When planning the Def Leppard Collection Series, I thought it would be fun to include what I call Def Leppard Adjacent albums. That would be any side projects or bands the members of Leppard have been in that I have in my collection. First up is an interesting one in that it is the band Girl which features future Def Leppard guitarists, Phil Collen. What is cool about it for me is that Girl’s debut and Def Leppard’s debut albums came out one month apart in the year of 1980. It was a battle of two new British bands and we know who comes out on top. But which album was better? Before we get in to that, lets talk about the band.

The band was formed in 1979 by Phil Lewis, Phil Collen, Gerry Laffy, Jonathon Trevisick and Mark MeGary. Two names should be easily recognizable as we know Phil Collen from Leppard, but Phil Lewis went on to fame with a Sunset Strip band in 1987 called L.A. Guns. The band quickly replaced two members of the band as Trevsicik was out and Dave Gaynor was in on drums and then MeGary was out with Simon Laffy on bass and yes, Simon is Gerry’s brother.

The band quickly signed with Jet Records and in no time had an album out called ‘Sheer Greed’. The debut came out in January 1980…that is pretty fast after just forming in 1979. Not sure if they paid their dues as they didn’t spend years grinding it out in clubs to finally get a record deal. No, they got it right out of the gate…bam!

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was sweeping the nation, but the androgynous glamminess of Girl was a little misunderstood, however they make a few waves, just nothing big you could surf off of. They weren’t metal, but they were hard enough with even a little punk side to them with some dashes of reggae thrown in for good measure. ‘Sheer Greed’ peaked at #33 and its debut single hit #50. They didn’t have massive success, but they made some waves. Many years after the band split, Phil Collen and Simon Laffy would be in another band together called Man Raze…we will get to it in due time.

The version of the album I have in my collection is a Gold Stamped Promo. It even has “Demonstration Not For Sale” on the vinyl label. It also still has the inner sleeve with the song lyrics. There is something about picking up a promo that I do love. Maybe because it was played by a Radio Station or whatever, but it is cool to know this was handed out by the record label to specific locations. Enough about that, let’s get to the music.

SIDE 1:

The first song is a ballbuster. “Hollywood Tease” would make you think this band is one of the NWOBHM. It is by far the heaviest song on the album and completely rocks out with a youthful energy and electrifying performance. It is so good in fact that Phil would take to L.A. Guns and re-work it years later. The guitar work between Phil and Gerry are fantastic with the trading of licks back and forth, but Phil’s lead and solo work are on full display. Lewis’ vocals are gritty and engaging as they pull you in, grab hold and won’t let go. They chorus is catchy and everything you’d want in an opening track. The excitement builds to se what is to come next.

“The Things You Say” sees things slowed down as they get a little groovy. Phil has a more deliberate vocal delivery. The bass thumps a little louder with some cool fills thrown in. Collen’s guitar fills are sporadic and effective and that solo is classic Collen as it is fast and showy. There’s not one but two of those so hold on. A very different song from the opener showing a band that is not afraid to try different things. There is a cockiness and swagger that screams for you to take notice and that you should.

The next song kicks off with an “Oi Oi Oi” and then slams it home with a 70’s rock vibe that is part glam and even has hints of Kiss who they opened for in some dates in 1980. With “Lovely Lorraine”, I can hear some Mott and Sweet as all their influences are on full display here. Another killer track and a great start so far.

“Strawberries” is another swing and hit that is completely out of left field. Now the band is more New Wave. The song is slowed down and Lewis seems a little angry. The guitars are melodic and you can almost sing with them. Before you know it, the song is over.

With a quick, little drum break, you get the next track almost seamlessly with “Little Miss Ann”. This hard rocking track has more great bass work with a swagger to it that is slick and groovy, it has some more slick guitar work and Phil Lewis delivers another solid vocal bringing an almost 80’s hard rock vibe as there is a slight sleaze to it all. A barrage of sound at the end of the song lets it go out with a bang.

The final track on side one is “Doctor Doctor” and it is a straight-up rocker and is full on 80’s before the 80’s were the 80’s if you know what I mean. There is a feisty attitude that is both fiery and dangerous. It is head pounding, heart stopping fun and Collen’s solo is another screamer and it is obvious who is burning those strings with those fast flying fingers.

