On August 3rd, 1987, Def Leppard released their fourth studio album, ‘Hysteria’. Little did they know this ground breaking album would go on to sell over 25 million records, produce 7 hit singles and go to #1 on the Billboard Charts. The members didn’t change as it was stilll Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Steve Clark and Phil Collen who got his first writing credits on this one. Whether you like this album or not, there is no denying the impact it had on the world of music. In fact, I have so many copies of this album. I have it on CD, cassette and vinyl and in fact, I have three copies on vinyl. The original album, the picture disc and the one that came in the box set The Collection, Vol. 1. I would say I’m set.
The album was a labor of love for the band as it took several years to record and they struggled so much during this time. There were so many setbacks during the recording of the album. First, Robert John “Mutt” Lange turned down the producing job for the record after he had recorded “High & Dry” (my personal favorite) and “Pyromania” although he did help in the initial song writing for the record. The band went through several producers during the recording including working with Jim Steinman of ‘Bat Out of Hell’ fame. Their relationship did not go smoothly and he was later fired (they paid him a lot of money to get out of the contract so it must have gone really badly). Later in the process, “Mutt” did come back and produce the final product and then history was made.
The second big obstacle was Rick Allen’s car accident that severed his arm. Yes, the drummer of the band lost an arm. With all respect to the band, they did not abandon Rick. They stood by him and supported him until he was capable of playing the drums with one arm using an electronic drum set and a set of foot pedals to compensate for the lost arm. It definitely was a trying time. I won’t go into much more as you can watch the documentary or read the book to learn more otherwise we could go on forever and ever talking about the making of this album as it had been 4 years since their prior release ‘Pyromania’. Instead, we can jump right in to the album as I feel we are here for the music anyway.
The first track on the album is the song “Women”. The song was the first single for the album in the U.S., but “Animal” was the first everywhere else. The reason for that is that Leppard wanted to make sure their core audience, the males, would understand what they were going for with the sound of this new album. They knew women might not like this one, however, the song isn’t degrading women at all. It is actually inspired by the important women in Joe Elliott’s life and is an anthem that actually pays tribute and celebrates women both their beauty and their strength all with a biblical background to it.
The sound of the song was not what I expected at all from the band as they had changed their sound again form the previous album like they did the album before that. The first thing I noticed was the difference in the drum sound as it was now an electronic sound due to Rick losing his arm. There were keyboards and although the song was heavy, it was more polished and the sonics had more pop elements mixed with that rock. It was like nothing else on the radio at the time. There was so much going on and the chorus had layers of vocals and harmonies. But the guitar solo sounded like Lep as it had that Clark and Collen sound. I was hesitant at first, but ended up loving this song.
Next was “Rocket” which was the final single released on the album. It was the 7th single…wow. “Rocket” went to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 so it was yet another successful single. If you thought “Women” sounded different hold on to your hat. The song was inspired by “Burundi Black” by Burundi Steiphenson Black which had inspired the likes of Bow Wow Wow and Adan and the Ants. What started out as basically an instrumental turned in to a celebration of all the band’s influences from David Bowie, to Elton John, to T Rex, to The Stones and even Lou Reed. Lines from the song constantly referenced lines from or titles of songs from the 70’s. I loved trying to pick them out.
The song was full of loops and samples and even had sounds from NASA’s Apollo 11 moon landing. This had even more synths, so many sounds coming at you from every angle. It had a lot of electronic elements and this was not the same hard rock band we were used to hearing. Def Leppard was pushing the boundaries of what is rock and people were eating it up.
Track 3 is the band’s debut single for the in the rest of the world and the second single here in the States. “Animal” did much better than “Women” which had performed poorly on the charts. “Animal” went to #19 and cracked the Top 40. It was also the band’s first hit in their home country of the UK going to #6! Finally, they had UK success. I’ve read that the song was demoed back in 1984 by Rick Allen with drum parts on an acoustic drum kit prior to his accident. And that Phil had originally written the song, but either way the whole band gets the writing credit. None of the producers that worked on the album could do anything with it and then 2 1/2 years later, a flip switched and the song flowed.
This song was even more pop than you’d expect. It sounded like it could’ve come from INXS and was more in the realm of pop bands of that niche. The band has stated that they aren’t a metal band and this song would prove them correct. It is so catchy, has a great hook and is something you could easily fall in love with the minute you heard it. There has been nothing so far that would make you think this was the same band as their last three albums.
