Def Leppard – The Story So Far – The Best Of Def Leppard

Ahead of their UK tour, Def Leppard are releasing a greatest hits album – “The Story So Far – The Best Of Def Leppard”, due for release on 30th November

It will be available in multiple configurations: a 2-CD set comprised of 35 tracks, 1-CD comprised of 17 tracks, 2LP vinyl, and digital. Among a blockbuster tracklisting loaded with timeless smashes, all four versions feature three new songs, including the official recording of the band’s recent fan favourite Depeche Mode cover “Personal Jesus,” “Rock On (Remix),” and the original holiday song “We All Need Christmas.” As a bonus for collectors, the first pressing vinyl copies of The Story So Far feature an exclusive 7” single of “Personal Jesus” and “We All Need Christmas.”

Obviously the “Hysteria” album is strongly represented here with 5 songs making it onto this release, but since that’s the album that saw them become mega-stars and spawned 7 singles, the hard part was probably deciding which “Hysteria” songs to omit from a “best of” release. The follow up album, “Adrenalize” also is well represented here with four songs included. That’s nine songs from those two albums alone – enough top quality songs that most bands would be satisfied, but Def Leppard have had a long career and have included songs from most of their albums, right up to the self titled 2015 release. I would say this release spans their entire career but sadly nothing from debut album, “On through the night” makes it onto this compilation.

The 80s was when I first started listening to Def Leppard and so the “Hysteria” album plus the earlier ones and “Adrenalize” were when I spent most time listening to them, so it’s no surprise I enjoy that part of the release the most, but listening to the later material it’s clear there are plenty of great songs on the more recent albums. Thankfully there arent any of the songs from “Yeah!” (their covers album) as I really wasn’t impressed by that one when it came out.

If you’re one of the many fans who stopped listening to Def Leppard after the mid-90s then this album is a good opportunity to catch up on their more recent work, and I’m sure peeople will enjoy a lot of it. Def Leppard are a band that’s spoiled for choice with their great catalogue of work, and I’m sure fans could argue endlessly about which songs should or shouldnt have been included here, but in my opinion this is a great selection of songs and something to listen to ahead of their UK tour.

Track listing:

Disc 1

1. Animal
2. Photograph
3. Pour Some Sugar On Me
4. Love Bites
5. Let’s Get Rocked
6. Armageddon It
7. Foolin’
8. Two Steps Behind
9. Heaven Is
10. Rocket
11. Hysteria
12. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
13. Make Love Like a Man
14. Action
15. When Love & Hate Collide
16. Rock of Ages
17. Personal Jesus

Disc 2

1. Let’s Go
2. Promises
3. Slang
4. Bringin’ On the Heartbreak
5. Rock On (Radio Remix)
6. Nine Lives (Feat. Tim McGraw)
7. Work It Out
8. Stand Up
9. Dangerous
10. Now
11. Undefeated
12. Tonight
13. C’mon C’mon
14. Man Enough
15. No Matter What
16. All I Want Is Everything
17. It’s All About Believing
18. Kings of the World