This week on The Collection, we are talking Def Leppard and specifically, Def Leppard on Cassette. We go through every single album that has been released on Cassette, what I’m missing and what was never released on cassette. From ‘On Through the Night’ to ‘Drastic Symphonies’ let’s walk through the Def Leppard Cassette Catalog.
So go check it out as it is live tonight right now, March 10, 2025 at 8pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.
“Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” is yet another ballad from ‘Adrenalize’ and there were a bunch. It was the third single off the album and the highest charting as well going all the way to #12 on the Hot 100 and even #7 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. The song was written by Phil Collen, Joe Elliott and Robert John “Mutt” Lange who might not have produced the album but he was involved thus the “Executive Producer” title.
The song is a tale of unrequited love, I mean, the title sums it up nicely. The person on the song longs for this woman so much that he aches for her. She seems to be there, ready for the night, but by morning she is gone. She doesn’t want to commit and he is ready to go all in. Almost to the point of stalkerish, but not sure he has crossed that line yet.
SIDE 1:
‘Adrenalize’ was an album filled with so many ballads and you’d think they all can’t be good, but you’d be wrong. This is yet another masterpiece. The ballads Def Leppard were doing all sounds so sophisticated, so pure. They seem to spend a lot of time making them perfect. ”Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” had that flair of “Love Bites”, that emotive quality, it felt meaningful and honest. I love how the guitar solo mirrors the emotions and you can feel the sadness he is feeling not having his love returned. The band really seems to connect with this song on all fronts. Brilliant…just brilliant.
“I’ll Be There For You” was the third single off the album and it went to #1 on the Billboard Top 100 Charts. This was the band’s fourth #1 song and if I’m not mistaken, it was their last but not from lack of great songs as they still put out some fantastic tracks even after this one. This particular song was written soley by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora with no outside help. Same with the B-Side, “Homebound Train”. Bon Jovi was at the top of their game and no one could touch them. They could have taken a piss, recorded it and it probably would’ve gone to #1 too as long as Jon and Richie were in the video.
If you ever wanted to know why this era of rock bands were called “Hair Bands”, just look at the cover. Aqua Net stock was riding high at that time as the amount of hairspray being used put a hole in the ozone layer…true fact!! My version of the single is standard cassette single. The single version and album version aren’t really different as there are only a couple seconds shaved off the single. The big difference is the radio edit which this is not.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 