Euphoria (Def Leppard album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Euphoria
Studio album by Def Leppard
Released	June 2, 1999 (1999-06-02)
Recorded	1998 at Joe's Garage in Dublin, Ireland
Genre	Hard rock, glam metal, pop rock
Length	51:01
Label	Mercury
Producer	Pete Woodroffe and Def Leppard
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Def Leppard chronology
Slang (1996) Euphoria (1999) X (2002)
Singles from Euphoria
"Promises" Released: 1999 (worldwide, except Europe) "Promises/Back in Your Face" Released: 1999 (Europe) "Paper Sun" Released: 1999 (US) "Goodbye" Released: 1999 "Day After Day" Released: 1999 (US) "21st Century Sha La La La Girl" Released: 1999 (US)

Euphoria is the eighth studio album by British hard rock band Def Leppard, released in 1999. The album marked a return to their signature sound made famous by the band in the 1980s. It was produced by the band with Pete Woodroffe.

[edit] Overview

Following the commercial disappointment^{[neutrality disputed]} of Slang, the band was initially unsure^{[citation needed]} of which direction to take for their next release, upon reconvening in April 1998. When their VH1 Behind The Music episode aired that June to high ratings upon its premiere and subsequent reruns, it was clear that the band would be wise to return to their melodic hard rock roots.^{[dubious – discuss]}

The band would enlist the aid of former producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange for four days in a more limited role. Three songs were co-written with Lange, who lent background vocals (as he had on other albums): "It's Only Love", "All Night" and "Promises".

Tracks were written with their old sound clearly in mind^{[citation needed]}, and a song first recorded by Vivian Campbell's side band Clock, "To Be Alive", received a Leppard makeover. For the first time since 1981's High 'n' Dry, an instrumental was included (Phil Collen's "Disintegrate").

1996 Formula One racing champion Damon Hill, a neighbor of Rick Savage, would contribute a guitar solo to the track "Demolition Man".

In its first week of release, Euphoria sold over 98,000 units in the US and just missed the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, reaching #11. First single "Promises" topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart in June 1999, a spot the band had not held in six years.

Euphoria would later be certified gold in the US, Canada and Japan. The album-supporting tour stretched from May 1999 to September 2000.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Demolition Man" (Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell, Joe Elliott) – 3:24
2. "Promises" (Collen, Mutt Lange) – 3:59
3. "Back in Your Face" (Elliott, Collen) – 3:20
4. "Goodbye" (Rick Savage) – 3:36
5. "All Night" (Collen, Lange) – 3:38
6. "Paper Sun" (Collen, Campbell, Elliott, Savage, Pete Woodroffe) – 5:27
7. "It's Only Love" (Elliott, Lange, Savage, Campbell) – 4:06
8. "21st Century Sha La La La Girl" (Collen, Elliott, Savage) – 4:06
9. "To Be Alive" (Campbell, P.J. Smith) – 3:53
10. "Disintegrate" (Collen) – 2:51
11. "Guilty" (Collen, Savage, Elliott, Campbell, Woodroffe) – 3:47
12. "Day After Day" (Collen, Elliott, Campbell) – 4:36
13. "Kings of Oblivion" (Elliott, Collen, Savage) – 4:18

[edit] Personnel

• Rick Allen – drums
• Phil Collen – guitar, vocals
• Joe Elliott – lead vocals
• Vivian Campbell – guitar, vocals
• Rick "Sav" Savage – bass guitar, vocals

[edit] Additional musicians

• Ciaran McGoldrick, Gary Sullivan, Ricky Warwick – hey's and claps on "Back in Your Face"
• Mutt Lange – additional vocals on "Promises" and "All Night", additional guitar on "All Night"
• Damon "Demon" Hill – end guitar solo on "Demolition Man"

[edit] Production

• Pete Woodroffe – producer, engineer, mixing
• Def Leppard – producer
• Ger McDonnell – engineer
• Ronan McHugh – engineer
• Tom Stanley – mix assistant
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Andie Airfix – artwork
• Andy Earl – photography

[edit] References

• (1999) Album notes for Euphoria by Def Leppard [CD booklet]. London, England: Mercury (314 546 212-2). Euphoria at MusicBrainz.