Retro Active
| Retro Active | ||||
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| Compilation album by Def Leppard | ||||
| Released | 5 October 1993 | |||
| Recorded | February 1984 – June 1993 at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Netherlands, Rainbow Studios and Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany, Bow Lane Studios and Joe's Garage in Dublin, Ireland | |||
| Genre | Glam metal | |||
| Length | 56:04 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | Def Leppard | |||
| Def Leppard compilation chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Retro Active | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Sputnik Music |  |
Retro Active is an album by English 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 number 9 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart.
After releasing only five albums over the course of a twelve-year period, Def Leppard used Retro Active to break that habit, provide a treat for diehard fans, and close the door on the "Steve Clark" era of the band. It reached platinum sales in many countries.
According to singer Joe Elliott, the concept behind the album was envisioned after "Two Steps Behind", originally demoed solely by Elliott as an electric version in 1989, was recorded by the band as an acoustic ballad at the suggestion of guitarist Phil Collen. When the producers of the film Last Action Hero contacted the band in 1993 to provide a new song for the soundtrack, the band were unable to record new material due to touring schedules and sent over the multitrack tape of the acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind", which was given strings by conductor Michael Kamen in April 1993 and included onto the film soundtrack. It would become the band's last Top 20 single in the US, reaching No. 12, and would inspire the band to put the album together and re-record the electric version of the song.
Although many tracks were found on single releases, some parts were re-recorded on the road during the Adrenalize tour.
The original B-side version of "She's Too Tough" and the electric version of "Miss You in a Heartbeat" were originally released as bonus tracks for the Japanese pressing of Adrenalize. Originally written in 1985, it first appeared on the Helix album Wild in the Streets in 1987.
Two unfinished songs from the Hysteria recording sessions, "Desert Song" and "Fractured Love", were completed exclusively for the album.
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Wikipedia