"Blow Up Your Video" by AC/DC - February 1988 Album on Atlantic Records featuring Angus and Malcolm Young (Guitars), Brian Johnson (Vocals), Cliff Williams (Bass) and Simon Wright (Drums) (February 2003 UK Epic/Albert Productions CD Reissue with Access To Extra Online Material via 'ConnecteD Technology' - Part of The AC/DC Remasters Series - Repro Artwork Card Digipak Presentation with New Booklet, Picture CD and George Marino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...That's The Way I Want My Rock 'n' Roll..."

 

I'd admit that at the time and as a self-professed AC/DC nut deeply invested in everything about the Bon Scott line-up of this fantastic Australian Rock Band - his loss in 1980 and back-to-business immediately replacement hammered me. 

 

I don't care how many copies "Back In Black" subsequently sold or how good Brian Johnson's vocals were (a near perfect fit that maybe only Gary Holton of the Heavy Metal Kids could have fitted if he'd have been able to stay away from the drugs) - I hated the "Back In Black" album with a nuclear vengeance. I thought it cold and trite and knew how much better it would have been had Bon been at the lyrics helm. 

 

So much of the AC/DC output for the entirety of the 80ts passed me by in a blur of 'they used to be good' oblivion. Until this snotty little number from early 1988 made me rethink and (partially) re-love (4 stars). Let's get to the kissing of the dynamite...

 

UK released 18 February 2003 - "Blow Up Your Video" by AC/DC on Epic/Albert Productions 510770 2 (Barcode 5099751077022) is a CD Reissue and Remaster that utilizes 'ConnecteD Technology' to access extra material via Online Sources (acdcrocks.com). It plays out as follows (42:57 minutes):

 

1. Heatseeker [Side 1]

2. That's The Way I Wanna My Rock N Roll 

3. Meanstreak

4. Go Zone

5. Kissin' Dynamite 

6. Nick Of Time [Side 2]

7. Some Sin For Nuthin' 

8. Ruff Stuff 

9. Two's Up 

10. This Means War 

Tracks 1 to 10 are their studio album "Blow Up Your Video" - released early February 1988 in the USA on Atlantic 7 81828-1 and Atlantic WX 144 in the UK. Produced by HARRY VANDA and GEORGE YOUNG - it peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 12 in the USA. 

The entire campaign of 20 or so titles in The AC/DC Remasters series comes in a card digipak that mimics the 'US' artwork (gold title stickers on the front). "Blow Up Your Video" sports a new 16-page booklet with wildly appreciative and enthusiastic histories from uber-fan ALAN Di PERNA alongside new photos, memorabilia from the 1988 US Tour and of course it sports that all-important GEORGE MARINO Remaster from original tapes that absolutely ROCKS. The 'ConnecteD' Technology angle means that when your computer is 'connected' to the Internet, you can access extra material (music and videos) from their website acdcrocks.com.

The album comes roaring in with one of its genuine rawkin' highlights - "Heatseeker" - the band and Johnson rearing to go. It's the kind of perfect Hard Rock winner AC/DC seem to conjure up in their sleep and not surprisingly Atlantic Records gave it first dibs in January 1988 - the 7" single Atlantic 7-89136 paired with another album winner "Go Zone" on the flipside. With a very definite avoidance of big-hair solos - AC/DC go after the happy with each rocker - of which there are many - saucy lyrics ahoy "Two's Up" "Kissin' Dynamite" and so on. 

 

Re-uniting with the Scott-era AC/DC-sound Producers of old - Harry Vanda and George Young - Johnson let rip. When you hear "This Mean's War" - his vocals are throat shredding while the riffage and drums smash all around you. "Nick Of Time" opens Side 2 with more of the same. And titling this review is the fabulous fun rawk of "That's The Way I Wanna Rock N Roll" - party time at the union hall - glory hallelujah - roll roll roll - blow up my video - tell the boss man where to go. Oh yeah - great stuff. 

 

The only problem with forking out on this snotty little brute is obvious - you'll want the rest of them because your soul knows - you can never have enough AC/DC in your life and on the stereo terrifying the neighbours...

"High Voltage" by AC/DC – April 1976 (UK) and May 1976 (USA) Debut UK and US Album on Atlantic and Atco Records (Derived from their first two Australian Albums from February and December 1975 on Albert Productions) Featuring Angus Young and Bon Scott (May 2003 UK Epic/Albert Productions 'ConnecteD Technology' Digipak CD Reissue and Remaster – George Marino Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Long Way To The Top..."