SIDE 2:

The opening track on Side 2 is a cover of one of their big influences Kiss. The song is “Do You Love Me” and while they stick to the song, Phil’s vocals lack the swagger and cockiness that Paul Stanley exudes so for that it lacks the punch of the original. A decent track still and they would actually use this to close out their shows, but it ain’t Kiss. The guitars also lack a little of the punch as well.

“Take Me Dancing” brings back the classic 70’s sound with a little UFO sound. Phil struts through the lyrics and musically there is a boogie shuffle to it. Another solid rocker and the album so far doesn’t disappoint.

A bombastic opening, “Whats Up” takes it up a notch in both tempo and attitude. There is a punk anger, but this song also screams metal at times as it is another heavy track. The guitars scream, the bass slams and the drums attack. An assault to the ears, but all in a good way.

“Passing Clouds” is takes a complete left turn and brings the band into full on reggae mode. A nice change of pace as the band slows it down and has that simple reggae bass groove accompanied appropriately with the percussion and drum fills. The guitars are restrained and even some acoustic thrown in for effect. Totally different then the rest of the album, but certainly welcome. On an album filled with songs mostly under 3 minutes, this one pushes almost 5 yet it flies.

The band gets back to the rock in a whole New Wave sound that is reminiscent of The Cars with “My Number”. Phil Lewis fills at home here as his vocals are again stellar. The songs is wrapped with some cool background vocals as the whole gang seems to chime in. The song has a cockiness to it that matches the intensity of the music. Mr. Phil Collen lays down another killer solo and the band does it again with another great song.

The final track is a massive connection to the Def Leppard debut. They both have songs with America in the title. This one isn’t as upbeat and poppy as the Lep’s song “Hello America”. Girl’s song “Heartbreak America”. This one is a cross between New Wave and Glam. Another rocker with more gang vocals. It doesn’t paint a rosy picture like the Lep song, but it does rock out and helps the album go out with the same energy and excitement as the opening track.

Track Listing:

1. Hollywood Tease – Keeper
2. The Things You Say – Keeper
3. Lovely Lorraine – Keeper
4. Strawberries – Keeper
5. Little Miss Ann – Keeper
6. Doctor Doctor – Keeper
7. Do You Love Me – Keeper (1/2 Point)
8. Take Me Dancing – Keeper
9. Whats Up – Keeper
10. Passing Clouds – Keeper
11. My Number – Keeper
12. Heartbreak America – Keeper

The Track Score is 11.5 out of 12 Tracks or 96%. That is pretty impressive. I have to admit that this album is basically new to me as I didn’t buy until earlier this year when finally seeing one in the wild. I snatched it up and have enamored by it ever since. I like the quickness of the songs as most are less than 3 minutes. It has this get in, get out feel to it. It is fun, energetic, exciting and shows a band that is hungry. I like the variety of the sound going from 70’s rock, to glam, to new wave, to reggae, to 80’s rock with some sleaze keeps it interesting. The problem I think they ran in to back in the day was that they were ahead of their time. If this album would’ve come out maybe 3-5 years later, it might’ve blown up. Girl’s problem was they had no real identity in their music, but the songs were good, the problem was they weren’t great and went unnoticed. Regardless of anything I just said, I do like this one a lot. My Overall Score is a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars. Phil Lewis and Phil Collen before they were stars, is a fun place to be and witness how it all began for them. And it is pretty cool place.

NEXT UP: ‘ON THROUGH THE NIGHT’ (1980)

