For My Sunday Song #75, I am bringing you the song that started it all for me…”Photograph” by Def Leppard. It was the first single off the massive hit album ‘Pyromania’ and it was the song that started my obsession with Def Leppard. From that point on, music took a whole new direction in my life. It was my passion. I tried to play guitar (rather unsuccessfully) and I couldn’t sing, but I could listen to music.
The song was perfect in my book. The video was mesmerizing. The two together captured my attention like nothing ever had. The song has such a melodic melody and the guitar solo and background vocals were all spot on thanks to Mutt Lange behind the boards. The guitar riff on the song that is played throughout is instantly recognizable.
I had heard of Def Leppard as my brother had one of their albums, but it was this song and this album that made me a fan…no a fanatic with this band. I had to have the albums, the singles, the shirts, the posters, the pins…you name it, I had to have it. And it still goes on today. They release a video and I own it; a live album and I gotta have it; a deluxe version of an album I already have, yep, I get that as well. It doesn’t matter.
Let’s talk about the song. First…the song is NOT about Marilyn Monroe. The song is about an obsession with a woman and all you have of her is that photograph. The Marilyn Monroe part was added for the video to help tell the story. And it captures it perfectly. As the video shows that obsession going a little too far.
One interesting fact, it was one of the last contributions to the band from Pete Willis who was let go (fired) during the recording of the album. Phil Collen came in as his replacement and added the guitar solo. Apparently in the video, Joe Elliott does what might be the first flying spread eagle split on MTV. It was later outdone by David Lee Roth in Van Halen’s video for “Jump” (according to Songfacts.com).
Take a listen to the song and I hope you enjoy!! Happy Sunday!
“Photograph”
I’m outa luck, outa love
Gotta photograph, picture of
Passion killer, you’re too much
You’re the only one I wanna touch
I see your face every time I dream
On every page, every magazine
So wild so free so far from me
You’re all I want, my fantasyOh, look what you’ve done to this rock ‘n’ roll clown
Oh Oh, look what you’ve donePhotograph – I don’t want your
Photograph – I don’t need your
Photograph – All I’ve got is a photograph
But it’s not enough
I’d be your lover, if you were there
Put your hurt on me, if you dare
Such a woman, you got style
You make every man feel like a child
You got some kinda hold on me
You’re all wrapped up in mystery
So wild so free so far from me
You’re all I want, my fantasy
Oh, Look what you’ve done to this rock’n’roll clown
Oh Oh, Look what you’ve done
[Repeat chorus]
You’ve gone straight to my head
Written By Steve Clark, Pete Willis, Rick Savage, Joe Elliott and Robert John “Mutt” Lange
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
Yup..total monster track back in the summer of 83
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I had Pyromania on cassette and this track got a lot play. Nice nostalgia!
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Yesterday was the 35th Anniversary of Pyromania so now I feel old.
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I enjoy reading/hearing about people’s music gateway songs – you had a good one for yours!
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I think I did.
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