Retro Active
Encyclopedia
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 #9 on The Billboard 200 and #6 on the UK Albums Chart
.
" 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 EP
, 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
.
, is a photograph a lady sitting at a dressing table, looking in a mirror. However, if the cover is viewed at arm's length or from a distance, it takes the form of a skull (a type of vanitas
art), the woman's head forming the left eye socket, and her reflected head in the mirror forming the right eye socket. The mirror itself forms the shape of the skull and the accessories on the dressing table form the nose, nostrils and teeth. It was inspired by Charles Allan Gilbert
's most famous work, All Is Vanity (1892).
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, 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 #9 on The Billboard 200 and #6 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
.
Overview
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 ClarkSteve Clark
Stephen Maynard Clark was an English musician, co-lead guitarist for the British hard rock band Def Leppard up until his death in 1991 due to a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs...
" 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
Adrenalize
-Deluxe Edition :*Tracks 1-4 are taken from the band's Live: In the Clubs, in Your Face EP, recorded at Bonn, Germany, on 29 May 1992*Tracks 5 & 6 taken from "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" single....
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
Michael Kamen
Michael Arnold Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.-Background:...
and included onto the Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero is a 1993 American action-comedy-fantasy film directed and produced by John McTiernan. It is a satire of the action genre and its clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film....
soundtrack. It would become the band's last Top 20 single in the US, reaching #12.
The album also had covers, Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
's "Action" (which charted higher than the original in the UK) and Mick Ronson
Mick Ronson
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
's "Only After Dark". Although guitarist Phil Collen
Phil Collen
Philip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
had written "Miss You in a Heartbeat", it was released first on the self-titled 1991 debut by The Law
The Law (band)
For other bands named Law, see Law The Law were an English rock group formed in 1991 comprising drummer Kenney Jones and singer Paul Rodgers . The two teamed up with the idea of using different supporting musicians, in order to allow Paul Rodgers to pursue whatever musical style he felt like...
, a band featuring Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
drummer Kenney Jones
Kenney Jones
Kenneth Thomas "Kenney" Jones is a veteran English rock drummer best known for his work in Small Faces, Faces, and The Who.-Small Faces to the Faces:...
.
The version of "Ride into the Sun" is not the version that appeared on the Def Leppard EP
Def Leppard EP
The Def Leppard E.P. is the debut EP by British rock band Def Leppard. The EP was recorded at Fairview Studios in Hull, in November 1978 and produced by Def Leppard. The album cover is a parody of the painting His Master's Voice, with a leopard in place of the painting's dog Nipper...
, 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
Vivian Campbell
Vivian Patrick Campbell is a Northern Irish rock guitarist who is a member of Def Leppard and was, from May 2010 to November 2011, a member of Thin Lizzy. Prior to joining Def Leppard in April 1992, he had been a member of Whitesnake, Sweet Savage, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King...
.
Album cover
The album cover, by Nels Israelson and Hugh SymeHugh Syme
Hugh Syme is a Canadian Juno Award-winning graphic artist who is best known for his artwork and cover concepts for rock and metal bands. He is also a musician and has appeared in some Rush songs as a keyboard player. Syme is notably responsible for all of Rush's album cover art since 1975's Caress...
, is a photograph a lady sitting at a dressing table, looking in a mirror. However, if the cover is viewed at arm's length or from a distance, it takes the form of a skull (a type of vanitas
Vanitas
In the arts, vanitas is a type of symbolic work of art especially associated with Northern European still life painting in Flanders and the Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries, though also common in other places and periods. The word is Latin, meaning "emptiness" and loosely translated...
art), the woman's head forming the left eye socket, and her reflected head in the mirror forming the right eye socket. The mirror itself forms the shape of the skull and the accessories on the dressing table form the nose, nostrils and teeth. It was inspired by Charles Allan Gilbert
Charles Allan Gilbert
Charles Allan Gilbert , better known as C. Allan Gilbert, was a prominent American illustrator. He is especially remembered for a widely published drawing titled All Is Vanity...
's most famous work, All Is Vanity (1892).
