High 'N' Dry

This album was a permanent fixture in my first car (as a tape, of course), and I never tired of the sheer energy that was on 'High and Dry' - in fact, I only wished that other bands would follow suit! 'Let it Go' and 'Another Hit and Run' still make me long for that kind of stuff today. (...) This CD was good old 'feeling good' rock and roll with a heavy induction of pep and guitars by the Lep.

Lep fans - this is a MUST - for all others, you must check this out keeping in mind that this is good old 70's hard rock, not the Lep stuff that followed...


A great album from a once great band   June 27, 2007
Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

There was a time, long, long ago when Def Leppard rocked. By listening to the band's musical out-put for the last fifteen years, it may be hard to believe that, but it's true. Early on, before "Let's Get Rocked," before touring with Bryan Adams and Journey, before making adult-contemporary soft-rock with the stink-bomb "X," (2002) there was a time when Def Leppard was genuinely a great rock band.

Released at the start of a new decade, the Judas Priest sounding debut from Def Leppard, '"On through the Night," (1980) may not have been the most original album of all-time, but it's still a great little-known gem in the chronicles of the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). For their sophomore release, the band hooked-up with its unofficial sixth member, long-time Def Leppard collaborator and producer, John "Mutt" Lange. Released a year after the debut, Def Leppard's second album "High N' Dry" (1981) has some of the same NWOBHM elements that were on the "On though the Night, but also sees the band establishing its own identity and searching out new terrain.

AC/DC's monumental album "Back in Black" (1980) no doubt had an influence on Def Leppard's "High N' Dry." From singer Joe Elliot's attempts to sound like Brian Johnson, to guitarists Steve Clarke and Pete Willis attempts to imitate the Young brothers, "High N' Dry" sounds a lot like AC/DC. This isn't so surprising when you consider the fact that Lange produced "Back in Black." That said, the seeds of Def Leppard's signature sound that is so apparent on "Pyromania" (1983) and "Hysteria," (1987) like the melodic sing-along choruses and metallic yet infectious hooks, make their appearance on "High N' Dry." In a sense "High N' Dry" can be seen as the album that bridged the gap between Def Leppard's NWOBHM years, apparent on their debut, to their definitive pop-metal heyday of "Pyromania" and "Hysteria."

The band's early line-up on their first three albums was by far the best. Sorry Phil Collin (and Vivian Campbell), but the Pete Willis/Steve Clarke combo were by far the finest duel-guitarists that the band ever had. Their riffs and solos throughout the album are just plain killer, easily as good as anything AC/DC had to offer (is it blasphemy to hold that opinion?). It should be noted that apart from "Hit and Run," every song on "High N' Dry" was co-penned by either Clarke and/or Willis. With both long since gone (Willis was fired in '83 and Clarke died in '91) it's easy to see how the band has suffered creatively ever since. The songwriting throughout the whole disc is terrific, with very well-crafted but hard-rocking songs, one after the other, without a dud in the lot. Even the album's one balled "Bringing on the Heartbreak" sounds great and is light-years better than the syrupy trash that made up the band's most recent steaming-pile of manure, abomination of an album "X."

Another great feature of "High N' Dry" is its organic sound. While the band may be most well known for their ultra-slick "Hysteria," on "High N' Dry" the band sounds a lot rawer, much more rough-around-the edges and a lot more ballsy than they would on later albums ("Pyromania" can be seen as a mid-way point between the two).

"High N' Dry" is also great simply because the band wants to rock. Def Leppard at this point in their career were hungry and eager to prove to the world that they kicked ass, and they did. Don't believe Joe Elliot when he tells you that Def Leppard were always really a pop band at heart, not a metal one, that just isn't true. While there is a clear pop-sensibility to "High N' Dry" it most definitely has a metallic edge and a lot of balls.

When I think of Def Leppard, I think of the group existing as two separate entities. First, there is the Def Leppard of the 80s, a great rock band who put out four terrific albums, even if they did get a little too commercial towards the end. And second there is the Def Leppard of the 90s/00s, an embarrassment; a band for soccer moms, the less said about the better.

