High Voltage (1976 album)
High Voltage | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 14 May 1976 | |||
Recorded | ||||
Studio | Albert (Sydney) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:23 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
AC/DC chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from High Voltage | ||||
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High Voltage is the first internationally released album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It contains tracks completed from their first two previous Australia-only issued albums, High Voltage and T.N.T. (both from 1975).
Originally released on 14 May 1976 in the UK on
Background
In December 1975, Atlantic Records' UK head
At that time… we were giving punk music a good name. Because that was the word they used to describe us – punk band. They'd get the wrong idea. We weren't punk, but they'd put us on the same bill as punk bands. And they sure got a shock when they started spitting at us and we spat back. We were never ones for getting slumped under a tag or filed under A, B, or C. We started as a rock and roll band. That's what we play – what we do best. We never claimed to be anything else.
In 2010 Malcolm Young concurred, telling
Recording
"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was edited down from an extended jam by producer George Young (older brother of guitarist Malcolm Young and Angus) and the inclusion of the bagpipes was his idea to add an extra dynamic to the track. Singer Bon Scott had played in a pipe band in his teens, so George suggested he play bagpipes on the song, not realizing that Scott had been a drummer, not a piper. Regardless, Scott – who knew how to play the recorder – learned the instrument and went on to play them on stage with the band for several years. In Murray Engleheart's book AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll, former manager Michael Browning states that the bagpipes became the bane of Scott's existence: "I think they probably put more pressure on him than anything I can think of! They invariably never worked. It's a hard instrument to time to guitars, because you're pumping them and they kind of kick in when the bag's full – very difficult to time to guitars." The chanting in "T.N.T." was also George Young's idea, added after he heard Angus ad-libbing the "oi" chant to himself, and suggested he record it.[4]
The production team of George Young and Harry Vanda was crucial in the development of AC/DC's sound. Vanda was a bandmate of Young's in The Easybeats and the pair were the main songwriters of The Easybeats' later hits, including their international hit "Friday on My Mind". In the 1994 book Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott, Chris Gilbey, who was the promotion man at Albert Productions at the time, recalls to author Clinton Walker, "The great thing George and Harry taught me, as a producer, was that if you got a good rhythm track, you've got the beginnings of a record. If you don't, you've got nothing." In the same memoir Michael Browning confirms, "George and Harry's most important criterion was rhythm, the whole thing had to just feel right. If you listen to those records today, they feel good."
Composition
AC/DC's second album T.N.T. was a breakthrough for the band composition-wise and sound-wise, containing more of the twin-guitar assault that the band would become famous for, and this may explain why only two songs were included from the
Releases
The international release of High Voltage also had two different album covers from the original: one featured a picture of Angus Young as he appeared on the cover of the German single for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)". An alternative cover was used on the international version's European release.[5] Most editions of the international album have a version of "It's a Long Way to the Top" that is shorter than the original album version. The full length version is 5:10, while the edited version shortens the last chorus causing the track to fade out early at 5:01. Vinyl editions of the international album contain the edited version. The 1994 remastered CD on Atco Records replaced the edited version of the track with the full length version. The 2003 remastered CD on Epic Records reverted it back to the edited version.
Uses in pop culture
The track "T.N.T." is used in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
The High Voltage Arc in the seventh part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run by Hirohiko Araki is a reference to this album and song.
The album sleeve was used as a prop in a first season episode of The Cosby Show, titled "The Younger Woman". In the story, the fictional musician named with the album is "Clyde", and is described on the album cover as "sticking his tongue out," which is an accurate description of Angus Young's actual expression on the cover, although the album and band's names in the upper left corner are both stylistically covered up.
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Great Rock Discography | 8/10[9] |
Sputnikmusic | [10] |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 4/10[12] |
"Subjective Sounds" | Favourable[13] |
backseatmafia | Favourable[14] |
Louder | [15] |
The album received mixed reviews when it was released in the United States.
