"Bringin' on the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard

Song#:  1934
Date:  06/09/1984
Debut:  82
Peak:  61
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  Following the success of their 1983 album Pyromania, Def Leppard's record company decided to reissue the band's 1981 LP High 'n' Dry. To help re-sell that product, a new remix version of the album's second single "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" was included along with a remix of its b-side "Me and My Wine." Although the original single failed to chart either at Pop or Rock, the song's video became popular during MTV's early days. Sensing there was some life left in the track, some synths were added to the mix, a new video was shot, and the song was issued as a single. Once again it failed to chart at Rock, but it did see a little action on the Pop chart. It was most likely meant to help bridge the gap between Pyromania and the band's next album, but some unfortunate circumstances hit the band near the end of '84 that sidelined them for the next couple of years. They would not return to the charts until 1987.

ReduxReview:  The enhancements on this remix didn't make the song any better. The original version was great the way it was. The album's producer "Mutt" Lange did the remix, so at least it wasn't a complete cash-in thing on the label's part as they could have had some in-house guy do the work. Still, it was something that was meant get mileage off of older material. It's not as bad as some other cash-in projects, but like most of them, it was unnecessary and not all that great. I'll take the original over this one.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In 2002, superstar singer Mariah Carey would cover this song for her album Charmbracelet. The LP was her first following the failure of her movie Glitter and a much-publicized breakdown. It too was a letdown. The album failed to generate a hit single with only "Through the Rain" reaching the Pop chart at a dismal #81 and #69 R&B (it did get to #1 at Dance though). Her "Bringin'" remake was issued as the LP's third single and although it got to #5 at Dance, it failed to get on the Pop and R&B charts. It would be her first regular studio album (not counting the soundtrack to Glitter) to not be certified at a multi-platinum level. It was able to just barely go platinum, but that was it. Most artists would be thrilled with a platinum album, but for Carey, that wasn't even close to what her albums typically sold. Bring on the heartbreak indeed.

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