X (Def Leppard album)
Encyclopedia
X is the eighth studio album
by British
rock
band Def Leppard
, released in 2002 by Island Records
. Much like 1996's Slang
, it featured another departure from their signature sound by moving into the pop genre. The album charted at #11 on The Billboard 200 and #14 on the UK Albums Chart
. Most of the album was produced by Pete Woodroffe and the band, with remaining tracks produced by either Marti Frederiksen
or Per Aldeheim
and Andreas Carlsson
. This is the first Def Leppard album in which drummer Rick Allen actively took part in song-writing. On all of the band's prior albums, he is only credited with helping co-write 3 tracks. On this album alone, he co-wrote 11.
The album features the Roman numeral 'X', recognising it as their tenth album release, although the album is in fact only their eighth collection of all-new studio material. The other two albums released by the band prior to the release of X, Retro Active and Vault, were a rerecording of B-sides and rarities and a greatest hits set respectively.
The album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200
, but did not sell to the standards of their previous releases and failed to earn any RIAA certifications. Nothing from this album has been performed live by the band since the conclusion of its supporting tour.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
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 2002 by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Much like 1996's Slang
Slang (album)
- Certifications :-Personnel:* Rick Allen – drums, percussion* Vivian Campbell – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, dulcimer, vocals* Phil Collen – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolin, vocals...
, it featured another departure from their signature sound by moving into the pop genre. The album charted at #11 on The Billboard 200 and #14 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...
. Most of the album was produced by Pete Woodroffe and the band, with remaining tracks produced by either Marti Frederiksen
Marti Frederiksen
Martin Harold Frederiksen is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop...
or Per Aldeheim
Per Aldeheim
Per Henrik Aldeheim, is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and producer. He started out in the business with the band LAZY, also featuring Kim Björkgren. In 1985 they quit the band and started a new, It's Alive, together with among others Max Martin as their singer and frontman. It's Alive ceased to...
and Andreas Carlsson
Andreas Carlsson
Andreas Carlsson is a Swedish music producer, composer, and pop songwriter.-Biography:Carlsson was part of the Cheiron Studios team until the studio was closed down in 2001....
. This is the first Def Leppard album in which drummer Rick Allen actively took part in song-writing. On all of the band's prior albums, he is only credited with helping co-write 3 tracks. On this album alone, he co-wrote 11.
The album features the Roman numeral 'X', recognising it as their tenth album release, although the album is in fact only their eighth collection of all-new studio material. The other two albums released by the band prior to the release of X, Retro Active and Vault, were a rerecording of B-sides and rarities and a greatest hits set respectively.
The album peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, but did not sell to the standards of their previous releases and failed to earn any RIAA certifications. Nothing from this album has been performed live by the band since the conclusion of its supporting tour.
Track listing
Personnel
- 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 vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Rick "Sav" 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....
, vocals - 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - 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:...
– guitar, vocals
Additional personnel
- Stan Schiller – shredding teleFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
licks on "Gravity" - Eric Carter – 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...
and drum loopMusic loopIn electroacoustic music, a loop is a repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns...
s on "Now", "You're So Beautiful" and "Everyday"
Production
- Producers: Def Leppard, Per Aldeheim, Andreas Carlsson, Pete Woodroffe
- Engineers: Stefan Boman, Richard Chycki, Ronan McHugh, Liz Sroka, Pete Woodroffe
- Mixing: Marti Frederiksen, Ronan McHugh, Pete Woodroffe
- Mastering: Tom Coyne
- A&R: Simon Collins, Jeff Fenster
- Production coordination: Leslie Langlo, Sue Tropio
- Editing: Brian Paturalski
- Vocal producer: Ronan McHugh
- Drum technician: Jerry Johnson
- String arrangements: David Campbell
- Programming: Ronan McHugh, Pete Woodroffe
- Photography: Clive ArrowsmithClive ArrowsmithClive Arrowsmith is a London-based photographer.He has worked for many fashion publications and is one of only a few photographers, including Brian Duffy who have twice been given the commission to shoot the Pirelli Calendar. He currently shoots advertising, celebrity, beauty and fashion...
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | U.S. Billboard 200 | 11 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Now" | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 26 |
| 2002 | "Now" | U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 40 |
| 2002 | "Now" | Nielsen SoundScan Nielsen SoundScan Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada... Canadian Singles Chart |
29 |
| 2002 | "Four Letter Word" | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 30 |