Artist: DEF LEPPARD
Album: PYROMANIA DELUXE EDIT. (2CD DIGI)

Year: 1983/ 2009
EAN/UPS: 600753191682
Media type: CD

Released in 1983 "Pyromania" was the album that broke Def Leppard in America but primarily due to MTV's playing the videos of "Photograph", "Foolin'" and "Rock Of Ages". Again, with Robert John "Mutt" Lange doing the producing as well as co-writing most of the songs "Pyromania" had it's share of great songs starting with the hits "Photograph", "Foolin'", "Rock Of Ages", and "Rock Rock (Till You Drop)", etc. Far more commercial than the band's 1981 album "High N' Dry" it was ex-Girl guitarist Phil Collen's debut replacing original guitarist and founder Pete Willis. Too bad because Willis was a better guitarist and had better technique than Collen. "Pyromania" as already mentioned has a more commercial sound than the previous albums and unfortunately the band seems to be getting away from their NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) roots.

The remastering on this Deluxe Edition is far superior when compared to the older non-remastered single disc. A crispness and more midrange in this newly remastered version that the older version lacked. The bonus disc (running just over seventy minutes long) from a concert in 1983 at the L.A. Forum is extremely well recorded and is a treat for Def Leppard fans as it includes not only material from "Pyromania" but from "High N' Dry" and "All Through The Night". Songs such as "Rock Brigade", "Wasted", "High N' Dry (Saturday Night)", "Another Hit And Run" and "Let It Go" have never been recorded "live" on CD or DVD for commercial release as far as this reviewer remembers so this is a first. Queen's Brian May even makes an appearance joining the band in playing the Creedence Clearwater classic "Travelin' Band" (the ending mixed with Led Zeppelin's "Rock And Roll").

The packaging of this Deluxe Edition of "Pyromania" is excellent with both discs securely mounted and there's also a fairly lengthy booklet with colorful photos of the band. Highly recommended!


CD1 - Pyromania Remastered:

  1. rock! rock!! (Til you Drop)
  2. Photograph
  3. Stagefright
  4. Too Late For Love
  5. Die Hard The Hunter
  6. Foolin'
  7. Rock of Ages
  8. Comin' Under Fire
  9. Action! not Words *
  10. Billy's Got a Gun


CD2 - Live at the L.A. Forum 1983:

  1. rock! rock!! (Til you Drop)
  2. rock Brigade
  3. High `n' Dry (Saturday night)
  4. another Hit and run
  5. Billy's Got a Gun
  6. mirror mirror (Look into my eyes)
  7. Foolin'
  8. Photograph
  9. rock of ages
  10. Bringin' on The Heartbreak
  11. Switch 625
  12. Let it Go
  13. Wasted
  14. Stagefright
  15. Travellin' Band [Featuring Brian May]