Part Forty-Six of the Def Leppard Review Series

DEF LEPPARD – “Helen Wheels” and
JOE ELLIOTT – “Hi Hi Hi” from The Art of McCartney (2014 Arctic Poppy)

The Art of McCartney has to be one of the most anticipated yes lesser known tribute albums of the last two decades.  Anticipated because it promised new cover tunes by Kiss, Rick and Robin from Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Heart, Willie Nelson Paul Rodgers, and so many more.  For this review series we’ll be looking at two tracks:  one by Def Leppard, and one by Joe Elliott.

Paul McCartney needs no introduction.  If he does, then I ask you to read about a band called “The Beatles” before you read anything else here!

Produced by Ronan McHugh and Def Leppard, “Helen Wheels” is unmistakable Def Leppard.  The opening drum pattern certainly recalls Rick Allen’s work on “Rocket”.  Then it careens into pure pop rock delight!  This Wings single was released in 1974 and later included on some versions of Band on the Run.  Driving, fun, and while different from Def Leppard’s core sound, it’s ideal for them to cover.  The boys in the band aren’t bad singers y’know.

Joe’s solo cover is “Hi Hi Hi”, a standalone Wings single from 1972.  This is far more raw than the Leppard track.  Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums!  Joe’s vocals were recorded at his home studio while the backing tracks were recorded in Los Angeles and London.  Quite a production, but that’s the modern way of doing things.    One thing about Joe’s vocal:  he absolutely goes for it!  It’s like rough and ready Joe from 1980 has returned, but with the skill and experience of an older singer.  This is just a piano-boppin’ rock and roller.

Bravo to Joe and Def Leppard for coming up with some inspired covers.  Certainly more inspired than most of the Yeah! covers album.

4/5 stars

Previous:  

1. 1. The Early Years Disc One – On Through the Night 
   2. The Early Years Disc Two – High N’ Dry
   3. The Early Years Disc Three – When The Walls Came Tumbling Down: Live at the New Theater Oxford – 1980
   4. The Early Years Disc Four – Too Many Jitterbugs – EP, singles & unreleased
   5. The Early Years Disc 5 – Raw – Early BBC Recordings 
   6. The Early Years 79-81 (Summary)
   7. Pyromania
   8. Pyromania Live – L.A. Forum, 11 September 1983
   9. Hysteria
   10. Soundtrack From the Video Historia – Record Store Tales
   11. In The Round In Your Face DVD
   12. “Let’s Get Rocked” – The Wait for Adrenalize – Record Store Tales
   13. Adrenalize
   14. Live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
   15. Retro-Active
   16. Visualize
   17. Vault: Def Leppard’s Greatest Hits / Limited Edition Live CD
   18. Video Archive
   19. “Slang” CD single
   20. Slang
   21. I Got A Bad Feeling About This: Euphoria – Record Store Tales
   22. Euphoria
   23. Rarities 2
   24. Rarities 3
   25. Rarities 4
   26. Cybernauts – Live
   27. Cybernauts – The Further Adventures of the Cybernauts (bonus disc)
   28. X
   29. Best Of (UK)
   30. Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection
   31. Yeah!
   32. Yeah! Bonus CD With Backstage Interviews
   33. Yeah…Nah!  (Record Store Tales)
   34. Songs From the Sparkle Lounge
   35. “C’Mon C’Mon” (picture disc)
   36. Taylor Swift & Def Leppard – CMT Crossroads (DVD)
   37. B.Sides
   38. Yeah! II
   39. Yeah! Live
   40. Mirror Ball: Live & More (Japan bonus track)
   41. iTunes Re-recordings
   42. Viva! Hysteria (CD 1 & DVD)
   43. Viva! Hysteria (CD 2 & bonus features)
   44. Viva! Hysteria (Japanese bonus track)
   45. Slang (2014 deluxe edition bonus tracks)

Next:

47. Def Leppard (Deluxe and Japanese versions)