Interested in buying one of Def Leppard’s greatest hits albums for yourself (or someone else), or just wondering what the difference is between the band’s multiple greatest hits releases?
Great, you’re in the right place! (And if you really want to indulge in Def Leppard, check out this must-read book!)
With several best-of/greatest hits releases to choose from, a bit more thought might be required to make sure you make the right decision.
In 1995, Def Leppard released Vault, the band’s first compilation of greatest hits. (The album also included new track at the time “When Love And Hate Collide.”)
A decade later, in 2005, the band released Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection, a more broad representation of the band’s music, along with the bonus track “No Matter What.” (They also released a slightly different version of the collection specifically for the U.K. months prior titled Def Leppard: Best Of.)
In November 2018, the band released a third greatest hits compilation titled The Story So Far: The Best of Def Leppard in a standard, deluxe, and vinyl version — each format featuring a slightly different track assortment. A couple of new tracks — a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” and new holiday song “We All Need Christmas” — were also thrown into the mix.
Def Leppard Greatest Hits Song List:
What Are The Differences?
Understandably, it can be a little difficult and confusing to keep track of which Def Leppard songs are included on which greatest hits album, not to mention on which format!
In hopes of making things a little easier to understand, let’s begin with a complete breakdown of all the songs included on Def Leppard’s various greatest hits releases (including by format, since the track listings vary):
If you’d like to view/share/keep a PDF version of this chart comparison, you can access the file here: Def Leppard Greatest Hits Song List comparison
Def Leppard Greatest Hits: The Best Option?
Hopefully, the chart above is a good first step to answering many questions, but here’s a general overview to help make sure you’re making the choice best suited to your interests…even if it means not purchasing ANY of the greatest hits releases.
Def Leppard: Vault
Vault is a compilation of Def Leppard’s most popular, chart-topping songs through 1995.
If you already own the band’s two biggest albums (Pyromania and Hysteria), you’ll have most of the songs included in this collection. If you don’t own those albums and would like to have a ready-made compilation of their biggest hits (including the video edit version of “Pour Some Sugar On Me“), Vault will do the job.
Buy album: Vault
Amazon CD | Amazon Vinyl
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
If the main reason you want Vault is to also get “When Love And Hate Collide,” you should simply purchase that individual song:
Digital download: “When Love And Hate Collide”
Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
Def Leppard: Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection
Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection builds on most of Vault’s tracklisting of hits (including “When Love And Hate Collide”), but also includes a mix of newer songs (up through the band’s 2002 original studio album X, plus the bonus track “No Matter What”). Older songs are also included, going all the way back to Def Leppard’s first album On Through The Night.
If you have the band’s Pyromania and Hysteria albums and not much else, but would like a mix of Def Leppard songs before AND after those two huge releases, you cannot go wrong with the Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection release.
Buy album: Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection
Amazon CD
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
In case you weren’t aware, Rock of Ages: The DVD Collection also came out the same year as the audio release, featuring many of the band’s music videos plus bonus material.
Side note: If you’re most interested in Def Leppard’s excellent version of the Badfinger song “No Matter What,” your best option is to purchase the individual track or their covers album Yeah!, instead of any of the greatest hit compilations:
Buy album: Yeah!
Amazon CD | Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
Digital download: “No Matter What”
Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
Def Leppard: The Story So Far: The Best Of
The Story So Far also builds on Vault’s foundation of hits, but goes in a different direction than Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection; it focuses on Def Leppard’s more recent releases — all the way up to the band’s 2015 self-titled Def Leppard album.
Even though The Story So Far is available in standard and deluxe versions, neither one includes any songs from the band’s first album, On Through The Night.
If your Def Leppard preference is geared towards the band’s later recordings (and you don’t already own the more recent albums), The Story So Far should more than satisfy.
Buy album: The Story So Far [Standard]
Amazon CD | Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
Buy album: The Story So Far [Deluxe]
Amazon CD | Amazon Vinyl | Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
The Story So Far Bonus Tracks
If the main reason you’re interested in The Story So Far is because of the two bonus tracks (“Personal Jesus” and “We All Need Christmas“), you’re better off purchasing digital versions of those individual tracks.
Digital download: “Personal Jesus”
Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
Read an in-depth review of Def Leppard’s version of “Personal Jesus” here.
Digital download: “We All Need Christmas”
Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Streaming: Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial | Apple Music Free Trial
If downloading or streaming isn’t your thing, the 1-CD standard version of The Story So Far will suffice to get a greatest hits compilation plus “Personal Jesus.” There isn’t a CD version that includes “We All Need Christmas,” though — just The Story So Far vinyl release.
“Greatest Hits” Is Subjective
Def Leppard has a very deep catalog of songs which includes an extraordinary collection of hits, but the term “greatest hits” ultimately depends on you, the listener.
Fortunately, with several Def Leppard greatest hits releases available to choose from, fans can determine which one is best suited for them…no matter which band era is preferred.
Hopefully, this rundown helped in making that final decision a bit easier!
