Euphoria (Def Leppard album)

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Euphoria is the ninth 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.

Following the commercial disappointment of Slang, the band was initially unsure 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.

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, 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".

The return to "the Def Leppard sound" helped propel "Promises" to the top of the US mainstream rock charts in June 1999, a spot the band had not held in six years. In its first week of release, Euphoria sold over 98,000 units in the US and just missed the Top 10, reaching #11.

Euphoria's success was mainly limited to the US, Canada, and Japan, going gold in these countries. Nonetheless, the tour in support of Euphoria was a comeback of sorts, stretching from May 1999 to September 2000.

Track listing

1. "Demolition Man" (Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell) – 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" (Elliott, Collen, Campbell, Savage, Pete Woodroffe) – 5:27
7. "It's Only Love" (Elliott, Campbell, Savage, Lange) – 4:06
8. "21st Century Sha La La La Girl" (Elliott, Collen, Savage) – 4:06
9. "To Be Alive" (Campbell, P.J. Smith) – 3:53
10. "Disintegrate" (Collen) – 2:51
11. "Guilty" (Elliott, Collen, Campbell, Savage, Woodroffe) – 3:47
12. "Day After Day" (Elliott, Collen, Campbell) – 4:36
13. "Kings of Oblivion" (Elliott, Collen, Savage) – 4:18

Personnel

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

Additional musicians

• Damon "Demon" Hill – guitar on "Demolition Man"
• Ciaran McGoldrick – clapping
• Gary Sullivan – clapping
• Ricky Warwick – clapping

Production

• Producers: Def Leppard, Pete Woodroffe
• Engineers: Ger McDonnell, Ronan McHugh, Pete Woodroffe
• Mixing: Tom Stanley, Pete Woodroffe
• Mastering: Bob Ludwig
• Artwork: Andie Airfix
• Photography: Andy Earl

Singles

• "Promises"
• "Back In Your Face" (UK only, double A-side with "Promises")
• "Paper Sun" (US only, rock formats)
• "Goodbye" (UK only)
• "21st Century Sha La La La Girl" (US only, Top 40 formats)
• "Day After Day" (US only, rock formats)

Note: In the US, no single off Euphoria was commercially released.