Def Leppard unveils 'The Early Years 79-81' box set | The Music Universe

Lis Sinatra

Set features definitive collection of band’s early music

Def Leppard is set to release The Early Years 79-81 box set on March 20th. The set represents the band’s first two albums, On Through The Night and High ‘N’ Dry, 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 remix 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.

“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,” states frontman Elliot. “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 No. 15 in the UK and No. 51 in the US. Produced by Tom Allom (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), 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 UK charts and No. 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 as a single CD, black vinyl, and limited edition colored vinyl.

5 CD

CD 1: On Through The Night (Remastered)

  1. Rock Brigade
  2. Hello America
  3. Sorrow Is A Woman
  4. It Could Be You
  5. Satellite
  6. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
  7. Wasted
  8. Rocks Off
  9. It Don’t Matter
  10. Answer to The Master
  11. Overture

CD 2: High ‘N’ Dry (Remastered)

  1. Let It Go
  2. Another Hit and Run
  3. High N Dry (Saturday Night)
  4. Bringin’ On the Heartache
  5. Switch 625
  6. You Got Me Runnin’
  7. Lady Strange
  8. On Through the Night
  9. Mirror Mirror (Look into My Eyes)
  10. No No No

CD 3: When The Walls Came Tumbling Down – Live in Oxford 26/04/1980

  1. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down
  2. It Could Be You
  3. Rock Brigade
  4. Satellite
  5. Medicine Man
  6. Answer to the Master
  7. When the Rain Falls
  8. Sorrow Is a Woman
  9. 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 4: Too Many Jitterbugs – B-sides and Rarities

  1. Ride into The Sun – The Def Leppard EP
  2. Getcha Rocks Off – The Def Leppard EP
  3. The Overture – The Def Leppard EP
  4. Wasted -Single
  5. Hello America – Single
  6. Rock Brigade – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
  7. Glad I’m Alive – Unreleased Nick Tauber produced version
  8. Good Morning Freedom – Single
  9. 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 5: Raw – Early BBC Recordings

  1. Glad I’m Alive (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
  2. Sorrow Is A Woman (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
  3. Wasted (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
  4. Answer to The Master (Andy Peebles Session – 07/06/1979)
  5. Satellite (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
  6. Rock Brigade (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
  7. Wasted (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
  8. Good Morning Freedom (Friday Rock Show Session – 03/10/1979)
  9. 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)