Saxon – Denim And Leather

According with Dynamic Range Data Base, this edition features a different mastering that the later BMG Digipak edition. This one seems to be more compressed (DR 08 https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/155096) than the other (DR 11 https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/211070). Can anyone confirm this? It might be just an error on the database entrance.

This was my introduction to Saxon. It sounds great and it’s a good rocker.

Classic album and very cool looking vinyl. Unfortunately, it has way too much surface noise. Pops and clicks are pretty constant even after a wet cleaning. Don't recommend this pressing at all.

This was the first Saxon album I had ever purchased and it remains a great introduction to these NWOBHM staltwarts. I don’t know if it's my favorite but they were in the middle of a great run from albums 2- 5. I had heard “Princess of the Night” on a late night metal radio show and was blown away as Saxon was only a band that I had heard about from magazines such as Hit Parader. MTV was playing “Rock n’ Roll Gypsy” from 1985 but that didn’t seem to bring the Yorkshire quintet the level of success of their much more successful contemporaries, Maiden and Leppard. One of the band’s calling cards early on, and it definitely helped them during their “glory” years was to embrace the simplicity of AC/DC and try to channel their own version of the sound that brought Angus and co. mega success. “Play It Loud”, “Never Surrender” and the aforementioned “Princess” seem to show these influences somewhat. The title track should have been a huge hit as well as it documented the NWOBHM movement so effectively and remains a Saxon anthem to this day. “Midnight Rider” and “Out of Control” are steady if unspectacular stompers and “Fire in the Sky” shows a Motorhead influence due to its OTT pace. Some may decry the rudimentary stylings of the band’s most successful songs and albums but the kids in Britain seemed to love it and metal fans around the world today appreciate the almost homey vibe the band brought to their recordings and performances. Biff and some version of Saxon are still touring, recording and playing these anthems in the 2020’s so kudos to them for that as well. Again, just based on my own history with Saxon, ‘Denim and Leather’ isn’t a bad place to start and if you like classic NWOBHM music, you do a lot worse. We sat in the sun, whoah and the bands played…..you know.

This is an excelent album by Saxon and maybe their the best one. The album is recorded and produced well and this Scandinavian pressing sounds very good.

My copy has the barcode printed on a sticker that wraps across the spine to the back, presumably over the old barcode. This sticker can be seen slightly on the front cover. Barcode itself looks the same as the version pictured here, but without the zero on the far left edge.
Sonically this pressing is lacking in depth and bass, but maybe that is true of all of the original pressings - very thin and gutless sound that does a disservice to some solid hard rock tunes.
Stone classic: "And The Band Played On".

Mine sounds great for the most part, but has very annoying pops and crackles on the end of B1 and the start of B3.

Saxon is one of the bands I used to see fairly often in the early '80s. From this album through Crusader, I really enjoyed their riff-based British metal sound, characterized by dual guitars, palm muted droning pedal points and high range melodic vocals. Guitar solos favor their Chuck Berry licks and piercing vibrato notes.

Highlights here include "Princess of the Night" and "Denim and Leather".

Nice soundstage and clean mixing. This is a great sounding pressing.

Recommended.

Mine has a Fame / Special Price Sticker on the Front Cover

Very cool pressing but it doesn't sound great. It's good and worth owning for a hardcore Saxon fan like myself but beware of the pops and hissing.