Over the course of their career, Def Leppard has released 12 studio albums, which encom many different time periods. Throughout their discography, they have experienced highs and lows, but have continued to persevere. Much like their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame contemporaries, such as Green Day, Chicago, and Ozzy Osbourne, each record has stories attached to it, telling important chapters in their career.
For Def Leppard, their days as a band date back to 1976. Ever since then, they have shown what true brotherhood is, having each other's backs during the most trying of times. Of course, it hasn't always been easy, but they have done their best to provide fans with a wide variety of work. From their well-known hits to iconic collaborations and a list of different covers, Def Leppard have done just about everything they could do in their career, yet they continue to rock at a high level.
12 Yeah!
Label: Mercury Records/ Island Records (2006)
Unlike all of their previous records, Yeah! was the band's first cover album. It was an interesting choice, but an easy one, as the entire group shared the same vision for what they wanted it to be. These were all songs by musicians that inspired Def Leppard, providing a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what the band ired and giving them a stronger understanding of how their sound was influenced.
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While a cover album isn't something every musician chooses to do, it is a special way for artists to show appreciation to others. The band certainly put their own spin on these tracks, making them a fun listen for anyone who enjoys hearing how songs can take on new forms when covered by another artist. Additionally, it was a nice contrast to see a band that has been covered so many times finally take the opportunity to do it themselves.
11 X
Label: Island Records (2002)
Reaching the heights that Def Leppard had is an impressive feat. It takes a lot of dedication to not rest on one's laurels. Although Def Leppard were one of the most successful bands in the 20 years leading up to X, they entered with something to prove. At that point, they were experimenting with a strictly pop rock sound. Of course, the idea was to create even more hits than they had already achieved, but recreating the magic of the past can be difficult.
They still saw some success from this album, but when they measured it against everything before, it wasn't quite what their standard had become. This was a period when they had to truly work hard to transition to the next phase of their career. Following this, they would release an album of cover songs and collaborate with country artists, taking their experimentation with sound in various directions.
10 Diamond Star Halos
Label: Mercury Records (2022)
Arriving in 2022, Diamond Star Halos is the band's latest album, but it won't be their final one, as they are planning to release another record between 2025 and 2026. However, this record gave fans a lot of hope for what the band is looking to do in the future. It was a return to their roots, where glam rock could be felt throughout, providing a ton of nostalgia. The songwriting was praised, and it was an overall success in of response.
In of its legacy, it will mark a pivotal point where the band proved they could rock like it was the '70s again.
Being that it is so new, it's hard to know exactly what its commercial value will turn out to be, but in of its legacy, it will mark a pivotal point where the band proved they could rock like it was the '80s again. Additionally, they had a few interesting collaborations with Alison Krauss, who has had her own incredible career, including working with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. This was proof, yet again, that Def Leppard knows what works for them and why they are legends.
9 Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
Label: Mercury Records (2008)
Def Leppard mixing things up with country artists probably wasn't what everyone expected, but in 2008, that's exactly what happened. For their record Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, the band brought in Tim McGraw to collaborate on a song. This coincided with a music video, which ultimately showcased the blending of genres working seamlessly. They then finished the year by appearing on an episode of CMT Crossroads, where they teamed up with Taylor Swift.
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Although these collaborations were unforeseen, the band couldn't have asked for two bigger superstars to them. Since the album ended up on four different Billboard charts, including two first-place finishes, their gamble paid off. It remains to be seen if they will ever try to blend these unique elements together again, but for the time being, it worked. The publicity it garnered makes it a highly talked-about point in their career.
8 Def Leppard
Label: Mailboat Records (2015)
After years of experimenting, Def Leppard entered 2015 ready to unleash pure hard rock. Their self-titled record, which was released in October of that year, marked a complete return to the sound fans were familiar with. Additionally, as their 11th studio album, it placed them in a category with other legendary bands. It is one thing to reach double-digit releases, but going beyond this is not something every musician can achieve.
