Def Leppard – Live at Abbey Road Studios E.P. (2018 #RSD) – Album Review

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For the third time in as many years, Def Leppard took part on Record Store Day.  In 2016, the did a picture disc of the self-titled album and last year they re-released their original EP release on vinyl, The Def Leppard EP.  For 2018, we are given another EP, but this time it is 3 songs recorded live at Abbey Road Studios on May 8, 2008.

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What does the Def Leppard press release say about this release, well I will tell you…

The retro cover art is similar to the Def Leppard EP and features the large logo from the 1980 ‘On Through The Night’ album and ‘Hello America’ single. Also included is the street sign from the studios in North West London and the same red stamp title seen on ‘The Lost Session’ iTunes EP from January.

The band recorded a session at the legendary London studios on 8th May 2008 when promoting the ‘Songs From The Sparkle Lounge’ album. Using the same room The Beatles used to record most of their biggest albums in the 1960s.

This was filmed for the UK TV show ‘Live From Abbey Road’ which was broadcast on More4 TV on 1st August 2008 and featured three songs – ‘Rocket’, ‘Rock On’ and ‘C’mon C’mon’

We might as well get talking about the songs.  On the A-Side, we have “C’mon C’mon” originally recorded on ‘Songs From the Sparkle Lounge’. and “Rock On” from the ‘Yeah!’ album.

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“C’mon C’mon” attacks you out of the gate. With a fuller sound than the recorded version and sounds so good you would swear it wasn’t recorded live.  I think it has more punch than the original and I might like this version better.  It is not overproduced.  And they even leave a little of Joe talking at the end.

Rick Savage’s bass comes grooving into the next song, “Rock On”.  Rick’s bass is the real highlight of this song as he lays down a funky ass groove throughout.  It is a clean version that sticks to the recorded version they did on ‘Yeah!’.  And if you didn’t know, it is a cover of David Essex’s song from 1973.

Now to flip over to the B-Side, you get the Hysteria track, “Rocket”.

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“Rocket” actually sounds live and is a little rougher around the edges which is definitely part of the charm.  The original has so much going on there is no way to repeat it here live for this recording setting they were doing and they had no intentions of trying.  They kept it raw, packed full of energy and left the little blemishes in the vocals which is what you want and expect in a live recording.  I already have a ton of versions of “Rocket” in my collection and it is nice to have one more.

For any Def Leppard fan, this is a must have in your collection.  I buy anything and everything when it comes to their music and I am glad I did with this one.  The recording is crisp and the sound quality is top notch and what you expect from Lep.  If you didn’t grab it on Record Store Day, hopefully you can find copies out there that the prices aren’t too jacked up.

 

 

47 thoughts on “Def Leppard – Live at Abbey Road Studios E.P. (2018 #RSD) – Album Review”

  1. I’ve spun my copy twice which isn’t enough to absorb yet, but I was impressed with the sound. Abbey Road — that must be why. Not so impressed with the track listing, as it would have been nice to get something we don’t already have live.

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    1. I will agree that the track listing leaves a lot to be desired. I was never a huge fan of C’mon C’mon, but I do like this version. Now, I will always take a different version of Rocket. I do like that one a lot.

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  3. I can’t help but feel they’d be best delving into their archives for these kinda things… give people something they’re unlikely to have.

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