“Love Bites” is the only Def Leppard song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Considering this was the fifth single off the album and with the success of “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, I was completely surprised by that fact (PSSOM did go to #2). The song was originally brought to the band by the legendary producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The song was a country song at the time and of course the band put their spin on it and turned it in to one of the great rock power ballads of the time. The title for the song actually came from another song that Leppard was working on and that song later became “I Wanna Be Your Hero” which was the B-Side for “Animal” in the US.
What I like about the song is that the guy is so in love with this person that he is actually going a little nuts. Hell, just touching her drives him crazy. But he isn’t sure she feels the same way. He keeps questioning her. Maybe it is really his own insecurities that are causing him to doubt the relationship. Or maybe she doesn’t love him and he really senses something missing.It is such a heartfelt, emotive song. The lyrics paint a great picture that you can visualize exactly what is going through the guys mind and you might have even experienced those feelings yourself. What I also loved about it is that it isn’t your typical ballad either. The overall sound was light years ahead of the typical ballad of the time. It was a much more mature sound and wasn’t as gimmicky as some ballads of the time. At the end of the song is the phrase…”Yes it does / It will be hell”…which is done in a little softer, darker and in a raspy tone. The rumor was always that the band was saying “Jesus of Nazareth, Go to Hell”. Of course, the band has denied said rumor and I have to say that I never heard that when listening to it.
We are to the biggest song of their career. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” was the third single in the UK, but the fourth in the States. And it was do or die time for the band. The album had been a hit and sold over 3 million copies before this song came on, but the album cost so much to make, that the band still hadn’t broken even. They need to sell way more. They recorded a video with live footage for the song and when it hit MTV, the album started skyrocketing up the charts and selling millions of records. The song never made it to #1 as it peaked at #2 as Richard Marx’s song “Hold On To The Night” kept it from the top of the charts.
Yes, the song is about sex, but it is it the energy of the song that make this one so good. The opening line on the album was “Step inside, walk this way, you and me babe, hey hey!” while the single version opened with “Love is a like a Bomb”, but this is the album version here. That riff and drum beat with a chorus of what sounds like “heh’s” come thundering in and then Joe goes in to that first verse in almost a rap like style as he spits out line by line. The chorus though is the real driving force as it is so contagious. It is anthemic, fist raising, arm pumping and just what they hell do they mean with those lyrics. No one cared as it all sounded so good. There is a little instrumental break then more semi-rapping before more of that chorus. The people loved and live the crowd devoured it. It has become the band’s most recognizable song and a favorite of millions.
We are to the sixth track on the album and the sixth single. Yes, every song on Side 1 was a single. That is a pretty solid first side. “Armageddon It” was released in March of 1988 in the UK and in November 1988 in the U.S. where it went all the way to #3 in the U.S. That is 3 Top 5 songs on one album another that was Top 10. The song was a play on words as the song ask “Are You getting It” and the reply is “I’m a getting it” but said as “Armageddon It”. A song that was started in the early 1984 sessions for this album and completely re-written when Mutt got his hands on it.
The song has a T. Rex vibe to it with a cool, catchy riff that you can almost sing it. The song is a modern version of the whole glam scene from the 70’s. I always thought the song was a little cheesy and it is, but something works. Steve gets the solo and it is pretty tame, yet fits the song perfectly as he doesn’t play a solo to show off, it fits the songs. Very well done Steve.
Now we are flipping over the other side and are going to talk about one of Def Leppard’s few politically charged songs and one of the few songs from Hysteria that was not a single. The song is “Gods of War” and it is an epic song at over 6 minutes and I loved it when they used to play this one live long, long ago. They still do play it when they do the whole Hysteria album in concert of course. This was the 80’s and there were all these little military skirmishes going on around the world and it was towards the end of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan was President of the United States and Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Intermixed in the song were lines from the world leaders threatening the terrorists and even gun fire and battle sounds. One of my favorite lines was towards the end when President Reagan said, “He counted on America to be passive, He counted wrong” and then there was gun fire and explosions. For a teenage boy, that was really badass! Plus, I can do a really great Reagan impression so I would say those lines in his voice every time I would sing it.
Joe came up with the song from watching the news and what was going on in the world. It was Def Leppard’s version of protest song which I am sure was overshadowed by the songs that the band was releasing such as “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. People didn’t look at Leppard as a socially conscience band, but they could be and were. Musically, there are some great riffs and melodies throughout that Steve Clark came up with and highlight what an immensely talented player he was and he is surely missed. The song, like the album, is full of layers upon layers of vocals and guitar parts that make it sound so huge and give it that epic feeling. Sonically, the song is head and shoulders above the sounds of other music at the time. Mutt Lange and the band pushed themselves to create sounds that were new and fresh. They succeed as this is a beast of a song.