 

What a nightmare! In order to properly explain this 2003 Remastered CD – its artwork and even its track list – we have to go into some serious AC/DC lore.

 

When the first two AC/DC albums were released in Australia – 17 February 1975 for "High Voltage" on Albert Productions APLP.009 and 1 December 1975 for "T.N.T." on Albert Productions APLPA.016 – tracks from both were used to form their "High Voltage" debut album in the UK, US and International arenas (and they sported different artwork too).

 

The American variant of "High Voltage" didn't arrive until 14 May 1976 on Atco SD 36-142 and again with different artwork to the Australian Original whilst the UK issue had shown up earlier, 30 April 1976 on Atlantic K 50257. 

 

This ConnecteD Technology Digipak CD Reissue and Remaster from 2003 uses the US artwork, and as a nod towards the differing artwork for the Oz original of "High Voltage" and the UK variant - the rear of the 16-page booklet shows both alongside the Australian "T.N.T." LP.

 

So 1976’s "High Voltage" is in fact Australian recorded AC/DC from 1974 and 1975. True nutters would want all three LPs in their home - "High Voltage" Oz, "T.N.T." Oz and "High Voltage" UK and US - and in order to give my own nod towards that, I’ve listed how to get them later on.

 

But first to the daughters you need to lock up and the wires that are live and the balls that are jacked and that long haul to the top. Here are the details...

 

UK released May 2003 - "High Voltage" by AC/DC on Epic/Albert Productions 510759 2 (Barcode 5099751075929) is a 9-Track 'ConnecteD Technology' Digipak CD Reissue and Remaster in a Card Sleeve Repro Digipak that plays out as follows (44:22 minutes):

 

1. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) [Side 1]

2. Rock 'n' Roll Singer

3. The Jack

4. Live Wire

5. T.N.T. [Side 2]

6. Can I Sit Next To You Girl

7. Little Lover

8. She's Got Balls

9. High Voltage

Tracks 1 to 9 are the British and US debut album "High Voltage" – released 30 April 1976 in the UK on Atlantic K 50257 and 14 May 1976 in the USA on Atco SD 36-142.

 

AC/DC was:

BON SCOTT – Vocals

ANGUS YOUNG – Lead Guitar

MALCOLM YOUNG – Rhythm Guitar

MARK EVANS - Bass

PHIL RUDD – Drums

 

If you want to sequence the First Two Australian LPs - you’ll actually need three of these 2003 CD reissues - "'74 Jailbreak", "High Voltage" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and two Box Sets - "Bonfire" from 2003 and "Backtracks" from 2009...

 

 

Their 8-track Oz original of "High Voltage" (pictured above) played like this...

Side 1:

1. Baby Please Don't Go (on "'74 Jailbreak" 2003 CD)

2. She's Got Balls (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

3. Little Lover (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

4. Stick Around (on "Backtracks" 2009 Box Set)

Side 2:

1. Soul Stripper (on "'74 Jailbreak" 2003 CD)

2. You Ain't Got A Hold On Me (on "'74 Jailbreak" 2003 CD)

3. Love Song (on "Backtracks" 2009 Box Set)

4. Show Business (on "'74 Jailbreak" 2003 CD)

 

 

While the 9-track original of "T.N.T." (pictured above) played like this...

Side 1:

1. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) (on "Backtracks" 2009 Box Set)

2. The Rock 'n' Roll Singer (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

3. The Jack (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

4. Live Wire (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

Side 2:

1. T.N.T. (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

2. Rocker (on "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" 2003 CD)

3. Can I Sit Next To You Girl (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

4. High Voltage (on "High Voltage" 2003 CD)

5. School Days (on "Backtracks" 2009 Box Set)

So what do you get here? 

This Epic CD 9-track reissue has what they call ConnecteD Technology which allows you to access online content via your computer but I'm buggered if I've ever bothered. The card digipak is the same for all of these reissues - very tasty and tactile. There’s a picture CD to the right (the cover art of Angus) and a 16-page booklet housed on the left in a pocket pouch (MURRAY ENGLEHEART provides the informative and enthusiastic liner notes).

