On Through the Night is the debut album by British Hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1980. It features rerecorded versions of "Rocks Off" and "Overture", tracks from the band's original independently released EP, The Def Leppard E.P. Other tracks are rerecorded versions of early demos, some of which appeared on the First Strike and Warchild bootlegs. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA on May 9, 1989. The band have stated on many occasions that they don't like this album (which is rawer in sound and more in line with NWOBHM bands like Saxon) and consider High 'n' Dry their first proper album. The band does not play material from the album in their live concerts since the early 1980's, although they did perform "Wasted" a few times during the Euphoria tour and "Rock Brigade" once in 2005.
"Wasted," "Rock Brigade" (b/w "When The Walls Came Tumbling Down") and "Hello America" were released as singles. However, the version of "Wasted" that appears on the single is a different recording from that of the LP, as is its b-side, "Hello America".
This album was produced by Tom Allom, perhaps best known for his work with Judas Priest, and is one of the only Def Leppard albums that receive little or no radio airplay, as compared to the likes of their later albums like Pyromania or Hysteria.
Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Rock Brigade" |
Rick Savage, Steve Clark, Joe Elliott |
3:09 |
| 2. |
"Hello America" |
Savage, Clark, Elliott |
3:27 |
| 3. |
"Sorrow Is a Woman" |
Savage, Clark, Pete Willis, Elliott |
3:54 |
| 4. |
"It Could Be You" |
Willis, Elliott |
2:33 |
| 5. |
"Satellite" |
Willis, Elliott |
4:28 |
| 6. |
"When the Walls Came Tumbling Down" |
Clark, Elliott, Andrew Smith |
4:44 |
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Wasted" |
Clark, Elliott |
3:45 |
| 2. |
"Rocks Off" |
Willis, Savage, Clark, Elliott |
3:42 |
| 3. |
"It Don't Matter" |
Willis, Elliott, Clark |
3:21 |
| 4. |
"Answer to the Master" |
Willis, Elliott, Clark |
3:13 |
| 5. |
"Overture" |
Savage, Clark, Willis, Elliott |
7:44 |
Personnel
Additional personnel
Production
Charts
- Album
| Year |
Chart |
Peak
position |
| 1980 |
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums |
51 |
| 1983 |
U.S. Billboard 200 |
131 |
- Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1979 |
"Wasted" |
UK |
61 |
| 1980 |
"Rock Brigade"[1] |
US |
– |
| 1980 |
"Hello America" |
UK |
45 |
Album Cover
The Truck on the album's cover was modeled after a 1970's era Kenworth W900 tractor-trailer with the "K.W." initials in the trucks grille logo replaced with "D.L." standing for Def Leppard. The band has also stated that they did not like how the cover turned out which prompted them to hire professional album cover designer Hipgnosis to design the cover for their next album: "High 'n' Dry".
Notes
References
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