Artist:Def Leppard
Song:Two Steps Behind
Album:Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits 1980-1995
The 1993 Def Leppard single Two Steps Behind was a top 20 hit. It appeared on the soundtrack of the 1993 film Last Action Hero. It did not appear on a standard Def Leppard album. So that means it qualifies as a discography orphan. Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott wrote Two Steps Behind and recorded an acoustic demo in 1989. It was decided not to include it on the album Adrenalize. But it resurfaced a couple of years later when Def Leppard were recording with the Irish band Hothouse Flowers. Lead guitarist Phil Collen suggested Two Steps Behind be recorded acoustically. It was released in England as the B side to the single Make Love Like a Man. They got a call from Columbia Records president Don Ienner asking for a new song for the soundtrack for the upcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero. Because Def Leppard was on tour at the time, they were unable to record a new song. Instead they sent several versions of Two Steps Behind which had not appeared on a Def Leppard album. Composer Michael Kamen chose the acoustic version and added strings. The song reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album was certified Platinum. The film bombed because it was released too soon after Jurassic Park. So the soundtrack and Two Steps Behind were the most successful elements of the film. Def Leppard still performs Two Steps Behind live. The song appeared on the 1993 B sides and rarities album Retro Active. But the best place to find it is on the Def Leppard comp CD Vault. This was the only song Def Leppard contributed to a film and it has turned out to be one of their more popular songs. So it is a discography orphan but easy to find. Here's the video for Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard.
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