The booklet is crammed full of period photos - a stunner of the boys up in the offices of Albert Productions celebrating with Milk and Alcohol and a senior employee clearly having a hoot dressed as a schoolboy. There are shots of the band beside posters for the OZ LP on a Power Grid Fuse Box and even those infamous covers of England's Sounds magazine that advised concerned Parents in Blighty to lock up their daughters when the boys came touring in 1976 to support the April launch of the debut (Bon promised them a hard of gold me dears).

There is mention of infamous Rolling Stone magazine review that described the LP as an all-time low for Rock. And in fairness to that reviewer and his perceived pontificating stuck-up diatribe, given what he was working with in 1976, tracks like "The Jack" and "She's Got Balls" are not just lyrically awful but hard for me to listen to (then or now). Overall, the booklet is sexily lid out and shows images most fans haven’t seen (the band mooning dodgy underpants on stage) and accentuates the sense of Rock Fun AC/DC engendered.

This new Digital Remaster from 2-Track Original Master Tapes by GEORGE MARINO is ballsy and rocking. Each track has renewed part – those pipes on "Long Way" and that riffage burst when "Live Wire" kicks off – all of it great.

 (1976 UK Artwork for their "High Voltage" Debut

US Artwork is used on the 2003 CD Reissue)

 Despite affection fans have for any fart in a bottle emanated by AC/DC in the 70ts – you would not describe the UK and US variants of "High Voltage" as a debut masterpiece and I'm always flabbergasted at all these five-star recommendations. Their British/US starter is a launch pad to the far better 1976 set "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and the all Hell breaks loose of "Let There Be Rock" in 1977 - a truly awesome piece of Hard Rock that I think has never been bettered.

Back to "High Voltage" and the reason for that snarky review. Lyrics like "When I saw the wet patch on your seat...was it Coca Cola..." inside the decidedly leery "Little Lover" (the lead singer picking out his quarry during a gig) are so dated and even crap. And I can understand why that US reviewer despaired. But what he didn't get right was the other stuff. When you play "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" or "Live Wire" or "High Voltage" – you know immediately why you loved this band - and in your dotage – why you check them out on You Tube more than possibly any other group of the Hard Rock heyday.

It was indeed a long way to the top if you wanted to Rock 'n' Roll - but man AC/DC's climb was filled with magnificence. I got to see the Bon Scott line-up in Dublin in October 1979 on a cold Monday with maybe 150 people there and I've raved about it to any fool who'll listen ever since.

Whilst "High Voltage" isn't exactly the shock and awe that was to come, I drag it down every now and then and let our favourite brat get his schoolbag in a tangle. Break some rocks with the original chain gang folks and lock yourself into some High Voltage Rock and Roll. In fact, take a tip from the mighty Boniface and stick this saucy little bust-out in your fuse box. You know you want to (said with a Scottish lilt emboldened with a few whiskeys)...

"Axis: Bold As Love" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE (1 December 1967 UK 2nd LP on Track 613 003 and 15 January 1968 USA on Reprise RS 6281 in Stereo featuring Mitch Mitchell (Bass), Noel Redding (Drums) and Producer Chas Chandler (February 2012 UK Sony Music/Experience Hendrix/Legacy 1CD-only Reissue (original Remaster issued March 2010 as a CD+DVD in A Card Digipak) – Eddie Kramer and George Marino Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Little Wing…"

The first decent reissue of "Axis: Bold As Love" turned up 28 April 1997 on MCA Records/Experience Hendrix MCD11601 (Barcode 008811160128) as part of 'The Hendrix Family Authorised Editions Series'. It was a Remaster of Jimi's second studio album carried out by the LP's original engineer Eddie Kramer aided and assisted by Audio/Restoration boffin George Marino.

That was superseded by another Kramer/Marino Reissue/Remaster on the 8 March 2010 which put "Axis: Bold As Love" into a card digipak and added on a DVD. Sony Music/Experience Hendrix 88697621632 (Barcode 886976216320) however has been deleted now for some time and clocks in at around twenty quid on the open secondhand market. Use the barcodes provided above to locate either issue.

What we're finally left with is what we have here – a 1CD-only 2012 reissue of that 2010 Remaster put into a standard plastic jewel case for under six quid. To the Spanish Castle Music and Little Wing details...

