Yeah! Songs Ranked

Yeah! is the ninth studio album by British rock band Def Leppard. It is the first cover album by the band. It was originally to be released on 20 September 2005, but it was announced on 31 March 2006 that the album would be released on 23 May 2006. The album charted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and No. 52 on the UK Albums Chart. Yeah! is the 9th studio album by Def Leppard. This album is a cover album meaning all the songs on the album are covers of other bands and artists’ songs most likely ones that influenced Def Leppard. The inside back cover (back of the CD holder) has a picture with the original triangle Def Leppard logo (from the On Through the Night album), with a shaft of light passing through it and creating a rainbow, a la the cover of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. Here are all of Yeah! songs ranked.

Don’t miss out on the ENDURING music by Def Leppard! Click to experience Rock n Roll greatness!

15. Waterloo Sunset

“Waterloo Sunset”…the 1960s Kinks classic, originally placed on the Leps 2CD import “Best Of”, in a better home here on “Yeah!!”, great version that grows on you.”

14. No Matter What

“No Matter What”…the Badfinger powerpop classic…arguably the first ever true powerpop song, let alone hit, and yeah, the Leps’ version is almost identical, which proves that the Leps are, at heart, a powerpop band, not a metal/pop metal band. Love this remix better than the version on the US 2CD “Rock Of Ages” collection…fits better here too, as this is, after all, an album of covers.”

13. Hanging on the Telephone

“Hanging On The Telephone”…the 1976 Nerves powerpop classic popularized by Blondie…surprisingly awesome. “Hanging on the Telephone” (Blondie) is a nice mix of melody, harmony, and just the right amount of guitar fuzz.”

12. The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll

“The Golden Age Of Rock ‘N’ Roll”…the Mott The Hoople classic…probably my fave track on all of “Yeah!!”…just amazing, what rock & roll is all about…Ian Hunter is just swell, as a rock & roller, as a songwriter and as a person…I had the opportunity to see Ian live recently and he blew me away…pictures I took, I gave doubles to Joe himself when I met him at the aftershow party for the NYC “X” club gig at Irving Plaza, now the Fillmore, because I knew Ian was Joe’s hero. Ian does the intro here…very cool…and features guests like Joe’s wife on BV’s, Viv’s bro on honking sax and Canadian singer/songwriter Emm Gryner on BVs and piano…just awesome…and I can hear the Sex Pistols influence here too, as is mentioned in the liner notes.”

See more: Def Leppard Albums Ranked

11. 10538 Overture

“”10538 Overture”…ELO’s debut single, when Roy Wood was in the band, after the Move split up…GREAT and a surprisingly fitting choice for the Leps…great guitar work, and features guests on strings, the Stepaside Symphonia…”

10. When I’m Dead and Gone

“When I’m Dead And Gone”…an obscure 1970 UK hit by British duo McGUINNESS FLINT, written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. Before getting this CD, I had never heard this song or of the act before, but this cover is totally charming, a memorable and melodic, scruffy, acoustic, singalong, off-the-cuff track…a true gem with no pretentions whatsoever.”

9. American Girl

“American Girl”…the Tom Petty classic…proves again how the Leps are more powerpop than metal…Joe sounds a bit like Tom here as well, and his jangly Byrds-y style fits the Leps much better than you would think…one of 2 bonus tracks on the Japanese edition of “Yeah!!”

8. 20th Century Boy

“If you heard Def Leppard perform “20th Century Boy” (T.Rex) on VH1 Rock Honors then you were probably a little turned off by it. I’m happy to report that the studio version of the track is much better and have the group sounding like their days of old.”

7. Dear Friends

“Dear Friends”…an obscure Queen song written by Brian May (whom I met in JFK airport in 2003, BTW, totally nice gracious guy), from Queen’s 1974 debut album…sung and played completely by bassist Rick Savage…shows how talented and overlooked he is in the Def Leppard canon…the guy’s a great singer in his own right and a talented multi-instrumentalist as well…who knew???”

6. Rock On

“Rock On”…the David Essex song, also covered by Michael Damian (a #1 hit in the US but it was lame) and Toni Basil!?!?…her version was cool and on the US version of “Word Of Mouth” following “Mickey”…the Leps cover beats them all…love the way the song kicks in, AC/DC-style.”

See more: Def Leppard Songs Ranked

5. Stay With Me

“Stay With Me”…the Faces song…featuring PHIL on lead vocals and Joe on Ian McLagen-ish keyboards…it kicks arse, nuff said…the Faces were the only time Rod Stewart was any good, and I do agree with Joe that “Pool Hall Richard” was their best song.”

4. Space Oddity

“Space Oddity”…the second Bowie cover, done completely by Joe…shows how talented he really is as a 1-man band…doesn’t sound far from the original at all, from the playing and arrangement to the atmosphere…pretty remarkable actually…”

3. Don’t Believe a Word

“Don’t Believe A Word”…the Thin Lizzy song…see my entry for the Sweet cover…I knew Phil Lynott was a big influence on the Leps as well, and this is a great song…I’m also happy they didn’t do one of the obvious songs either…here or on the whole album really…”

2. Hell Raiser

“Hell Raiser”…the Sweet classic…I know the Leps have cited Sweet as an influence, and they give a kicking rendition here…the funny, campy Steve Priest vocal lines are done here by, NOT Joe Elliot, but guest Justin Hawkins, former lead singer/songwriter of campy Brit hardrockers the Darkness, to fine fun effect…”

1. Search and Destroy

“Search & Destroy”…the Iggy & The Stooges dangerous punk prototype from 1973’s Bowie-produced landmark “Raw Power” album…with PHIL singing lead and playing all instruments…just proves that Phil comes from the punk world, whilst the rest of the Leps were from the glam and powerpop world…this track sounds like the Stooges themselves and Phil like Iggy that it’s uncanny…it sounds vital and dangerous…this track is the second of 2 bonus tracks on the Japanese “Yeah!!”…”