So even if Def Leppard has sucked beyond belief for years, go back in time with "High N' Dry," and rock out to an album from a once really great band.



Absolutely Phenomenal   June 12, 2002
D. Dubei (New York, NY)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

This is Def Leppard's BEST album by far!

right from the getgo to the end this has some of the best hard rock songs ever. "Another Hit and Run" "On Through the Night" and "Switch 624" are some of my favorites.

what they did in this album that they later regressed on in Hysteria is go truly hard rock. there is a passion and intensity felt in these songs. they grab you, shake you and dont let you go until you finally have to say "No NO NO NO NO NO!" NO-more! :)

It's unfortunate that this is a forgotten album as most just stick with Pyromania and Hysteria--which are great albums in their own way, but they lag behind this one in intensity, complexity and passion.


Buy This Album. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200.   August 3, 2000
The Evil Mr. Jones (Missouri)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is Def Leppard's best album, and that is saying a lot. "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" are two of the best recordings ever put on tape, but High 'N' Dry is better. Nearly 20 years after its original release, it still sounds as fresh as the day it came out.

"High 'N' Dry" isn't quite as polished as Lep's later stuff. There's fewer synths, and the production's not as strong. Once you hear it, you'll quickly realize that this is a good thing. It lays the raw power of Def Leppard bare, and the listener quickly notices that these guys are even more capable than "Pyromania" and "Hysteria" would indicate.

There simply isn't a bad or even a mediocre song on this album. No filler here for sure. Any one of the tracks on "High 'N' Dry" would justify the price of the CD. "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" set the standard for power ballads, and in my opinion has yet to be topped by anybody. The title track, "Let It Go," "Another Hit And Run," "You Got Me Running," and "Lady Strange," however, show that there is a lot more to "High 'N' Dry" than "Heartbreak." These songs rock like nobody's business. It's a real shame that Joe Elliot and the guys have pretty much disowned this album except for "Heartbreak". If they were to make a new album that even came close to "High 'N' Dry," they'd attract a whole new generation of fans in short order.

The CD and later LP versions add two bonus tracks, a remix of "Heartbreak" and "Me And My Wine," that weren't on the original LP release in 1981. The original "Heartbreak" is the better of the two, but the remix and "Me And My Wine" are still a plus. As if there wasn't plenty there already.

If you don't have this album, buy it now. If you have it on LP or cassette, this one's well worth upgrading to CD. This is truly a landmark recording, and is not to be missed.


Leppard's best..it should have been their last...   August 24, 2005
Barnes and Noble Junkie (Barnes And Noble, Midlothian, Virginia)
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

Isn't it sad when you have to say that a band's 2nd major release is their best. Unfortunately this is the case with Def Leppard. From the opening riff on 'Let it Go' to the 'Am I stoned or what No NO NO echo' on the aptly titled last song, this album is just awesome.

Be careful though, in their zeal to make as much money as they can, Def Leppard re-released this album with an extra song entitled 'Me and my Wine' and while the song is OK, as payment for the song you have to listen to a synthetically altered Bringin' on the Heartbreak' which absolutely blows...

If you didn't see Def Leppard either before or during their Pyromania tour you missed a special treat. Raw, inspired, ram it down your throat rock.. If you saw them in later years you were probably more impressed with the sites in the crowd then you were with the music.

Is this album as 'refined' as later Lepard albums.. No.. But what would you rather jam to, an unrefined Let It Go or a polished 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'?..what a freaking joke)

Def leppard released two great albums, this one and On through the night, then Mutt Lange AKA Mr Shania Twain (after producing High and Dry) started tinkering with them, leading to Pyromania, which was the beginning of the end. Joe Elliot decided that it was more fun singing silly love songs to teen age girls, and the party ended for the head bangers. Yeah it was great to go to Def Leppard concerts, not for the music but for the women, but after awhile it was almost an embarrassment to say that you were seeing them live...

So do yourself a favor, Buy this, buy On through the night, and then if you want to waste some money on watered down Def Leppard buy their greatest hits. At least with the greatest hits you get the best of their worst.