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Two Steps Behind

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"Two Steps Behind"
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Retro Active and Last Action Hero: Music from the Original Motion Picture
B-side
ReleasedAugust 24, 1993 (US)[1]
September 6, 1993 (UK)[2]
Recorded1989 (Joe's Demo/original electric version)
April 1992 (acoustic version)
April 1993 (string overdubs and mixing)
7–11 June 1993 (new parts to electric version)
GenreSoft rock
Length4:58 (Joe's Demo)
4:11 (Adrenalize Acoustic B-side Version)
4:16 (Acoustic Version/Retro Active/Last Action Hero Soundtrack Mix)
4:29 (Electric Version)
LabelBludgeon Riffola
Songwriter(s)Joe Elliott
Producer(s)
Def Leppard singles chronology
"I Wanna Touch U"
(1993) 		"Two Steps Behind"
(1993) 		"Action"
(1994)

"Two Steps Behind" is a 1993 song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their album Retro Active and the soundtrack to the film Last Action Hero. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though the band did manage to chart a few more songs in the following years, this is generally considered to be the band's last major hit in the US. In the 1993 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, the song was voted "Song of the Year" and "Best Song From a Movie Soundtrack.".[3]

Def Leppard recorded two different versions of the song - an electric version and an acoustic version - the widely released one was the acoustic version which featured on the greatest hits Vault. The widely released acoustic version differs from the original B-side, as it featured the addition of strings by Michael Kamen, for usage on Last Action Hero.

Eduardo Rivadavia, reviewing Retro Active for Allmusic.com, called "Two Steps Behind" along with "Miss You In A Heartbeat" "solid, but hardly groundbreaking ballads" and one of the album picks.

Def Leppard's acoustic version also features on the CMT Crossroads DVD with Taylor Swift as a bonus feature.

Along with the song "Let's Get Rocked" from their 1992 album Adrenalize, this is one of only two songs by the band released after the 1980s that is still regularly performed live on nearly all of the bands' tours.

This song is also dedicated to Steve Clark, who died on January 8, 1991 of alcohol poisoning.

Background and recording

The song was composed and demoed by lead singer Joe Elliott in 1989 during the writing and recording sessions for the band's fifth album Adrenalize. The track was shelved for three years until it resurfaced following a late-night acoustic jamming session with the Hothouse Flowers in March 1992, which yielded three B-side tracks. When Elliott suggested recording "Two Steps Behind", Collen suggested that it be recorded as an acoustic version. The track was recorded in a few hours in April 1992 and was released as the B-side to "Make Love Like a Man" in the UK. Later in 1993, the producers of the film Last Action Hero contacted the band requesting a new song for the film's soundtrack. As the band were on tour at the time, they were unable to record brand new material for the soundtrack. Instead, they sent the producers the multitracks to the acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind". The track was remixed and conductor Michael Kamen added an orchestral string treatment to the song. The inclusion of the song on the film's soundtrack inspired the band to create the compilation album Retro Active from B-sides and unreleased material, and record new parts to the electric version of the song on 7–11 June.

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham,[4] the approximate shoot date was 10 July 1993. This video shows the band playing in car park, Joe Elliott singing on the street while all the people around go backwards and live footage at a concert. The live footage was shot on Irvine Meadows, CA, USA. The video was aired on August 1993.

Track listing

CD: Bludgeon Riffola / LEPCD 12 (UK) / 862 793-2 (INT) / 862 813-2 (INT)

  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)
  3. "SMC"

Cassette Single: Columbia / 38T-77116 (US)

  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)

Charts

Cover versions

Filipino-Chinese singer Rachelle Ann Go covered the song for her 2007 album Obsession.

References

  1. ^ "23 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Two Steps Behind Single In USA". deflepparduk.com. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  2. ^ "23 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Two Steps Behind Single In The UK". deflepparduk.com. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. ^ Metal Edge, June 1994
  4. ^ Def Leppard UK.com
  5. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2284." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Def Leppard". Irish Singles Chart.
  10. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". Top 40 Singles.
  12. ^ "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". Singles Top 100.
  13. ^ "Def Leppard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Def Leppard Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1993". Retrieved 27 August 2010.
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