UK released 6 February 2012 - "Axis: Bold As Love" by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE on Sony Music/Experience Hendrix/Legacy 88691938922 (Barcode 886919389227) is a 1CD-only Reissue of the 8 March 2010 Remaster and plays out as follows (39:29 minutes):

1. EXP [Side 1]

2. Up From The Skies

3. Spanish Castle Music

4. Wait Until Tomorrow

5. Ain't No Telling

6. Little Wing

7. If 6 Was 9

8. You've Got Me Floating [Side 2]

9. Castles Made Of Sand

10. She's So Fine

11. One Rainy Wish

12. Little Miss Lover

13. Bold As Love

Tracks 1 to 13 are his second studio album "Axis: Bold As Love" - released 1 December 1967 in the UK on Track 612 003 (Mono) and Track 613 003 (Stereo) and 15 January 1968 in the USA on Reprise RS 6281 (Stereo only) featuring Mitch Mitchell (Bass), Noel Redding (Drums) and Producer Chas Chandler. The STEREO MIX is used for this CD. All tracks written by Jimi Hendrix except "She's So Fine" written by Noel Redding. The album peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No. 3 in the USA. 

The 24-page colour booklet is festooned with photos from the archives of Linda McCartney, Eddie Kramer, Bruce Fleming and Baron Wolman (amongst many) - the great axeman in studio and live mode with his crew of bushy-haired two. The British LP originally on Track Records was a gatefold with a 4-page lyric insert and while that fab black and white photo that dominated the inner gatefold of the three disappointingly isn't here, the lyrics are. That minor omission is replaced with long and fantastically detailed liner notes (Pages 11 to 20) from JYM FAHEY that go into the staggering pace of recording (the "Are You Experienced?" debut barley finished and the double "Electric Ladyland" on the summer horizon) - Hendrix's career skyrocketing less than nine months after Chas Chandler has brought Jimi to England in September 1966. It's a fab read and even goes into the near disaster with master tapes for Side 1 and "If 6 Was 9" which were thankfully resolved. The remaster by EDDIE KRAMER and GEORGE MARINO, supervised by Janie Hendrix and John McDermott on behalf of the Experience Hendrix Estate, gives oomph and power to every song. Which brings us to the music...

The 'dodgy subject' of UFOs gets speeded up and slowed down in the entertaining but ultimately silly "EXP" where Jimi's guitar gets screeched into the Universe never mind your living room speakers (panned and all). That's quickly followed by the first real Audio hit and song - the stunning bass and drums of "Up From The Skies" - that vocal and flicked guitar sounding so alive it’s frightening. I love that so cool guitar solo he does as he talks (I can dig it baby). The true Hendrix punk riffage sound comes roaring into your ears with "Spanish Castle Music" - just a little bit of magic - and again a fantastic transfer that captures that lethal double-whammy of power and subtlety.

We trip the light-funky-tastic with his skip-and-bop "Wait Until Tomorrow" - drums whacking as Dolly Mae hangs from her window pane - Jimi almost rapping the lyrics as he flicks those tasty strums. Rapido rhythm burning my eyes in "Ain't No Telling" - his guitar once again Funk-Rocking as he solos into one of the albums beauties. There are reasons why so many have covered the gorgeous "Little Wing" - but to hear it with such power and clarity here is almost too much to bear. I also think of Stevie Ray Vaughan when it plays - beautiful and ethereal playing like all the greats. Fantastic stuff even if it’s always felt to me like it ends too quickly.

There is a very evident hiss element in "If 6 Was 9" but that 'air' surrounding the performance actually lends it even more power IMO. White collar conservative...pointing their plastic finger at me... you just have to love the myriad of musical ideas going on here - like no-one (let alone Producer Chandler) could capture what was going on in Jimi's head, in turn transmitting down through to his fingers and out onto the fretboard.

Side 2's "You've Got Me Floating" (corrected to "You Got Me Floatin'") is another wild Funk-Rock child that segues into that other LP gem "Castles Made Of Sand". The Bass and Drums once again so staggeringly clear and present and how cool are those Indian Brave verses before he goes into that edgy guitar solo. And that 'eventually' ending with that echoed guitar fade out. Always feeling like an odd-man-out, Noel Redding's "She's So Fine" has all the trademark Experience sound but his voice is not the 'cool' of Jimi - which is a shame because they're cool guitar noises going on all around.

Racing towards the finish is the fantastic swoon of "One Rainy Wish" - a sort of "Little Wing" Part 2 - a song sleeping peacefully under the tree of song. Both the neck-jerkingly sock-it-to-me Funky "Little Miss Lover" and the Rock waltz life-giving-waters of "Bold As Love" finish the album with genuinely amazing style (that huge fuzzy solo towards the end still drops a jaw or two).

