Def Leppard to release ‘The Early Years 79-81’ boxset including unreleased tracks on March 20th
Def Leppard to release ‘The Early Years 79-81’ boxset including unreleased tracks on March 20th
UK rockers Def Leppard have a real treat for their diehard fans as the group will be releasing the boxset The Early Years 79-81 on March 20, 2020 and it is loaded with unreleased material.
Def Leppard‘s website indicates in part:
“The Early Years 79-81’ boxset represents the band’s first two albums, ‘On Through The Night’ (1980) and ‘High ‘N’ Dry’ (1981), and has been prepared in conjunction with singer Joe Elliott who has acted as executive producer on the set. The mastering has been done by the band’s long serving sound engineer Ronan McHugh.
This deluxe set comes with 5-CDs consisting of the original album remastered, B-sides, rarities and re-mix versions, Radio One sessions, Live from Reading and the first ever appearance of an unreleased and newly mixed show from Oxford in 1980. These remasters have been highly anticipated, and much requested, by Def Leppard fans globally.
The album also features an instant grat track, the much sought-after Nick Tauber produced version of ‘Rock Brigade’, which was originally pencilled as a single for the UK but was never released at the time. Today, 40 years on, the track receives its first release. Listen to the track below.
Joe Elliott says, “Well the fans asked, and we listened! Really excited to have our early years reworked with a load of rare material including the newly unearthed Live at the Oxford New Theatre, recorded on the 1980 UK tour …. It’s been a trip putting this boxset together and I hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we did working on it! ”
‘On Through The Night’, the band’s debut album, was released in 1980 and immediately put the rock world on notice. The band were destined for big things with the album charting at #15 in the UK and #51 in the US. Produced by Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), it featured many of the band’s live favourites and some updated versions of early singles. The album achieved platinum status in 1989.
‘High ‘N’ Dry’, the first of Def Leppard’s albums to be produced by Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange, was released in 1981. It reached #26 in the UK charts and #38 in the US, further cementing the bands status.
‘The Early Years 79-81’ boxset includes a history of the band’s first two albums written by Mojo and Classic Rock writer Paul Elliott (no relation) featuring personal insights from the band on the making and releasing of those early records as well as rare photos and memorabilia.
Both albums have been remastered and will be available on 1CD version, black vinyl, and limited edition coloured vinyl.”
CD One: On Through The Night – Re-Mastered:
01. Rock Brigade
02. Hello America
03. Sorrow Is A Woman
04. It Could Be You
05. Satellite
06. When The Walls Came Tumbling Down
07. Wasted
08. Rocks Off
09. It Don’t Matter
10. Answer To The Master
11. Overture
CD Two: High ‘N’ Dry – Re-Mastered:
01. Let It Go
02. Another Hit And Run
03. High N Dry (Saturday Night)
04. Bringin’ On The Heartache
05. Switch 625
06. You Got Me Runnin’
07. Lady Strange
08. On Through the Night
09. Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
10. No No No
CD Three: When The Walls Came Tumbling Down – Live In Oxford 26/04/1980:
01. When The Walls Came Tumbling Down
02. It Could Be You
03. Rock Brigade
04. Satellite
05. Medicine Man
06. Answer To The Master
07. When The Rain Falls
08. Sorrow Is A Woman
09. Good Morning Freedom
10. Don’t Matter To Me
11. Overture
12. Lady Strange
13. GetchaRocks Off
14. Hello America
15. Wasted
16. Ride Into The Sun
CD Four: Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides and Rarities:
01. Ride Into The Sun – The Def Leppard EP
02. Getcha Rocks Off – The Def Leppard EP
03. The Overture – The Def Leppard EP
04. Wasted -Single
05. Hello America – Single
06. Rock Brigade – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
07. Glad I’m Alive – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
08. Good Morning Freedom – Single
09. Let It Go – Single Edit
10. Switch 625 – Single Edit
11. Bringin’ On The Heartbreak – Single Edit
12. Me and My Wine – Original Version
13. Bringin’ On The Heartbreak – Remix
14. Me And My Wine – Remix
CD Five: Raw – Early BBC Recordings:
01. Glad I’m Alive (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
02. Sorrow Is A Woman (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
03. Wasted (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
04. Answer To The Master (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
05. Satellite (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
06. Rock Brigade (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
07. Wasted (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
08. Good Morning Freedom (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
09. Satellite / When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
10. Medicine Man (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
11. The Overture (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
12. Lady Strange (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
13. Getcha Rocks Off (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Def Leppard‘s “Rock Brigade” (unreleased Nick Tauber produced version) song:
Rock Brigade (Early Version)
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupRock Brigade (Early Version) · Def LeppardRock Brigade℗ A Virgin EMI Records Recording; ℗ 2020 Mercury Records Li…