Songs from the Sparkle Lounge

Infobox Album
Name = Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
Type = studio
Artist = Def Leppard


Website = www.TheSparkleLounge.com
Released = Start date|2008|4|25
Recorded = 2006-08
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 39:12
Label = Island (US)
Mercury
Universal
Producer = Ronan McHugh
Def Leppard
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gxfixzejldhe link]
*Billboard [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibf22b3c56d51e8636a77c46e334bab71 link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/20255989/review/20256169/songs_from_the_sparkle_lounge link]
* [http://consequenceofsound.net Consequence Of Sound] (C) [http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/04/28/album-review-songs-from-the-sparkle-lounge/ link]
*Kerrang! Rating|4|5
*Classic Rock (magazine) Rating-10|7
*Now Magazine Rating|3|5 [http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=162840 link]
*Uncut Rating|1|5 [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/defleppard/songsfromthesparklelounge link]
*Mojo Rating|3|5 [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/defleppard/songsfromthesparklelounge link]
*The Observer Rating|2|5 [http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2279816,00.html link]
Last album = "Yeah!"
(2006)
This album = "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge"
(2008)
Next album =

"Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" is the tenth studio album and 14th album overall from the English hard rock band Def Leppard. Released on April 25, 2008 in Europe and April 29 in North America, [ [http://www.amazon.de/Songs-Sparkle-Lounge-Ltd-Deluxe/dp/B0015435K2 Amazon.de: Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (Ltd.Deluxe Edt.): Def Leppard: Musik ] ] [ [http://www.defleppard.com/news/ DefLeppard.com News] ] it is the band's first album of brand new material since their 2002 album "X".

History

In an Interview on Rockline Radio, two band members, Joe Elliott and Vivian Campbell stated that the title of their latest studio album is "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge", saying that "Until someone comes up with a better name this will be the final title upon release". [http://www.defleppard.com/news/news_item.asp?item=207 Rockline Radio highlights] , "DefLeppard.com News"] They also mentioned the possibility of previous Def Leppard album producer Mutt Lange being involved with a few songs for the album, but in the end this collaboration did not turn out to be possible due to scheduling conflicts. However, Joe Elliott has stated that the band and Mutt Lange still plan to finish off a couple songs together.

In an interview with Billboard.com, Joe Elliott stated that the album title is a reference to an area backstage of gigs, where the band would work on new material. "It was a mini (drum) kit, mini amps, a tape recorder and sparkly lights." [http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=183&Itemid=66 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge] , "Radio Luxembourg"] Elliott also stated that they would not be performing any previews of the songs, as they did not want them appearing on websites such as YouTube prior to the release of the album. Drummer Rick Allen recently announced that they had finished the new album they've been working on since their last tour. [ [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=76771 BLABBERMOUTH.NET - DEF LEPPARD Drummer: 'I Feel Very Blessed Doing What I Do' ] ]

Members of the band have described the tracks from the album as written in the style of "Hysteria", with the production style of "High 'n' Dry". The album's first single, "Nine Lives" features country singer Tim McGraw.

Joe Elliott has stated at the band's official site that the concept of this album is that it'll sound more like "early 70's AC/DC" and much like Led Zeppelin's song Rock and Roll.

One of the songs in the tracklist "Give It Away" has been changed to "Gotta Let It Go."

On April 25, 2008, Def Leppard's record label opened a website with teasers of every song on the album.

In the May 17, 2008 issue of Billboard magazine the album debuted at #5 on the Top 200 Album chart, selling about 55,000 copies. [Katie Hasty, [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i1497897d7ff3875236860457d3a69000 "Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200] ," Billboard.com, May 7, 2008.] The album debuted at #1 on the Rock Album chart and the Hard Rock Album chart.

Track listing

tracklist
writing_credits = yes

title1 = Go
writer1 = Phil Collen, Joe Elliott
length1 = 3:21

title2 = Nine Lives
writer2 = Collen, Elliott, Tim McGraw, Rick Savage
length2 = 3:32

title3 = C'mon C'mon
writer3 = Savage
length3 = 4:09

title4 = Love
writer4 = Savage
length4 = 4:17

title5 = Tomorrow
writer5 = Collen
length5 = 3:35

title6 = Cruise Control
writer6 = Vivian Campbell
length6 = 3:03

title7 = Hallucinate
writer7 = Collen
length7 = 3:17

title8 = Only the Good Die Young
writer8 = Campbell
length8 = 3:34

title9 = Bad Actress
writer9 = Elliott
length9 = 3:03

title10 = Come Undone
writer10 = Elliott
length10 = 3:32

title11 = Gotta Let It Go
writer11 = Campbell
length11 = 3:55

UK and iTunes bonus track

tracklist
writing_credits = yes

title12 = Love (Piano Version)
writer12 = Savage
length12 = 4:22

Japanese bonus tracks

tracklist
writing_credits = yes

title12 = Love (Piano Version)
writer12 = Savage
length12 = 4:22

title13 = Nine Lives (Def Leppard Version)
writer13 = Collen, Elliot, McGraw, Savage
length13 = 3:33

Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD

* "Behind The Curtain"
* "The Sparkle Lounge Commentary"
* "Nine Lives" Music Video

Chart Positions

Personnel

*Rick Savage - bass guitar, backing vocals, additional guitars
*Joe Elliott - vocals
*Rick Allen - drums, backing vocals
*Phil Collen - guitars, backing vocals
*Vivian Campbell - guitars, backing vocals

Additional personnel

*Tim McGraw - vocals on "Nine Lives"

References