Hendrix would drop the 2LP atomic bomb of "Electric Ladyland" in November 1968 with "Voodoo Child" and "Crosstown Traffic" - the same month The Beatles would chuck out their double-album urge-to-splurge "The Beatles" - commonly known of course as 'The White Album'. 

Sixties Rock, Blues Rock, Psych... My god what a year 1968 was and what a good idea for you to start your slight return to it...right here baby... 

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC (May 2003 Epic/Albert Productions 'ConnecteD Technology' Digipak CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Problem Child..."

Ah the alliterative naughtiness of it all. AC/DC's second British/International LP from late 1976 – the wonderfully titled and delightfully un-PC "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" – has always been something of a guilty pleasure – a record you hid from your conservative parents and unenlightened school pals – a rude and crude immoral little brute of a thing that you boogied to under cover of darkness. You would then carefully dispose of the beer bottles and promptly pray for your sins...neither of which would stop you from doing it all over again at your next earliest convenience...

First however some discography history on the LP and CD's strange musical journey in a whole smorgasbord of territories...

The first two Australian AC/DC albums were released on Albert Productions - "High Voltage" in February 1975 (Albert Productions APLP.009) and "T.N.T." in December 1975 (Albert Productions APLPA.016) – and had radically different track lists to their UK, USA and International issues (and different artwork too). "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" became their third studio album on Albert Productions APLP.020 in their native Oz – released late September 1976 with different artwork and a longer different 9-track track list to its UK and International counterparts. The Australian issue of the LP reads...

1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [Side 1]

2. Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be A Millionaire)

3. There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’

4. Problem Child

5. Squealer [Side 2]

6. Big Balls

7. R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)

8. Ride On

9. Jailbreak

The Australian album was not just reconfigured in terms of song-placing – some of the tunes were longer - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Big Balls" and "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round to Be A Millionaire)" to be specific. If you want those they’re digitally available in two sources – the 1994 CD remaster of the album and the 2009 Box Set "Backtracks". This 2003 Epic CD reissue is based however on the US, UK and International LP configuration and reverts to the ‘shorter’ versions of the above with only "Big Balls" remaining as the long version (confusing I know).

Duplicates across countries and issues - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was their second British LP with the classic Bon Scott line-up (December 1976, Atlantic K 50323) and the only song to be duplicated with the first two Oz albums was "The Rocker" which had originally turned up as Track 2 on Side 2 of "T.N.T.". It’s worth noting that the Oz version of "The Rocker" differs to the UK and International version most of us have grown up with. Fans will also know that the 1976-recorded "Problem Child" from "Dirty Deeds..." was somehow inexplicably slotted in as Track 2 on Side 2 of the American version of the "Let There Be Rock" LP as late as 1977 on Atlantic SD 36151 (we were used to "Crabsody In Blue"). The 2003 CD therefore follows that US line-up - so to this day the track "Crabsody In Blue" remains an LP and CD rarity.

Then there’s the American LP variant of "Dirty Deeds..." It was passed over entirely by Atlantic and remained initially unreleased over there. But after Bon Scott's tragic loss in February 1980 – AC/DC's 1980 platter "Back In Black" with new vocalist Brian Johnson at the helm (ex England's GEIRDIE on EMI Records) became a sales juggernaut shifting five million copies and peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard charts. Imports of the 1976 Australian and British LPs of "Dirty Deeds..." began to circulate widely. Coupled with the rabid demand for AC/DC product - April 1981 finally saw "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" released as an LP in America on Atlantic SD 16033 and it rapidly peaked even higher than its more famous chart predecessor - at No. 3. This 2003 Epic CD reissue of "Dirty Deeds..." is based on that release. Now let's get down to this CD's actual digital nitty gritty...

UK released May 2003 - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC on Epic/Albert Productions 510760 2 (Barcode 5099751076025) is a 9-Track CD reissue and new remaster of the 1981 US and 1976 British LP and plays out as follows (39:59 minutes):

1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [Side 1]

2. Love At First Feel

3. Big Balls

4. Rocker

5. Problem Child

6. There's Gonna Be Some Rockin' [Side 2]

7. Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be A Millionaire)

8. Ride On

9. Squealer

Tracks 1 to 9 are their second British album "'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" – released December 1976 in the UK on Atlantic K 50323 and April 1981 in the USA on Atlantic SD 16033.