Track listing
- "Desert SongDesert Song"Desert Song" is a song by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their 1993 rarities and 'b-sides' album Retro Active. This song was an outtake from the songwriting sessions that produced 1987's Hysteria. Self-produced, it became one of the last songs to be released by Def Leppard bearing the...
" (Steve ClarkSteve ClarkStephen Maynard Clark was an English musician, co-lead guitarist for the British hard rock band Def Leppard up until his death in 1991 due to a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs...
, Joe ElliottJoe ElliottJoseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott Jr is an English singer-songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the British rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of David Bowie cover band, the Cybernauts and the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down...
, Rick SavageRick SavageRichard "Rick" Savage is the bassist and one of the founding members of the English rock band, Def Leppard. He is called "Sav" to avoid confusion between him and the other Rick in the band, drummer Rick Allen. He and lead vocalist, Joe Elliot, are the only remaining original members of the band...
) – 5:19- Outtake from the Hysteria album sessions
- "Fractured Love" (Clark, Elliott, Savage) – 5:08
- Outtake from the Hysteria album sessions
- "Action" (Andy ScottAndy Scott (guitarist)Andy Scott is a British musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a vocalist in the band Sweet.-Early years:Scott started out playing bass guitar...
, Brian ConnollyBrian ConnollyBrian Francis Connolly was a Scottish musician, best known as the lead singer of the British rock band, Sweet.-Early life:...
, Steve PriestSteve PriestSteve Priest is a founding member and bass player/backing vocalist of the glam rock band Sweet.-Biography:...
, Mick TuckerMick TuckerMichael Thomas "Mick" Tucker was the drummer and backing vocalist of the English glam rock band, Sweet.-Bands:...
) – 3:41- Original version released on the "Make Love Like a ManMake Love Like a Man"Make Love Like a Man" is a 1992 single by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album Adrenalize. The song reached #3 on the Mainstream Rock charts, and #36 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" single
- Original version released on the "Make Love Like a Man
- "Two Steps BehindTwo Steps Behind"Two Steps Behind" is a 1993 song by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their album Retro Active and Last Action Hero Soundtrack. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100....
" (Acoustic Version) (Elliott) – 4:16- Original version released on the "Make Love Like a Man" single
- Originally released on the Last Action HeroLast Action HeroLast Action Hero is a 1993 American action-comedy-fantasy film directed and produced by John McTiernan. It is a satire of the action genre and its clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film....
soundtrack
- "She's Too Tough" (Elliott) – 3:41
- Original version released on the "Heaven IsHeaven Is"Heaven Is" is a 1993 single by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album Adrenalize.In a Joe Elliot statement on the "Rock of Ages" and "Best Of" compilation albums, he referred this song's backing vocals on the chorus sounded much like The Beach Boys, and said that it was...
" single
- Original version released on the "Heaven Is
- "Miss You in a HeartbeatMiss You in a Heartbeat"Miss You in a Heartbeat" is a 1993 song by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their album Retro Active.Three versions of the power ballad appear on Retro Active; the acoustic version , which was released as the single, the electric version and the piano version which is featured as a hidden...
" (Phil CollenPhil CollenPhilip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
) – 4:04- Original version released on the "Make Love Like a Man" single
- "Only After Dark" (Mick RonsonMick RonsonMichael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
) – 3:52- Original version released on the "Let's Get RockedLet's Get Rocked"Let's Get Rocked" is a 1992 single by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album Adrenalize. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the UK Singles Chart....
" single
- Original version released on the "Let's Get Rocked
- "Ride Into The Sun" (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Savage) – 3:12
- Original version released on the "HysteriaHysteria (Def Leppard song)"Hysteria" is a song by British hard rock band Def Leppard. It served as the titular third single from their 1987 multi-platinum album of the same name. "Hysteria" peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" single - First recording of the song released on The Def Leppard E.P.
- Original version released on the "Hysteria
- "From the Inside" (Elliott) – 4:13
- Originally released on the "Have You Ever Needed Someone So BadHave You Ever Needed Someone So Bad"Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" is a 1992 single by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album Adrenalize. In the United States, the song reached #7 on the Mainstream Rock charts, and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" single
- Originally released on the "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
- "Ring Of Fire" (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Savage) – 4:42
- Original version released on the "Armageddon ItArmageddon It"Armageddon It" is a song by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. It was released as a single in 1988 and went to No. 3 in the U.S. ....