Retrospective reviews have been more positive. AllMusic's review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised Angus Young's "monster riffs" which appear to be easy but give the music its strength and this allows Scott to be "somebody who never hid the notion that lurking behind the door are some bad, dangerous things, but they're also fun, too."[6] Classic Rock magazine meanwhile praises the albums' production as well as the unique usage of bagpipes in a rock song and the quality of Bon's lyricism, hailing it overall as "An international debut to savour."[17] and Ultimate Classic Rock praises it in a combined rating of T.N.T. and this international album calling it their coming-of-age album and stating "the core musical signature that would carry and sustain the band’s amazing career rise was set right here."[17]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" | 5:12 |
2. | "Rock 'n' Roll Singer" | 5:04 |
3. | "The Jack" | 5:53 |
4. | "Live Wire" | 5:50 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | " Can I Sit Next to You Girl" (A. Young, M. Young) | 4:12 |
7. | "Little Lover" | 5:40 |
8. | "She's Got Balls" | 4:52 |
9. | "High Voltage" | 4:04 |
Total length: | 44:23 |
Notes
- Published by J. Albert & Son Pty Ltd.
- Tracks 7 & 8 were previously released on the band's first Australian studio album High Voltage in February 1975. The rest were previously released on the band's second Australian studio album T.N.T. in December 1975.
Personnel
AC/DC
- Bon Scott – lead vocals, bagpipes on "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
- Angus Young – lead guitar[18]
- Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Little Lover",[19] backing vocals
- Mark Evans – bass guitar (1–6)
- Phil Rudd – drums (1–6)
Additional personnel
- George Young – bass guitar (7–9)
- Tony Currenti – drums (7–9)[20]
Production
- Harry Vanda – producer
- George Young – producer
- Michael Putland – cover art
- Dave Field – cover art (European version)
- Gerard Huerta – cover lettering
- Richard Ford – artwork
Charts
Chart (1981–1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[21] | 146 |
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22] | 13 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[23] | 90 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[24] | 58 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 67 |
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] | 12 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 18 |
10 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
France ( SNEP)[29]
|
Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[30] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[31] | Gold | 25,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[32] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[33] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA)[35] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
References
- ISBN 978-0-862415419.
- ^ Altman, Billy (16 December 1976). "AC/DC: High Voltage : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. No. 228. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
- ^ Engleheart, Murray (2003). High Voltage (CD booklet). AC/DC. Epic Records. pp. 7–8. EK 80201.
- ^ ISBN 0-7322-8383-3.
- ^ Saulnier, Jason (30 September 2011). "Mark Evans Interview". Music Legends. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "High Voltage". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ Twist, Carlo. "High Voltage". Blender. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
- ISBN 0-679-75574-8. Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ "AC/DC - High Voltage (album review )". 7 August 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Kot, Greg (25 February 2003). "High Voltage". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ISBN 1841955515.
- ^ Greentree, Mark (1 August 2020). "AC/DC – High Voltage (Album Review On Vinyl & Apple Music)". Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Byran, Jon (15 May 2018). "A buyers guide to AC/DC 1975-1981". Backseatmafia. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "AC/DC: High Voltage - Album Of The Week Club review". Louder. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Kot, Gret (25 February 2003). "High Voltage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Every AC/DC album ranked, from worst to best – the ultimate guide". Louder Sound. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ISBN 0-7322-8383-3.
- ^ Ariza, Sergio. "Back In Black". Guitars Exchange. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-74275-979-1.
- ^ "AC-DC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – AC/DC – High Voltage". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – AC/DC – High Voltage". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – AC/DC – High Voltage". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – AC/DC – High Voltage". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – AC/DC – High Voltage". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (AC/DC; 'High Voltage')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – AC/DC – High Voltage" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 July 2022. Select "2015" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "High Voltage" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('High Voltage')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – AC/DC – High Voltage". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – AC/DC – High Voltage". Recording Industry Association of America.