AC/DC was:

BON SCOTT – Vocals

ANGUS YOUNG – Lead Guitar

MALCOLM YOUNG – Rhythm Guitar

MARK EVANS - Bass

PHIL RUDD – Drums

So what do you get here? This Epic CD 5-track reissue has what they call 'ConnecteD Technology' which allows you to access online content via your computer but I'm buggered if I've ever bothered. The card digipak is the same for all of these reissues - very tasty and tactile. There’s a picture CD to the right (the cover art of blacked out faces) and a 16-page booklet housed on the left in a pocket pouch.

The booklet It's crammed full of period colour photos – fantastic live shots of a hungry 1976 AC/DC line-up wearily suffering another TV interview when they’d rather be lusting after the schoolgirls outside the studio who’d appalled their mums with unladylike tattoos of their favourite band on their nether bits. There’s an advert in Spunky magazine where you can have a chance to ‘win’ an Angus jacket – a rare ticket stub for the Hurtsville Civic Centre in Sydney on their final Oz date before departing for Europe and a two page centre spread of the unique Australian LP cartoon artwork with Angus giving two fingers to the world (his contribution to world peace) while Bon gyrates his crotch over a pool table (nice).

The lyrics to Dirty Deeds are on the inner gatefold beneath a fab set of live black and white shots supplemented beneath the CD see-through tray by a colour snap of Bon facing Angus (both sweating and rocking). The whole thing (along with the famous Hipgnosis artwork) is a bit of a looker and then there’s the monster riffage. The GEORGE MARINO Remaster (done in the USA in conjunction with Mike Fraser, Al Quaglieri and UE Nastas) is from 'original master tapes' and sounds HUGE - fuller than the 1990 remaster I've had for years. Despite their age - tracks like "There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’" and "Ain’t No Fun..." have lost none of their rocking Rock 'n' Roll power. You could argue that the earlier CD remaster with its longer versions should have been fused with bonus tracks like say "Jailbreak" and "R.I.P (Rock In Peace)" from the Australian incarnation of the album – but that’s another reissue battle. Let’s deal with what we do have...

All thoughts of cuddly koalas, environmentally non-violent boomerangs (AC/DC ones are naturally decked out with razor blades) and lyrically warming Laura Ashley quotes on your daily positive-thoughts calendar go out the window with the incredibly filthy riffage and words of the panting title track - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" followed quickly by the barely legal "Love At First Feel". This is what I never liked about the 80s Johnson line-up of AC/DC – they had lost that impish Rock fun and become a cold Metal band. And of course a lot of that wit is down to the leery wonder that was lead singer Bon Scott – a Scottish reprobate with a bottle of Malt Whiskey in one hand, a Rock voice to die for and a girl’s brazier of dubious vintage in the other. Talking of an opportunist teacher in her high school - Boniface warns “...You want to graduate...but not in his bed...” and then offers a solution to her slighting by proffering his headmaster ‘removal services’ for a reasonable fee (given the circumstances).

"Big Balls" is probably one of their worst moments for me – silly and slightly embarrassing actually. But that minor blip is followed by two absolute barnstormers - the stunning "Rocker" and "Problem Child" – songs that still bring a grin to my mush 41 years after the event. There can’t be too many AC/DC fans that don’t return to these kick-ass moments and they remain staples of the live show to this day. I prefer the Aussie versions in both cases – especially the longer cut of "Problem Child" where it kicks back into that killer riff just when you think the song is done.  The album’s other two secret weapons have to be the fabulous boozy swagger of "There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’" and a rare jaunt into slow Rock Blues with the underrated "Ride On". A great little album then in its own right – "Dirty Deeds..." was also a sonic stepping stone that would be followed in 1977 by the fearsome "Let There Be Rock" LP (see separate review).

It was a long to the top if you wanted to Rock 'n' Roll - but man their climb was filled with magnificence. Break some rocks with the original chain gang folks and bring this saucy little bust-out into your home...

PS: For what it's worth – the following is my ideal 1976 9-track "Dirty Deeds..." LP that mixes up the Aussie and International releases:

Side 1:

1. There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'

2. Love At First Feel

3. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [Aussie Longer Version]

4. Rocker [Aussie Mix]

5. Problem Child [Aussie Longer Version]

Side 2:

1. Jailbreak

2. Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be A Millionaire) [Aussie Longer Version]

8. R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)

9. Ride On 

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