My All Time Fave Albums #24

Back with another classic slab of tunage.  The next album that I'd like to talk about is one I've been spinning for 30 years or so.  The band was originally a leader in the NWOBHM movement (even though they don't like to admit it), and went on to become one of the biggest selling hard rock acts ever.  The band is Def Leppard, and the album is High N' Dry.

I have very fond memories of this time of my life, and there are many albums I consider to be the soundtrack to my my life, and in particular my teenage years.   This record is one of them. I discovered this album right before Pyromania set the world on fire. High N' Dry is a steamroller of heavy riffs, a killer rhythm section, and NWOBHM 's youthful energy.  Mutt Lange came on board for this album to refine the Lep's sound, and brought out what I consider (along with the follow up Pyromania) to be the bands greatest performances.  High N' Dry contains not one bad track, and is a stormer from start to finish.  Lead off track, Let It Go starts the proceedings with an AC/DC influenced main riff, and a gritty edge that flows throughout the record.

It continues from there.  (Another) Hit and Run is my all time fave Lep track. Chunks of melodic hard rock follow in deep cuts like Lady Strange, Mirror Mirror, and the stunning instrumental, Switch 625.  A combination of timing (Metal was enjoying a resurgence in 1981), great songwriting, and top end production would culminate in Def Lep producing not only their best album, but one of the greatest Metal records of all time.  There have been many a summer night with myself and the boys blasting this in the warmth of brotherhood and cold beer.  Still in regular rotation (I'm spinning it now), High N' Dry stands as a testament to British Metal and youthful exuberance.  Although a different beast, Lep still continue on, and I'm glad to see they still throw a couple tracks from this record into their tour setlist.

Enjoy the classic vid of the title track!  RIP Steve Clark

I'll be back soon with some of my fave records from the past. Stay tuned.

NWOBHM forever.