Mutt Lange’s influence and involvement certainly a part in the accomplishment, but the majority of the credit goes to Steve Clark and Pete Willis, two of High ‘n’ Dry‘s most integral contributors. They are so prevalent and practically have a voice of their own. Revisit the High ‘n’ Dry album and pay extra attention to the guitar parts throughout all the songs - not just the guitar solos (or “Switch 625”) - and listen to how the guitars complement and interact with Joe Elliott’s vocals. The album showcases Def Leppard’s guitar sound in a way that’s unlike any of the band’s other albums, courtesy of the masterful dual assault from guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis. Here’s another Def Leppard hyperbole: In addition to Mutt Lange, High ‘n’ Dry features a seventh member…in the form of guitars. It’s been said numerous times over the years that producer Mutt Lange is Def Leppard’s unofficial sixth band member. Ultimately, High ‘n’ Dry struck the right balance, engulfing listeners with its distinct hard rock sound, all the while infusing each of its songs with an ample amount of Def Leppard’s (and Mutt Lange’s) melodic sensibilities. And while sleeker than On Through The Night, it would still sound less polished and not as multi-layered compared to the band’s future album releases. The album’s production exhibited a raw, hard edge throughout. (Read an in-depth look at Mutt Lange’s body of work with Def Leppard and beyond here.) Uncoincidentally, High ‘n’ Dry was also the first time Def Leppard collaborated with record producer extraordinaire Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who brought out the best in the band as only he could: Joe Elliott’s thick vocals sounded more powerful and confident, guitar portions were more ambitious and tighter in their arrangements, bass and drums were more substantial and prominent in keeping the tempo. High ‘n’ Dry charted a course that would reward the band with spectacular success(es) for decades to come. Whereas On Through The Night introduced the band’s ability to rock hard, High ‘n’ Dry confirmed it wasn’t a fluke by repeating the same feat, just on a much grander scale. High ‘n’ Dry showcased a more finely crafted version of Def Leppard. If debut album On Through The Night planted the proverbial seeds of a young band’s budding talents, High ‘n’ Dry saw those seeds break ground and begin to bloom, revealing what Def Leppard was truly capable of. Regardless of the band era you favor, High ‘n’ Dry is arguably Def Leppard’s most important album. Yet there is a sizable group of Def Leppard fans who maintain that the High ‘n’ Dry album not only is the band’s best release but the band at its best - from its songs, sound, and attitude to the band member line-up. It may be easy for some to overlook the significance of Def Leppard’s second studio album, with the band’s subsequent, incredibly successful follow-ups Pyromania and Hysteria overshadowing it.

Def Leppard’s High ‘n’ Dry album was released in the U.S.

Def leppard high and dry