Love Bites (Def Leppard song)

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"Love Bites"
Def Leppard - Love Bites.jpg
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Hysteria
B-side "Billy's Got a Gun" (live)
Released4 July 1988
Genre Glam metal
Length5:46
Label Mercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Def Leppard singles chronology
"Armageddon It"
(1988)		"Love Bites"
(1988)		"Rocket"
(1989)
Music video
"Love Bites" on YouTube

"Love Bites" is a song by English glam metal band Def Leppard from their album Hysteria . The power ballad [1] [2] is Def Leppard's only number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-10 hit in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. On the UK Singles Chart, the track peaked at number 11.

Contents

Song history and composition

When Robert John "Mutt" Lange originally brought the song to the band's attention, it was a country ballad, which the band thought sounded like nothing they had done before. The band then added power rock elements and emotive backing vocals similar to those used in R&B ballads at the time. [3] The title "Love Bites" was originally used for a very different song that was eventually re-titled "I Wanna Be Your Hero", and which appeared as a Hysteria B-side and later on the album Retro Active . Musically, the song has been described as glam metal, [4] [5] [6] and is considered a classic of the genre. [2]

Following the huge momentum generated by "Pour Some Sugar on Me", the song was released in August 1988 and peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week. [7] The song also reached number eleven in the United Kingdom, number two in New Zealand, number three in Canada, and number seven in Ireland. [8] [9] [10] [11] The "Love Bites" 45 release in Canada and UK included limited edition gatefold with complete "Hysteria" lyrics. This was the only official release of the "Hysteria" lyrics. [12]

Track listings

"Billy's Got a Gun" was recorded at Tilburg, Netherlands, in 1987. [13]

7-inch: Bludgeon Riffola / Vertigo / Polygram / 830 675-1 (US)

  1. "Love Bites"
  2. "Billy's Got a Gun" (live)

12-inch and CD: Bludgeon Riffola / Vertigo / Polygram (US, UK)

  1. "Love Bites"
  2. "Billy's Got a Gun" (live)
  3. "Excitable" (Orgasmic mix)

Personnel

Charts

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Hysteria</i> (Def Leppard album) 1987 studio album by Def Leppard

Hysteria is the fourth studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 3 August 1987, by Phonogram Records. The album is the follow-up to the band's 1983 breakthrough, Pyromania. Hysteria's creation took over three years and was plagued by delays, including the aftermath of drummer Rick Allen's accident that cost him his left arm on 31 December 1984. Subsequent to the album's release, Def Leppard published a book titled Animal Instinct: The Def Leppard Story, written by Rolling Stone magazine senior editor David Fricke, on the three-year recording process of Hysteria and the difficult times the band endured through the mid-1980s. Lasting 62 minutes and 32 seconds, it is the band's longest studio album to date.

<i>Adrenalize</i> 1992 studio album by Def Leppard

Adrenalize is the fifth studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 31 March 1992 through Mercury Records. It is the first album by the band recorded without guitarist Steve Clark, who died in 1991, although most songs were written and partially demoed before his death, they were re-recorded solo by Phil Collen in 1991-1992. It is the only album recorded by Def Leppard as a four-member band. Spawning seven singles, four of them – "Let's Get Rocked", "Make Love Like a Man", "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad", and "Stand Up " – were major hits.

<i>Retro Active</i> 1993 compilation album by Def Leppard

Retro Active is a compilation album by the English 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 from 1984 to 1993. The album charted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 and No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980–1995)</i> 1995 greatest hits album by Def Leppard

Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980–1995) is the first greatest hits album and the second compilation album by English hard rock band Def Leppard. The album was originally released in the band's home country on 23 October 1995 by Mercury Records. It was released in North America a week later on 31 October by the same label. Vault went on to be certified gold in four countries, platinum in three and multi-platinum in two. In the US, the album is currently certified 5× platinum by the RIAA, and in June 2011 it topped the five million mark in sales there. It won Metal Edge magazine's 1995 Readers' Choice Award for "Best Hits or Compilation Album."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pour Some Sugar on Me</span> 1987 single by Def Leppard

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 23 July 1988, behind "Hold On to the Nights" by Richard Marx. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is considered the band's signature song, and was ranked #2 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s" in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Def Leppard discography</span> Cataloguing of published recordings by Def Leppard

The English rock band Def Leppard have released 12 studio albums, four live albums, six compilation albums, and two extended plays. Def Leppard also have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal (Def Leppard song)</span> 1987 single by Def Leppard

"Animal" is a song recorded by English rock band Def Leppard in 1987 from the album Hysteria. It was the first single release off the album, and became the band's first Top 10 hit in their native UK, reaching No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armageddon It</span> 1987 single by Def Leppard

