Album: Retro Active by Def Leppard (1993)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Boisterous
Record Label: Universal Records
Format: Compilation

Description: Retro Active is an album by British hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1993. The album features touched-up versions of B-sides and previously unreleased recordings from the band's recording sessions between 1984 and 1993. The album charted at number 9 on The Billboard 200 and #6 on the UK Albums Chart.

After releasing only four albums over the course of a decade, Def Leppard used Retro Active to break that habit, provide a treat for diehard fans, and close the door on the "Steve Clark" era of the band. It reached platinum sales in many countries.

Although many tracks were found on single releases, some parts were re-recorded on the road during the Adrenalize tour.

Two unfinished songs from the Hysteria recording sessions, "Desert Song" and "Fractured Love", were completed exclusively for the album. "Two Steps Behind", an acoustic ballad originally recorded in electric version, was given strings by conductor Michael Kamen and included onto the Last Action Hero soundtrack. It would become the band's last Top 20 single in the US, reaching #12.

The album also had covers, Sweet's "Action" (which charted higher than the original in the UK) and Mick Ronson's "Only After Dark". Although guitarist Phil Collen had written "Miss You in a Heartbeat", it was released first on the self-titled 1991 debut by The Law, a band featuring Paul Rodgers and The Who drummer Kenney Jones.

The version of "Ride into the Sun" is not the version that appeared on The Def Leppard E.P., but rather the 1987 re-recording. It differs slightly from the version of the recording used as a B-side in the Hysteria era, though. The one used as a B-side had a Rick Allen drum solo intro, whereas this one has a piano intro.

Retro Active features a hidden (final) track: a piano/vocal version of "Miss You in a Heartbeat".

This is the first Def Leppard album to feature songs recorded with newly added guitarist Vivian Campbell.

Artist Background: Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitars, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (guitars, backing vocals). They established themselves as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement of the early 1980s. The band's greatest commercial success came between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Their first alb... Part of the Sheffield, England music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Poison, Ratt, Dokken, Whitesnake

Music Scene: Part of the Sheffield, England music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Boisterous, 1990s, Compilation, Universal Records


Retro Active is an album by British hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1993. The album features touched-up versions of B-sides and previously unreleased recordings from the band's recording sessions between 1984 and 1993. The album charted at number 9 on The Billboard 200 and #6 on the UK Albums Chart.

After releasing only four albums over the course of a decade, Def Leppard used Retro Active to break that habit, provide a treat for diehard fans, and close the door on the "Steve Clark" era of the band. It reached platinum sales in many countries.

Although many tracks were found on single releases, some parts were re-recorded on the road during the Adrenalize tour.

Two unfinished songs from the Hysteria recording sessions, "Desert Song" and "Fractured Love", were completed exclusively for the album. "Two Steps Behind", an acoustic ballad originally recorded in electric version, was given strings by conductor Michael Kamen and included onto the Last Action Hero soundtrack. It would become the band's last Top 20 single in the US, reaching #12.

The album also had covers, Sweet's "Action" (which charted higher than the original in the UK) and Mick Ronson's "Only After Dark". Although guitarist Phil Collen had written "Miss You in a Heartbeat", it was released first on the self-titled 1991 debut by The Law, a band featuring Paul Rodgers and The Who drummer Kenney Jones.

The version of "Ride into the Sun" is not the version that appeared on The Def Leppard E.P., but rather the 1987 re-recording. It differs slightly from the version of the recording used as a B-side in the Hysteria era, though. The one used as a B-side had a Rick Allen drum solo intro, whereas this one has a piano intro.

Retro Active features a hidden (final) track: a piano/vocal version of "Miss You in a Heartbeat".

This is the first Def Leppard album to feature songs recorded with newly added guitarist Vivian Campbell.

Retro Active

Def Leppard

Track List

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