" single
- Original version released on the "Armageddon It
- "I Wanna Be Your Hero" (Clark, Collen, Elliott, Lange, Savage) – 4:29
- Original version released on the "HysteriaHysteria (Def Leppard song)"Hysteria" is a song by British hard rock band Def Leppard. It served as the titular third single from their 1987 multi-platinum album of the same name. "Hysteria" peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" single
- Original version released on the "Hysteria
- "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] (Collen) – 4:09
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certification Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
| Canada | CRIA Music Canada Music Canada was a Canadian music television miniseries which aired approximately monthly on CBC Television from 1966 to 1967.-Premise:This series featured various special productions of music and dance, from classical to modern styles.-Scheduling:... |
Platinum |
Personnel
- Rick AllenRick Allen (drummer)Richard John Cyril "Rick" Allen is the drummer for the English hard rock band Def Leppard. He is famous for overcoming the complete amputation of his left arm and continuing to play with the band, which subsequently went on to its greatest popular success worldwide...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Vivian CampbellVivian CampbellVivian Patrick Campbell is a Northern Irish rock guitarist who is a member of Def Leppard and was, from May 2010 to November 2011, a member of Thin Lizzy. Prior to joining Def Leppard in April 1992, he had been a member of Whitesnake, Sweet Savage, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s, backing vocals - Steve ClarkSteve ClarkStephen Maynard Clark was an English musician, co-lead guitarist for the British hard rock band Def Leppard up until his death in 1991 due to a combination of alcohol and multiple prescription drugs...
– electric guitars - Phil CollenPhil CollenPhilip Kenneth "Phil" Collen is the co-lead guitarist and one of the backing vocalists for English rock band Def Leppard. He joined the band in 1982 following the departure of Pete Willis.-Early years:...
– electric guitars, acoustic guitars, backing vocals - Joe ElliottJoe ElliottJoseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott Jr is an English singer-songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the British rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of David Bowie cover band, the Cybernauts and the Mott the Hoople cover band, Down...
– lead vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, jungle orchestra on "Fractured Love" - Rick SavageRick SavageRichard "Rick" Savage is the bassist and one of the founding members of the English rock band, Def Leppard. He is called "Sav" to avoid confusion between him and the other Rick in the band, drummer Rick Allen. He and lead vocalist, Joe Elliot, are the only remaining original members of the band...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Ian HunterIan Hunter (singer)Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
– honky tonk messiahPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on "Ride into the Sun" - Michael KamenMichael KamenMichael Arnold Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.-Background:...
– string arrangement on "Two Steps Behind" (Acoustic Version) - Robert John "Mutt" Lange – backing vocals
- Fiachna Ó BraonáinFiachna Ó BraonáinFiachna Ó Braonáin plays the guitar and sings vocals with the Irish band Hothouse Flowers. Born in Dublin, he received his school education at Scoil Lorcáin and Coláiste Eoin...
– tin whistleTin whistleThe tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
on "From the Inside" - Liam Ó MaonlaíLiam Ó MaonlaíLiam Ó Maonlaí is an Irish musician best known as a member of the Hothouse Flowers. Ó Maonlaí formed the band in 1985 with his schoolmate Fiachna Ó Braonáin....
– grand piano on "From the Inside" - Peter O'Toole – mandolin on "From the Inside"
- P.J. Smith – backing vocals on "Action"
- Pete Woodroffe – piano on "Miss You in a Heartbeat"
Production
- Def Leppard – producer
- Pete Woodroffe – engineer, mixing
- Janfred Arendsen – engineer
- Albert Boekholt – engineer
- Giles Cowley – mixing
- Freek Feenstra – engineer
- Nigel Green – engineer
- Steve McGaughlin – engineer
- Erwin Musper – engineer
- Nial O'Sullivan – mixing
- Ronald Prent – engineer
- Robert Scovill – engineer
- Mike Shipley – engineer