THE DEF LEPPARD COLLECTION SERIES

1. Def Leppard E.P. – 7″ Single (1979)
2. First Strikes 1978-1979 (Bootleg CD)
3. Girl – Sheer Greed (1980)
4. On Through the Night (1980)
5. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (April 26 1980) (2020)
6. High & Dry (1981)
7. Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides And Rarities (2020)
8. Raw – Early BBC Recordings (2020)
9. Girl – Wasted Youth (1982)
10. Pyromania (1983)
11. “Photograph” 7″ Single (1983)
12. “Too Late For Love” 12″ Single (1983)
13. Live at the L.A. Forum 1983 (2018)
14. Seattle, August 3, 1983 (Bootleg CD)
15. Pyromania TV Collection (Bootleg DVD)
16. Hysteria (1987)
17. “Animal” 7″ Single (1987)
18. “Women” 7″ Single (1987)
19. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” 7″ Single (1987)
20. “Hysteria” 7″ Single (1987)
21. “Armageddon It” 7″ Single (1988)
22. “Love Bites” 7″ Single (1988)
23. “Rocket” 7″ Single (1989)
24. Animal Instinct – The Def Leppard Story – Book Review (1987)
25. Rarities – Volume One (2018)
26. Live in Mountain View – August 17, 1988 (Bootleg DVD)
27. Historia – DVD (1988)
28. Live: In the Round, In Your Face (CD Video / DVD) (1989)
29. Adrenalize (1992)
30. “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” – Cassette Single (1992)
31. “Tonight” CD Single (1993)
32. Live Shefield 1992 (Bootleg DVD)
33. Retro Active (1993)
34. Visualize DVD (1993)
35. Hard Rock Café – Singapore, Malaysia October 26, 1995 (Bootleg DVD)
36. Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980-1995) (1995)
37. “When Love & Hate Collide” – CD Promo Single (1995)
38. Video Archive (1995)
39. Slang (1996)
40. Montreal: The Classic 1996 Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
41. Live Bites: FM Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
42. Live in Argentina 1997 (Bootleg DVD)
43. Euphoria (1999)
44. Rarities – Volume Two (2019)
45. Rarities – Volume Three (2019)
46. Tokyo 1999 (Bootleg CD)
47. Cybernauts – Live (2000)
48. X (2002)
49. Hysteria: Classic Albums DVD (2002)
50. Best of Def Leppard (2004)
51. Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection (2005)
52. Yeah! (2006)
53. Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
54. Man Raze – Surreal (2008)
55. B-Sides (2021)
56. Yeah! II (2021)
57. Yeah! Live (2021)
58. CMT Crossraods – Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2009)
59. Down ‘N’ Outz -My ReGeneration (2010)
60. Man Raze – PunkFunkRootsRock (2011)
61. Down ‘N’ Outz -The Further Adventures of… (2014)
62. Def Leppard (2015)
63. The Lost Session (2018)
64. Personal Jesus 7″ Single (2018)
65. Down ‘N’ Outz -This is How We Roll (2019)
66. Hits Vegas: Live at Planet Hollywood – Vinyl (2020)
67. Hysteria: Live – Vinyl (2020)
68. Def Leppard Acoustic Vegas – 10″ Vinyl (2020)
69. Down ‘N’ Outz – The Music Box E.P. (2020)
70. Diamond Star Halos (2022)
71. High & Dry – Picture Disc (RSD) (2022)
72. Drastic Symphonies (2023)
73. Drastic Symphonies – Picture Disc (2023)
74. Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard (2023)

PREVIOUSLY POSTED:

1. The Def Leppard E.P. (1979/2017)
2. Def Leppard: Interview Picture Disc (1982?)
3. “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” – 12″ Promo Single (1984)
4. Live at the Top (Bootleg) (1987)
5. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” –  5″ Shaped Picture Disc (1987)
6. Hysteria U.S. Tour 1988 – Tour Book (1988)
7. “Make Love Like a Man” – 12″ Single (1992)
8. “Let’s Get Rocked” – 12″ Single (1992)
9. Adrenalize: The 7 Day Weekend Tour (1992/1993)
10. X: World Tour (2003)
11. Mirrorball – Live & More (2011)
12. Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History – Book Review (2011)
13. Viva! Hysteria (2013)
14. And There Will Be A Next Time…Live from Detroit (2017)
15. Hysteria: 30th Anniversary Box Set (2017)
16. The Story So Far – The Best of (2018)
17. The Collection, Volume 1 (2018)
18. Hysteria: The Singles Box Set (2018)
19. Live at Abbey Road Studios (2018)
20. Def Leppard: Concert Review – Charlotte, NC June 9th 2018 (2018)
21. The Story So Far – The Best of Volume 2 (2019)
22. The Collection, Volume 2 (2019)
23. London to Vegas (2020)
24. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 29 March 2019 (2020)
25. The Early Years ’79-’81 (2020)
26. The Collection, Volume 3 (2021)
27. Def Leppard Funko Pop!