Denim & Leather [Import, Original recording remastered]

Saxon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B001Y8WAJQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,451 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > Imports > Hard Rock & Metal
  • #81 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > British Metal

Editorial Reviews

Mid-priced 1996 reissue on EMI of the veteran British metalicon's fourth album, first released for the label in 1981.Nine tracks, including 'Princess Of The Night', 'NeverSurrender', 'Play It Loud' and 'Fire In The Sky'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Saxon - one of their best, May 1, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Massillon,Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Denim & Leather (Reis) (Audio CD)

On "Denim and Leather", Saxon clearly demonstrates why they are one of heavy metal's guiding lights. While lesser bands mindlessly put riffs together, Saxon has a firm grasp of the elements that go into writing good songs. On several tracks, like "Denim and Leather", "Princess of the Night", as well as "And the Bands Played On", Saxon reveals a penchant for strong hooks, anthemic choruses, and soaring thematic guitar structures. This is the album that brought Saxon to the forefront of the early 80's metal scene and established them as a emerging power. This album is a classic representation of the early stages of Saxon's career and should be a part of your collection. Play it loud!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Saxon - remastered!, October 2, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denim & Leather (Audio CD)

Iron Maiden may be the best known band from the legendary New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) scene, and rightly so, but for a time Saxon was a close second. Actually, once Maiden acquired Bruce Dickinson and took on the larger world stage, it was Saxon that best embodied the sound and spirit of the NWOBHM scene. The speed, the frantic energy, the "denim and leather" attitude - Saxon had all that and then some.

Saxon's trademark sound changed a bit in 1981 when they recorded Denim and Leather, their fourth album in just three years (I still can't get over that). The label brought in a new producer (Nigel Thomas) and I think that cost them some of the unique feel of Wheels of Steel and Strong Arm of the Law. Still, the band was getting better with each passing year, and their songwriting skills kept improving. Denim and Leather features some of the best known Saxon tunes, including metal anthems "Play It Loud", "Never Surrender" and of course the rousing title track. In addition to the fist-pumping metal songs, there are some surprisingly good mid-tempo numbers like "Princess of the Night" and "Midnight Rider" that appeal on a totally different level.

It's probably not as essential as Wheels of Steel and Strong Arm of the Law, but Denim and Leather is still a totally worthwhile album that all Saxon fans should own. I'd also recommend it to just about any fan of classic heavy metal in general and British metal in particular.

Edition Notes - EMI reissued Denim and Leather (along with the rest of the early Saxon albums) in 2009. EMI has been responsible for some of the best-sounding classic hard rock reissues lately (see: Whitesnake, UFO, MSG and the Scorpions), and their Saxon reissues do not disappoint. In addition to the digitally remastered sound, the reissue of Denim and Leather features expanded liner notes by Classic Rock Magazine's Malcolm Dome and a whopping nine bonus tracks, essentially doubling the original album's length. The first bonus track is a remix of "20,000 Ft." (from the Never Surrender single), and the rest are live tracks from that era. Between the remastered sound, liner notes and bonus tracks, there are plenty of reasons to replace your old version of Denim and Leather.

PS - When you line up the spines of the EMI Saxon reissues they form the Saxon logo and the Wheels of Steel cover icon. I'm a total geek for stuff like that!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT !!, October 22, 1999

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Denim & Leather (Reis) (Audio CD)

Energetic, creative, metal coming from the heart!!! This CD by Saxon reveals with details what was the NWOBHM in the 80's. THis CD has Saxon playing powerful, but simple and rocking, songs, with drummer Pete Gill playing amazingly, Biff singing all his chords, the guitar duo of Oliver and Quinn not so good on solos, but amazing on riffs and bass player S. Dawnson delivering a good rhythm section. "Princess of the Night" is an ultimate classic!