| Denim and Leather | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 September 1981[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 37:56 | |||
| Label | Carrere | |||
| Producer | Nigel Thomas, Saxon (tracks 2 and 6) | |||
| Saxon chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Denim and Leather | ||||
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Denim and Leather is the fourth studio album by Englishheavy metal bandSaxon released in 1981. The album was certified Gold status in the U.K. This was the last album with the classic line up of Saxon, as drummerPete Gill would leave the band due to a hand injury, later joiningMotörhead; this was also seen as the last of their trilogy of classic albums (the previous two beingWheels of Steel andStrong Arm of the Law).
The album spawned two of their most successful singles, "And the Bands Played On" and "Princess of the Night". There are nine songs on this album, which are noted for lyrics about a wide range of topics. "Princess of the Night" is a song about a powerful steam locomotive and "And the Bands Played On" is about 1980 Monsters of Rock Festival – name checking Rainbow. Other themes for the songs include: partying, the spirit of the music, fighting, and, like many of their songs, motorcycles. "Midnight Rider" is a song about Saxon's 1980 North American tour.
The name of the album and song was inspired by the popular attire ofmetalheads in the early 1980s, defined by either denim jeans and jackets or a leather biker jacket (often worn with a denim cut-off waistcoat). The song is seen as a tribute from the band to their fans while describing the history of the sub-culture and the rise of thenew wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM).
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 7/10[4] |
| Record Mirror | [5] |
| Smash Hits | 4/10[6] |
The album peaked at #9 in theUK Albums Chart.[7][8]
The album is regarded as a classic in the band's discography, and has been received positively by critics and fans. Eduardo Rivadavia ofAllMusic called the opening track "Princess of the Night" an "infectiously anthemic opening statement", whilst praising the title track for also being an "unqualified classic". He considered "Out of Control" and "Rough and Ready" to be strong tracks, whilst regarding "Fire in the Sky", "Midnight Rider", and "And The Bands Played On" as "spectacular".[3] Canadian journalistMartin Popoff had mixed feelings aboutDenim and Leather, which he considered "Saxon's stadium rock album... boppier and sillier thanWheels of Steel, but still catchy", denouncing "the band's progressively feeble song skills while gaining points for conviction."[4]
All tracks are written bySaxon.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Princess of the Night" | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Never Surrender" | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Out of Control" | 4:07 |
| 4. | "Rough and Ready" | 4:51 |
| 5. | "Play It Loud" | 4:11 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "And the Bands Played On" | 2:48 |
| 7. | "Midnight Rider" | 5:45 |
| 8. | "Fire in the Sky" | 3:37 |
| 9. | "Denim and Leather" | 5:25 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "20,000 Ft." (remix; b-side Never Surrender) | 4:07 |
| 11. | "Bap Shoo Ap" (live at Castle Donington 1980; b-side Never Surrender) | 6:41 |
| 12. | "Intro/And the Bands Played On" (live) | 4:34 |
| 13. | "Princess of the Night" (live at the Rainbow Theatre London, 16th Dec 1981) | 4:17 |
| 14. | "Midnight Rider" (live at Hammersmith 25th Oct 1981) | 5:40 |
| 15. | "Never Surrender" (live at Hammersmith 25th Oct 1981) | 3:58 |
| 16. | "Fire in the Sky" (live at Hammersmith 25th Oct 1981) | 2:41 |
| 17. | "Machine Gun" (live at Hammersmith 25th Oct 1981) | 2:44 |
| 18. | "Play It Loud" (live at Wolverhampton 17th Dec 1981) | 5:25 |
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 39 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[10] | 19 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 37 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] | 21 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 9 |
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[14] | 36 |
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] | 85 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