"Armageddon It" is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. It was released as a single in 1988 and went to No. 3 in the United States, becoming their 3rd top 10 hit. It also reached the top 10 in Canada and New Zealand and the top 20 in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock of Ages (Def Leppard song)</span> 1983 single by Def Leppard

"Rock of Ages" is a song by Def Leppard from their 1983 album Pyromania. When issued as a single in the United States, the song reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #19 on the Cash Box Top 100. It also hit #1 on the Top Tracks Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photograph (Def Leppard song)</span> 1983 single by Def Leppard

"Photograph" is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. It is the lead single from the band's third studio album, Pyromania (1983). Their lead vocalist Joe Elliott has described the song as generally about "something you can't ever get your hands on". When released as a single it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart, where it stayed for six weeks, and No. 12 on the Pop Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hysteria (Def Leppard song)</span> 1987 song by Def Leppard

"Hysteria" is a song by English rock band Def Leppard. It is the tenth track on their 1987 album of the same name and was released as the album's fourth single in November 1987. The song became the band's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Get Rocked</span> 1992 single by Def Leppard

"Let's Get Rocked" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their fifth studio album, Adrenalize (1992). Released in March 1992, the song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number three on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It was the band's first release after the death of guitarist Steve Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Love Like a Man</span> 1992 single by Def Leppard

"Make Love Like a Man" is a 1992 single by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their multi-platinum album Adrenalize. The song reached No. 3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad</span> 1992 single by Def Leppard

"Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their fifth studio album, Adrenalize (1992). In the United States, the song reached number seven on the Album Rock Tracks charts and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the song the most successful single from the album in the US. The Acoustic Hippies from Hell, credited on the B-side tracks, was the name used by Def Leppard and the Hothouse Flowers performing together. The song was performed extensively during the Adrenalize and Slang tours but rarely after, most recently being done acoustically during the band's 2019 Vegas residency, and the 2022 Stadium Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight (Def Leppard song)</span> 1993 single by Def Leppard

"Tonight" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their fifth album, Adrenalize (1992). It was released as the sixth international single from Adrenalize and the fifth single in both the US and UK, released by Bludgeon Riffola and Mercury. In the US, the song reached number 13 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts and number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Work It Out (Def Leppard song)</span> 1996 single by Def Leppard

"Work It Out" is a 1996 song by the English hard rock band Def Leppard from their gold album Slang. It was written entirely by new guitarist Vivian Campbell. It was released as a single later that year, reaching number six on the US Mainstream Rock chart and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Love & Hate Collide</span> 1995 single by Def Leppard

"When Love & Hate Collide" is a song by English rock band Def Leppard from their 1995 greatest hits album Vault, written by Joe Elliott and Rick Savage. The power ballad was originally written and demoed for Adrenalize, but not finalized until 1995 for its inclusion on Vault. The demo version is much more heavily produced in the signature style of Hysteria and Adrenalize, and the final version is more stripped down, supposedly toward the style of the following studio album Slang. The original demo version contains the final recorded guitar solo by late original guitarist Steve Clark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Steps Behind</span> 1993 single by Def Leppard

"Two Steps Behind" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their 1993 compilation album Retro Active and the soundtrack to the film Last Action Hero. It reached number five on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, numbers 12 and 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. In the 1993 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, the song was voted "Song of the Year" and "Best Song from a Movie Soundtrack".

<i>Historia</i> (video) 1988 video by Def Leppard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angelia (song)</span> 1989 single by Richard Marx

"Angelia" is a ballad recorded by Richard Marx and the third released single on his second album, Repeat Offender.

References

  1. ↑ "The Top 8 Romantic Metal Songs to Make Love To". MetalSucks. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 Bernstein, Scott. "THE B LIST: FAVORITE HAIR-METAL POWER BALLADS". Glidemagazine.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Classic Albums: Def Leppard – The Making of Hysteria DVD
  4. ↑ "Def Leppard Reflects on the 'Early Years' and Why Those Iron Maiden Comparisons Were 'Tiresome'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Every Rose Has Its Thorn: A Tribute to the Syrupy-Sweet Sounds of '80s Hair-Metal Ballads". SPIN. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Smith, Troy L.; Clevel; .com (13 May 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". cleveland. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Def Leppard Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Def Leppard – Love Bites". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  10. 1 2 "RPM 100 Singles – October 29, 1988" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 2. 29 October 1988. p. 6. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  11. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Bites". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Def Leppard Discography". Defleppardworld.info. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  13. ↑ notes on record label
  14. ↑ "Def Leppard – Love Bites". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  15. ↑ "RPM 30 Retail Singles – October 1, 1988". RPM . Vol. 48, no. 24. Library and Archives Canada. 1 October 1988. OCLC   352936026 . Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 31. 30 July 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  18. ↑ "Def Leppard – Love Bites" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Def Leppard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  20. ↑ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1988". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  24. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 1989". ARIA . Retrieved 29 July 2022– via Imgur.
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