We get another non-single track with “Don’t Shoot Shotgun”. The song is about a woman that is so dangerous and can’t be trusted. Don’t get too close, shoot off your gun (nudge, nudge, wink wink) and get sucked in to her charm as you will regret it. The song shows that even the deep cuts are solid. The opening with the electronic voice of “She’s So Dangerous” just sounded cool as an 18 year old. It is a fun, high energy song that packs alot of punch. I think Rick’s drums are pounding hard and the backing vocals just fill the song with so much texture. You can’t helped but get hooked by the charm of the song.
One of the coolest tracks on the album is the song “Run Riot”. Yet, another non-single, but one of the most bad ass songs on the album. It slams out of the gate, the guitars are heavy, the drums are hard, the bass is thumping and Joe is screaming. The break-neck speed of the tempo is electrifying. A song that tells you to live life to the fullest and don’t conform to the status quo. Live life to the fullest. You can’t help but get swept up in to the energy of the song. I remember driving down the road with the windows down and blasting this song as loud as it could go. How this wasn’t a single, I do not know.
The title track, “Hysteria”, is up next and this was the third single in the U.S. and the fourth in the UK. It was released in the U.S. in January 1988 and the UK in November 1987. The song went to #10 on the Billboard Charts and no surprise as it was crafted to be a hit. Mutt Lange basically built this song one note at time. The guitars are so crisp and clean and if I’m not mistaken I read they layered at least 11 levels of guitar parts which would be impossible to play live so they only focus on the two most important parts…the ones you can hear clearly.
The layers of vocals on the chorus are so lush and tasty you are surrounded by vocals. The solo is another that is so perfect for the sonics of the song. They are tender and sweet and damn near perfect. A song about spiritual enlightenment is matched by the musicality of the instruments. It feels like you are floating through the universe. A ballad that is unlike any other ballad at the time. The most mature sounding song that to me sees the band’s songwriting hit another level. This, my friends, is the BEST song on the album.
“Are you excitable?”. That is the question “Excitable” poses right out of the gate. A full on sex song that will get you all hot & bothered. Well, it is more about the feelings of lust, temptation and infatuation but the hot & bothered part is right. We’ve all felt those and now you can feel them in a song. The drums almost have a pulsating feel to them with their pacing. The energy is intense, the song has electronic moments, rocking moments and pop moments all rolled in to one. The vocals are delivered in so many different ways and styles. The song has a million things going on all at once and you hear something different each time you give it a listen.
The final song of this perfect album is another ballad, but saying “another” seems wrong because all three ballads are so different, yet all so amazing. “Love and Affection” explores the desire to be loved unconditionally and really connect with your partner. The man doesn’t want to just get love and affection with just sex. He wants to relate on a deeper level. The opening riff for is so cool and it gets the song going right away. Joe delivers those verses with heart like he really means what he says. That chorus is a monster as the backing vocals are stunning like they’ve been the whole album. And the give us another solo that sizzles, but not showy. The song knows when to pull back and when to let the power show through. What a way to end the album.
Track Listing:
- Women – Keeper
- Rocket – Keeper
- Animal – Keeper
- Lover Bites – Keeper
- Pour Some Sugar On Me – Keeper
- Armageddon It – Keeper
- Gods of War – Keeper
- Don’t Shoot Shotgun – Keeper
- Run Riot – Keeper
- Hysteria – Keeper
- Excitable – Keeper
- Love And Affection – Keeper
And there you have it. The biggest album in the bands career. The only album they will venture to play in its entirety live which is no easy feat. 7 Singles, 25 Million sold, I mean what else can you say. Love it or hate it, that is your prerogative. The Track Score is 12 out of 12 Tracks or 100%.
Me, I’m a massive fan of this one. It contains what might be favorite song by the band with “Hysteria”, it has their most popular and famous song with “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, and it has a sound and production that changed rock at the time. They didn’t just set the bar to a new level, they obliterated the bar. If you can’t tell what my socre is by now, please read this again. My Overall Score Is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars. The band had a trilogy of amazing albums and this is the book end of that trilogy and what a way to end their time with Mutt Lange.
And now, the band did a cool thing with the singles for this album. If you bought them all on 7″ and I think 12″, you could piece them together and make the album cover. So, we are going to go through each 7″ Single and do just that, building on the picture with each post. I hope you enjoy.
