Retro Active
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| Retro Active | ||
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| Compilation album by Def Leppard | ||
| Released | October 5, 1993 | |
| Recorded | 1979-1993 at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Netherlands, Rainbow Studios and Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany, Bow Lane Studios and Joe's Garage in Dublin, Ireland | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length | 56:04 | |
| Label | Mercury | |
| Producer(s) | Def Leppard, Pete Woodroffe |
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| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Def Leppard chronology | ||
| Adrenalize (1992) |
Retro Active (1993) |
Vault: Def Leppard's Greatest Hits (1980-1995) (1995) |
Retro Active is the sixth album by British hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1993. The album is a compilation of b-sides, bonus tracks (from single releases) and previously unreleased recordings from the band's recording sessions between 1984 and 1993.
After releasing only three 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 would chart 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 Kenny Jones.
"Retro Active" features a hidden (final) track ; a piano/vocal version of "Miss You in a Heartbeat". It is the first Def Leppard album to feature songs recorded with newly added guitarist Vivian Campbell.
The cover of the album was inspired by Charles Allan Gilbert's 1892 illustration All Is Vanity.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- Desert Song (Clark, Elliott, Savage) – 5:19
- Fractured Love (Clark, Elliott, Savage) – 5:08
- Action (Sweet Cover) (Connolly, Priest, Scott, Tucker) – 3:41
- Two Steps Behind [Acoustic Version] (Elliott) – 4:16
- She's Too Tough (Elliott) – 3:41
- Miss You In A Heartbeat (Collen) – 4:04
- Only After Dark (Mick Ronson Cover) – 3:52
- Ride Into The Sun (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Savage) – 3:12
- From The Inside (Elliott) – 4:13
- Ring Of Fire (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Lange, Savage) – 4:42
- I Wanna Be Your Hero (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Lange, Savage) – 4:29
- Miss You In A Heartbeat [Electric Version] (Collen) – 4:58
- Two Steps Behind [Electric Version] (Elliott) – 4:29
- Miss You In A Heartbeat [Piano Version] [Hidden track after #13] (Collen) – 4:09
[edit] Personnel
Def Leppard
- Rick Allen - drums
- Vivian Campbell - guitar, electric guitar, background vocals, vibraphone
- Steve Clark - guitar
- Phil Collen - guitar, electric guitar, sound effects, background vocals
- Joe Elliott - piano, rhythm guitar, vocals, background vocals, orchestra
- Rick Savage - bass, keyboard, background vocals
Additional personnel
- Ian Hunter - synthesizer on "Ride Into The Sun"
- Michael Kamen - strings
- Robert John "Mutt" Lange - background vocals
- Steve McGaughlin - strings
- Erwin Musper - vocals
- Fiachna O'Braondin - whistle
- Liam Ó Maonlaí - piano
- Peter O'Toole - mandolin
- P.J. Smith - background vocals
- Pete Woodroffe - bass, guitar, piano, drums, background vocals
[edit] Production
- Producers: Def Leppard, Pete Woodroffe
- Engineers: Janfred Arendsen, Albert Boekholt, Giles Cowley, Freek Feenstra, Nigel Green, Niall O'Sullivan, Ronald Prent, Robert Scovill, Mike Shipley, Pete Woodroffe
- Arranger: Michael Kamen
- Overdubs: Steve McGaughlin, Pete Woodroffe
[edit] Singles
- "Two Steps Behind", September 1993
- "Desert Song", October 1993 (US only, rock formats)
- "Miss You In A Heartbeat", December 1993 (North America only)
- "Action", January 1993 (Europe only)
| Def Leppard |
| Joe Elliott | Vivian Campbell | Phil Collen | Rick Savage | Rick Allen |
| Steve Clark | Pete Willis | Tony Kenning | Frank Noon |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio Albums: On Through The Night | High 'n' Dry | Pyromania | Hysteria | Adrenalize | Retro Active | Slang | Euphoria | X | Yeah! |
| Compilations and extended plays: Def Leppard EP | First Strike | Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980-1995) | Best of Def Leppard | Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection |
| Singles: Bringin' on the Heartbreak | Rock of Ages | Animal | Pour Some Sugar on Me | Love Bites | Armageddon It | Rocket | Let's Get Rocked |
| Concert Tours |
| Early Tours 1978/79 | On Through The Night World Tour | High 'n' Dry World Tour | Pyromania World Tour | Hysteria World Tour | Seven Day Weekend Tour | Slang Tour | Euphoria World Tour 1999-2001 | X World Tour 2002/2003 | Rock Of Ages Tour 2005 | YEAH! Tour 2006 |
| Related Articles |
| Robert John "Mutt" Lange | Terror Twins |
