DEF LEPPARD TO RELEASE “THE EARLY YEARS 79-81” ON MARCH 20TH

Def Leppard will release a new box set, The Early Years 79-81, on March 20th through UMC/Virgin.

The Early Years 79-81 box set 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 five 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 U.K. but was never released at the time. Today, 40 years on, the track receives its first release. Listen to the track below.

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 U.K. 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, Def Leppard’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 No. 15 in the U.K. and No. 51 in the U.S. Produced by Tom Allom  it featured many of the band’s live favorites 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 No. 26 in the U.K. charts and No. 38 in the U.S., 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 colored vinyl.

For more details, including the complete track listing, visit DefLeppard.com. 

The Early Year 79-81’ 5CD Boxset track listing:

CD ONE: On Through The Night – Re-Mastered:

Rock Brigade
Hello America
Sorrow Is A Woman
It Could Be You
Satellite
When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Wasted
Rocks Off
It Don’t Matter
Answer to The Master
Overture

CD Two: High ‘N’ Dry – Re-Mastered:

Let It Go
Another Hit and Run
High N Dry (Saturday Night)
Bringin’ On the Heartache
Switch 625
You Got Me Runnin’
Lady Strange
On Through the Night
Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
No No No

CD Three: When The Walls Came Tumbling Down – Live In Oxford 26/04/1980:

When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
It Could Be You
Rock Brigade
Satellite
Medicine Man
Answer to the Master
When the Rain Falls
Sorrow Is a Woman
Good Morning Freedom
Don’t Matter to Me
Overture
Lady Strange
GetchaRocks Off
Hello America
Wasted
Ride into The Sun

CD Four: Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides And Rarities:

Ride into The Sun – The Def Leppard EP
Getcha Rocks Off – The Def Leppard EP
The Overture – The Def Leppard EP
Wasted -Single
Hello America – Single
Rock Brigade – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
Glad I’m Alive – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
Good Morning Freedom – Single
Let It Go – Single Edit
Switch 625 – Single Edit
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak – Single Edit
Me and My Wine – Original Version
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak – Remix
Me and My Wine – Remix

CD Five: RAW – Eearly BBC Recordings:

Glad I’m Alive (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Sorrow Is A Woman (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Wasted (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Answer to The Master (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
Satellite (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Rock Brigade (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Wasted (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Good Morning Freedom (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
Satellite / When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Medicine Man (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
The Overture (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Lady Strange (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)
Getcha Rocks Off (Live at the Reading Festival – 24/08/1980)

On Through The Night – Re-Mastered (1CD):

Disc 1:

Rock Brigade
Hello America
Sorrow Is A Woman
It Could Be You
Satellite
When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Wasted
Rocks Off
It Don’t Matter
Answer to The Master
Overture

High ‘N’ Dry – Re-Mastered (1CD):

Disc 1:

Let It Go
Another Hit and Run
High N Dry (Saturday Night)
Bringin’ On the Heartache
Switch 625
You Got Me Runnin’
Lady Strange
On Through the Night
Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
No No No

On Through The Night Re-Mastered (1LP):

Side One

Rock Brigade
Hello America
Sorrow Is A Woman
It Could Be You
Satellite
When the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Side Two:

Wasted
Rocks Off
It Don’t Matter
Answer to The Master
Overture

High ‘N’ Dry – Re-Mastered (1LP)

Side One:

Let It Go
Another Hit and Run
High N Dry (Saturday Night)
Bringin’ On the Heartache
Switch 625

Side Two:

You Got Me Runnin’
Lady Strange
On Through the Night
Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
No No No