me and my Wine, there are 11 tracks on High 'n Dry. And Def Leppard is what started my venture into singing when I was a wee lad.īefore I loved "heavy metal" or liked any heavy bands, something about High 'n Dry stood out to me instantly over Hysteria and Adrenalize. Def Leppard is the reason why I love music. Def Leppard's music is literally some of my very first memories. And then there's a select group of fans like me who love everything they've done, or atleast 98% of it. Now there's many different kinds of Def Leppard fans. Last year I bought a 2nd copy off of Amazon, the 12 track re-release with the bonus tracks of Me and My Wine and the remix of Bringin' On the Heartbreak. And I've had my copy since '94 when I was just 7. I have not listened to an album in my life as much as I have this one.