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One of the most appealing aspects of this album is how it starts with the song "Let's Go." This may have been released in 2015, but it is a classic Def Leppard tune. This record became the band's seventh Top 10 finish on the Billboard 200. It also earned them the 2016 Classic Rock Roll of Honour Award for Album of the Year. The band took pride in this record, capturing a little bit of everything they had done over the years.
7 Slang
Label: Mercury Records (1996)
Through the '80s and into the early '90s, the hardships that Def Leppard faced were well-documented. However, they were not over, and prior to the release of Slang, something went wrong for just about every member of the band. With everything they were facing, it was remarkable that the album was made, as this could have been a true breaking point for them. If all this new music had not come about, there's no telling what their story would be now.
As they had been known to do, they pushed on. Some of their feelings would seep into the songs, and certainly, the grunge vibe fit their somber tone at that moment. With a little less Def Leppard magic and a little more rawness, they delivered an album that would be appreciated in time. Now, it is regarded as innovative. It showed a different side to the band, opening up their musical abilities and paving a path they would follow for years to come.
6 Euphoria
Label: Mercury Records (1999)
As the '90s came to a close, Def Leppard were ready to prove once more that they were the hitmakers they had been perceived to be. Their album Euphoria became a blend of rock anthems and ballads. One of its standout songs was "Promises," which reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. As for the overall album, it just missed a Top 10 finish, reaching the 11th spot on the Billboard 200.
One of its standout songs was "Promises," which reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The praise seemed to stem from a return to familiarity, as the iconic sound was evident throughout. However, the band did have fun with some songs. It was here that they began to learn how to let go and embrace everything they were. Eventually, the album would earn Gold certification, marking yet another successful decade for the band. Alongside "Promises," the album also featured hits such as "All Night" and "To Be Alive."
5 On Through The Night
Label: Vertigo Records (1980)
No matter how many records they release throughout their career, On Through the Night will always hold a special place in the career of Def Leppard, as it is the band's first album. It worked out well for them, as it reached 51st spot on the Billboard 200, marking their arrival. In their native UK, it performed even better, as it achieved a Top 15 finish. Given the competition at the time, it was hard for a new band to stand out, but they had what it took.
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The album received praise for the songwriting and, specifically, for the guitars. Quickly, Def Leppard established their unique sound, which was crucial at a time when heavy metal was on the rise. The band became known as one of the leaders of the genre alongside other English rockers such as Judas Priest. It was this great start that quickly launched their career, and Def Leppard was ready to seize the opportunity.
4 High ‘N’ Dry
Label: Vertigo Records (1981)
When Def Leppard's sophomore album came out less than two years after their debut, the band had a signature song ready to go. "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" became one of their most played songs with over 1,700 live performances (setlist.fm). With this tune as its backbone, the album ended up reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard 200. This was a nice move up the chart, and the band had more climbing to do following this.
Over the years, this record has charted more times. It even got a second release following the success of their third album. Currently, it is 2x Platinum in the United States, adding it to the list of accomplishments for the band. As it is ed today, many view it as the band's international breakthrough. This more polished product helped lead them to the road of global domination that was just around the corner.
3 Adrenalize
Label: Mercury Records (1992)
For any band, following up on their biggest album of all time is no easy task. Leading up to Adrenalize, Def Leppard had overcome much adversity, released some of their biggest hits ever, and written a book. However, to make things even more difficult, their guitarist Steve Clark died a little over a year before the album's release in 1992. With all that to deal with, the band didn't give up and put together another record with their signature sound.
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In fact, despite everything the band was going through, the songs possessed great energy. The songwriting remained strong, and to the average listener, there were no signs of the turmoil the band faced. This marked another moment when they could have floundered, but they refused. Their fans had their back, and the album hit number one on the Billboard 200. It even finished the year in the Top 15 on the chart.