NEXT UP: DEF LEPPARD – “ANIMAL” (1987) – 7″ Single (Part 1 of 7)
THE DEF LEPPARD COLLECTION SERIES
- Def Leppard E.P. – 7″ Single (1979)
- First Strikes 1978-1979 (Bootleg CD)
- Girl – Sheer Greed (1980)
- On Through the Night (1980)
- When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (April 26 1980) (2020)
- High & Dry (1981)
- Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides And Rarities (2020)
- Raw – Early BBC Recordings (2020)
- Girl – Wasted Youth (1982)
- Pyromania (1983)
- “Photograph” 7″ Single (1983)
- “Too Late For Love” 12″ Single (1983)
- Live at the L.A. Forum 1983 (2018)
- Seattle, August 3, 1983 (Bootleg CD)
- Pyromania TV Collection (Bootleg DVD)
- Hysteria (1987)
- “Animal” 7″ Single (1987)
- “Women” 7″ Single (1987)
- “Pour Some Sugar on Me” 7″ Single (1987)
- “Hysteria” 7″ Single (1987)
- “Armageddon It” 7″ Single (1988)
- “Love Bites” 7″ Single (1988)
- “Rocket” 7″ Single (1989)
- Animal Instinct – The Def Leppard Story – Book Review (1987)
- Rarities – Volume One (2018)
- Live in Mountain View – August 17, 1988 (Bootleg DVD)
- Historia – DVD (1988)
- Live: In the Round, In Your Face (CD Video / DVD) (1989)
- Adrenalize (1992)
- “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” – Cassette Single (1992)
- “Tonight” CD Single (1993)
- Live Shefield 1992 (Bootleg DVD)
- Retro Active (1993)
- Visualize DVD (1993)
- Hard Rock Café – Singapore, Malaysia October 26, 1995 (Bootleg DVD)
- Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980-1995) (1995)
- “When Love & Hate Collide” – CD Promo Single (1995)
- Video Archive (1995)
- Slang (1996)
- Montreal: The Classic 1996 Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
- Live Bites: FM Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
- Live in Argentina 1997 (Bootleg DVD)
- Euphoria (1999)
- Rarities – Volume Two (2019)
- Rarities – Volume Three (2019)
- Tokyo 1999 (Bootleg CD)
- Cybernauts – Live (2000)
- X (2002)
- Hysteria: Classic Albums DVD (2002)
- Best of Def Leppard (2004)
- Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection (2005)
- Yeah! (2006)
- Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
- Man Raze – Surreal (2008)
- B-Sides (2021)
- Yeah! II (2021)
- Yeah! Live (2021)
- CMT Crossraods – Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2009)
- Down ‘N’ Outz -My ReGeneration (2010)
- Man Raze – PunkFunkRootsRock (2011)
- Down ‘N’ Outz -The Further Adventures of… (2014)
- Def Leppard (2015)
- The Lost Session (2018)
- Personal Jesus 7″ Single (2018)
- Down ‘N’ Outz -This is How We Roll (2019)
- Hits Vegas: Live at Planet Hollywood – Vinyl (2020)
- Hysteria: Live – Vinyl (2020)
- Def Leppard Acoustic Vegas – 10″ Vinyl (2020)
- Down ‘N’ Outz – The Music Box E.P. (2020)
- Diamond Star Halos (2022)
- High & Dry – Picture Disc (RSD) (2022)
- Drastic Symphonies (2023)
- Drastic Symphonies – Picture Disc (2023)
- Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard (2023)
PREVIOUSLY POSTED:
- The Def Leppard E.P. (1979/2017)
- Def Leppard: Interview Picture Disc (1982?)
- “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” – 12″ Promo Single (1984)
- Live at the Top (Bootleg) (1987)
- “Pour Some Sugar on Me” – 5″ Shaped Picture Disc (1987)
- Hysteria U.S. Tour 1988 – Tour Book (1988)
- “Make Love Like a Man” – 12″ Single (1992)
- “Let’s Get Rocked” – 12″ Single (1992)
- Adrenalize: The 7 Day Weekend Tour (1992/1993)
- X: World Tour (2003)
- Mirrorball – Live & More (2011)
- Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History – Book Review (2011)
- Viva! Hysteria (2013)
- And There Will Be A Next Time…Live from Detroit (2017)
- Hysteria: 30th Anniversary Box Set (2017)
- The Story So Far – The Best of (2018)
- The Collection, Volume 1 (2018)
- Hysteria: The Singles Box Set (2018)
- Live at Abbey Road Studios (2018)
- Def Leppard: Concert Review – Charlotte, NC June 9th 2018 (2018)
- The Story So Far – The Best of Volume 2 (2019)
- The Collection, Volume 2 (2019)
- London to Vegas (2020)
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 29 March 2019 (2020)
- The Early Years ’79-’81 (2020)
- The Collection, Volume 3 (2021)
- Def Leppard Funko Pop!
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
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