Def Leppard are sharing details of their forthcoming box set, “The Early Years 79-81”, ahead of its release on March 20.
Billed as “the definitive collection of the band’s early music,” the 5CD package delivers remastered versions of the UK group’s first two albums – 1980’s “On Through The Night” and 1981’s "High ‘N’ Dry" – alongside previously-unreleased live material and a collection of B-sides and rarities.
“Well the fans asked, and we listened!,” says vocalist and executive producer Joe Elliott. “Really excited to have our early years reworked with a load of rare material including the newly unearthed Live at the Oxford New Theatre, recorded on the 1980 UK tour.
“It’s been a trip putting this boxset together and I hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we did working on it! ”
Produced by Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), Def Leppard’s album debut, “On Through The Night” – which featured classic tracks like “Rock Brigade”, “Wasted” and “Hello America” – reached No. 15 on the UK charts and No. 51 on the US Billboard 200.
“High ‘N’ Dry” followed in 1981; the first of Def Leppard’s albums to be produced by Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange, the set delivered future fan favorites like “Let It Go”, “High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)” and “Bringin' On The Heartbreak” on its way to No. 38 on the US charts and No. 26 in their native UK.
In addition to their inclusion in the forthcoming package, both albums have been remastered and will be available on 1CD, black vinyl, and limited edition colored vinyl versions.
The band are previewing “The Early Years 79-81” with an audio stream of the much sought-after Nick Tauber-produced version of “Rock Brigade.”
Def Leppard will team up with Motley Crue for a US stadium tour that will begin in San Antonio, TX on June 21.
Def Leppard
“The Early Years 79-81”
Release date: March 20
CD1: On Through The Night - remastered
01. Rock Brigade
02. Hello America
03. Sorrow Is A Woman
04. It Could Be You
05. Satellite
06. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
07. Wasted
08. Rocks Off
09. It Don't Matter
10. Answer to The Master
11. Overture
CD2: High ’N’ Dry - remastered
01. Let It Go
02. Another Hit and Run
03. High N Dry (Saturday Night)
04. Bringin' On the Heartache
05. Switch 625
06. You Got Me Runnin'
07. Lady Strange
08. On Through the Night
09. Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
10. No No No
CD3: When The Walls Came Tumbling Down: Live in Oxford: 26/04/1980
01. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
02. It Could Be You
03. Rock Brigade
04. Satellite
05. Medicine Man
06. Answer to the Master
07. When the Rain Falls
8. Sorrow Is a Woman
9. Good Morning Freedom
10. Don't Matter to Me
11. Overture
12. Lady Strange
13. Getcha Rocks Off
14. Hello America
CD4: Too Many Jitterbugs: B-sides and rarities
01. Ride into The Sun - The Def Leppard EP
02. Getcha Rocks Off - The Def Leppard EP
03. The Overture - The Def Leppard EP
04. Wasted -Single
05. Hello America - Single
06. Rock Brigade - Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
07. Glad I'm Alive - Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
08. Good Morning Freedom - Single
09. Let It Go - Single Edit
10. Switch 625 - Single Edit
11. Bringin' On the Heartbreak - Single Edit
12. Me and My Wine - Original Version
13. Bringin' On the Heartbreak - Remix
14. Me and My Wine - Remix
CD5: Raw: Early BBC Recordings
01. Glad I'm Alive (Andy Peebles Session - 07/06/1979)
02. Sorrow Is A Woman (Andy Peebles Session - 07/06/1979)
03. Wasted (Andy Peebles Session - 07/06/1979)
04. Answer to The Master (Andy Peebles Session - 07/06/1979)
05. Satellite (Friday Rock Show Session - 03/10/1979)
06. Rock Brigade (Friday Rock Show Session - 03/10/1979)
07. Wasted (Friday Rock Show Session - 03/10/1979)
08. Good Morning Freedom (Friday Rock Show Session - 03/10/1979)
09. Satellite / When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (Live at the Reading Festival - 24/08/1980)
10. Medicine Man (Live at the Reading Festival - 24/08/1980)
11. The Overture (Live at the Reading Festival - 24/08/1980)
12. Lady Strange (Live at the Reading Festival - 24/08/1980)
13. Getcha Rocks Off (Live at the Reading Festival - 24/08/1980)
See also:
Def Leppard stream 2019 blooper reel video
Motley Crue and Def Leppard expand stadium tour
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 8: DEF LEPPARD
Motley Crue announce US stadium tour with Def Leppard and Poison
Search Def Leppard at hennemusic
