High Voltage (1975 album)
High Voltage | ||||
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Albert (Sydney) | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:51 | |||
Label | Albert/EMI | |||
Producer | ||||
AC/DC chronology | ||||
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Singles from High Voltage | ||||
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High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released only in Australia and New Zealand, on 17 February 1975. Their first international release in 1976 would also be named High Voltage, though with a radically different track list.
Background
In November 1973, guitarists
Recording
The album was produced by
Composition
While the songs on High Voltage showcase a
Releases
High Voltage was originally released on Albert Productions only in Australia and New Zealand,[9] and has never been reissued by another label in this format. The international version of High Voltage, which was issued on Atlantic Records in 1976, has a different cover art and track listing, with only "She's Got Balls" and "Little Lover" appearing overseas. "Baby Please Don't Go", "Soul Stripper", "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" and "Show Business" were later released on '74 Jailbreak in 1984. "Stick Around" (about Scott's inability to hold onto a lover for more than one night) and "Love Song" have been released on Backtracks in 2009. The title and artwork were the suggestion of Chris Gilbey of Albert Productions.[7] In the 1994 Scott biography Highway to Hell, Gilbey explains that he came up with the concept of "an electricity substation with a dog pissing against it. It's so tame now, but back then we thought it was pretty revolutionary."
Most of the original LP and Cassette releases contain an error to the writing credits for "Baby, Please Don't Go" with credit going to Broonzy (Big Bill Broonzy). Broonzy recorded a cover of the song in 1952, but it was in fact "Big" Joe Williams who wrote the song in 1935. The error was corrected on all CD releases.
Reception
AllMusic deems this version of AC/DC "a very young band who were still coming into their own at the time, and that process of self-discovery is what makes the original version of High Voltage both the most inconsistent and unique of all the Bon Scott albums."[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Big Joe Williams) | 4:50 |
2. | "She's Got Balls" | 4:52 |
3. | "Little Lover" | 5:40 |
4. | "Stick Around" | 4:39 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Soul Stripper" (A. Young, M. Young) | 6:25 |
6. | "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" | 3:31 |
7. | "Love Song (Oh Jene)" | 5:14 |
8. | "Show Business" | 4:46 |
Total length: | 39:51 |
Notes
- "Baby Please Don't Go", "Soul Stripper", "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" and "Show Business" were later included on the international release of '74 Jailbreak.
- "She's Got Balls" and "Little Lover" were later included on the international version of High Voltage.
- "Stick Around" and "Love Song" were never officially released internationally in album form. They were eventually included in the 2009 boxed set Backtracks.
Personnel
AC/DC
- Bon Scott – lead vocals
- Angus Young – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
- Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead guitar (3, 5–6, 8)[7]
- Rob Bailey – bass guitar (1–3, 5–6, 8)[4]
- Peter Clack – drums (1)[5]
Session musicians
- George Young – production, bass guitar (4, 7)[4] backing vocals
- Tony Currenti – drums (2–8)[4][5]
Production
- Harry Vanda – production, backing vocals
- Richard Ford – artwork
Charts
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[11] | 14 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[12] | 5× Platinum | 350,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Rock Snaps". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ Saulnier, Jason (3 January 2013). "Dave Evans Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ISBN 9781409115359.
- ^ a b c d Dicecco, Andrew (16 December 2021). "An Interview with Tony Currenti & Peter Clack of ACϟDC". VWMusic. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9781742759791.
- ^ Fink 2013, p. 87.
- ^ ISBN 0-7322-8383-3.
- ^ "Specials : Countdown". AC/DC-Bootlegs. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ Durieux, Arnaud. "AC/DC Discography: High Voltage (Australia)". ac-dc.net. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "AC/DC - High Voltage (Australia) review". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
External links
- High Voltage at Discogs (list of releases)
- Lyrics on AC/DC's official website