“Photograph”● Def Leppard

DEF LEPPARD / PolyGram Records :: Mercury Publicity Photo / IVOX MEDIA collection

'Photograph' ● Def Leppard

The Song● Photograph

Writers● Steve Clark, Joe Elliott, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Rick Savage and Pete Willis

Producer● Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Recorded● 1982 in London, England

Released● Early 1983

Players●
:: Joe Elliott -- vocals
:: Steve Clark -- guitar, vocals
:: Pete Willis -- guitar, vocals
:: Rick Savage -- bass, vocals
:: Rick Allen -- drums

Album● Pyromania (Mercury, 1983)

Also On●
:: Vault--Greatest Hits 1980-1995 (Mercury, 1996)

Pyromania ● Def Leppard

Pyromania is Def Leppard’s third studio album, released on January 20, 1983, through Vertigo Records in UK and Europe and on Mercury Records in the US. Pyromania was the first album to feature guitarist Phil Collen who replaced founding member Pete Willis. The album was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and was a shift away from the band's traditional heavy metal roots toward a more radio-friendly sound. Pyromania found massive mainstream success, and charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, No. 4 on the Canadian RPM Album chart, and No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart. Pyromania has sold over ten million copies in the US and has been certified diamond by the RIAA.

The song "Photograph," a subtle homage to Marilyn Monroe, was Def Leppard's first hit single in the U.S., peaking at Number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Finding some clouds amongst the silver lining, singer Joe Elliott notes that "Photograph" "broke us big time in the States and all I could think was how disappointing it was that it wasn't a hit in the U.K."

The Pyromania album peaked at Number Two on the Billboard 200, held out of the top spot by Michael Jackson's Thriller. It spent 92 weeks on the chart and sold more than nine million copies.

The album's timing also helped Def Leppard become one of the first acts whose star was established by then-burgeoning cable music channel MTV. The album peaked at Number 18 on the U.K. chart.

Pyromania also marked the debut of guitarist Phil Collen to the Def Leppard lineup. He replaced original member Pete Willis, who was fired because of personal conflicts with the other band members --some of which stemmed from alcoholism. Willis did play on most of the Pyromania album, however, including "Photograph”.

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