Two Steps Behind

"Two Steps Behind" is a song by English hard rock band Def Leppard from their album Retro Active and the soundtrack to the film Last Action Hero. It reached number five on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart. In the 1993 Metal Edge Readers' Choice Awards, the song was voted "Song of the Year" and "Best Song from a Movie Soundtrack".[1]

"Two Steps Behind"
Single by Def Leppard
from the album Retro Active and Last Action Hero: Music from the Original Motion Picture
B-side
Released24 August 1993 (1993-08-24)
Recorded
  • 1989 (Joe's demo/original electric version)
  • April 1992 (acoustic version)
  • 7–11 June 1993 (new parts to electric version)
GenreRock
Length
  • 4:58 (Joe's demo)
  • 4:11 (Adrenalize acoustic B-side version)
  • 4:16 (acoustic version/Retro Active/Last Action Hero Soundtrack mix)
  • 4:29 (electric version)
LabelBludgeon Riffola
Songwriter(s)Joe Elliott
Producer(s)
Def Leppard singles chronology
"I Wanna Touch U"
(1993)		 "Two Steps Behind"
(1993)		 "Desert Song"
(1993)

Background and recording

Def Leppard recorded two different versions of the song - an electric version and an acoustic version - the widely released one was the acoustic version which featured on the greatest hits Vault. The widely released acoustic version differs from the original B-side, as it featured the addition of strings by Michael Kamen, for usage on Last Action Hero.

The song was composed and demoed by lead singer Joe Elliott in 1989 during the writing and recording sessions for the band's fifth album Adrenalize. The track was shelved for three years until it resurfaced following a late-night acoustic jamming session with the Hothouse Flowers in March 1992, which yielded three B-side tracks. When Elliott suggested recording "Two Steps Behind", Collen suggested that it be recorded as an acoustic version. The track was recorded in a few hours in April 1992 and was released as the B-side to "Make Love Like a Man" in the UK.

Later in 1993, the producers of the film Last Action Hero contacted the band requesting a new song for the film's soundtrack. As the band were on tour at the time, they were unable to record brand new material for the soundtrack. Instead, they sent the producers the multitracks to the acoustic version of "Two Steps Behind". The track was remixed and conductor Michael Kamen added an orchestral string treatment to the song. The inclusion of the song on the film's soundtrack inspired the band to create the compilation album Retro Active from B-sides and unreleased material, and record new parts to the electric version of the song on 7–11 June.

Along with the song "Let's Get Rocked" from their 1992 album Adrenalize, this is one of only two songs by the band released after the 1980s that is still regularly performed live on nearly all of the bands' tours. Def Leppard's acoustic version also features on the CMT Crossroads DVD with Taylor Swift as a bonus feature.

Critical reception

Eduardo Rivadavia, reviewing Retro Active for AllMusic, called "Two Steps Behind" along with "Miss You in a Heartbeat" "solid, but hardly groundbreaking ballads" and one of the album picks.

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham,[2] the approximate shoot date was 10 July 1993. This video shows the band playing in car park, Joe Elliott singing on the street while all the people around go backwards and live footage at a concert. The live footage was shot on Irvine Meadows, California. The video was aired in August 1993.

Track listings

CD: Bludgeon Riffola / LEPCD 12 (UK) [3]

  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)
  3. "SMC"

Cassette single: Columbia / 38T-77116 (US) [4]

  1. "Two Steps Behind"
  2. "Tonight" (acoustic version)

Charts

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Two Steps Behind"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States 24 August 1993 Cassette Columbia [21]
United Kingdom 6 September 1993
  • CD
  • cassette
 Bludgeon Riffola [22][23]
Japan 20 December 1993 CD [24]

References
  1. Metal Edge, June 1994
  2. Def Leppard UK.com
  3. Def Leppard Discography - Two Steps Behind LEPCD 12 (UK)
  4. Def Leppard Discography - Two Steps Behind 38T-77116 (US)
  5. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  6. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2284." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2298." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  9. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Def Leppard". Irish Singles Chart.
  11. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". Top 40 Singles.
  13. "Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind". Singles Top 100.
  14. "Def Leppard: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  15. "Def Leppard Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. "Def Leppard Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  17. "Def Leppard Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  18. "Def Leppard Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  19. "The RPM 100 Top Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved 8 November 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  20. "Billboard Top 100 - 1993". Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  21. "23 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Two Steps Behind Single In USA". deflepparduk.com. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  22. "23 Years Ago Def Leppard Release Two Steps Behind Single In The UK". deflepparduk.com. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  23. "Single Releases". Music Week. 4 September 1993. p. 25.
  24. "ツー・ステップス・ビハインド | デフ・レパード" [Two Steps Behind | Def Leppard] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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