Classic Albums: High Voltage by AC/DC

OK, following my post yesterday about listening to the first set of 1001 albums from that book. Back already again on Easter Sunday, now comes the only other album I can think of from the year 1976 which I really wanted write something about, including it in my little own Classic Albums pile. It’s got to be AC/DC‘s High Voltage added to Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters and The Saints plus would I say Pere Ubu because it was recorded that year but not released until later?

Now the first one I ever had was the early Aussie version of this album which is long been deleted and you can only buy the international version now unless you find an old 70’s/80’s second hand copy somewhere but because of youtube I can pretty much re-make it here in my blog post. I did have this on cassette tape and would have been one of my most earliest until it got played till it’s dead by the tape deck eating it and/or chewing it up sometimes in the early 90’s/late 80’s.

Yesterday I did ripped the hell out of 70’s white classic hard rock type bands in that post and now including the what could been now the biggest of wanky guitar rock band of all-time. I guess it’s really about how I remember this band but not what they’re now. In 1976 they were just a new band starting out and trying break into that market of over-blowed rock bands. Googling this album now I find out it was out 1975 in Australia so I’m off by a year really but overseas it was released in 1976.

Now I do have the 2000’s reissues of Jailbreak EP and the only version you can official buy of High Voltage now which is where you can find almost all these songs minus a couple which only available on a AC/DC Bon Scott recordings box set. Now after digging around and finding/listening to that old version but being that if I put on this band on now it’s those two reissues, I’ve got to say they’re most likely better.

Really I don’t know if AC/DC it any different to say Kiss or Aerosmith? They’re Aussies but born in Scotland well, Bon Scott was and I think Young brothers were too. They do seem to have a dirtier sound at this point, it was cleared up a little later but on these recordings it’s rough, raw rock n roll.

So the oversea version of the same album does include the title song High Voltage and the great opening track It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N Roll) also the very silly The Jack and Can I Sit Next to You Girl but the classics T.N.T. and Live Wire plus the anthem Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer, it’s a better album from beginning to end. The Jailbreak EP pretty perfect or maybe I’m just converted now.

I guess you, I or anyone, everyone can listen to one or both but you can only official buy one of them. Off course they did go on to bigger and some say better things but this is my little say and this is the stuff I love the most by these blokes. My view of AC/DC in the 21st century can be found here.

So I’ve just got to include the main version of this album just below too or whatever you call it? So who else likes a bit of Acca daac?

High Voltage 1975 Aussie version track listing and times:
All tracks written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott except where noted.

Side one
1. Baby Please Don’t Go (Big Joe Williams) – 4:50
2. She’s Got Balls – 4:51
3. Little Lover – 5:37
4. Stick Around – 4:40
Side two
1. Soul Stripper – 6:25
2. You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me – 3:31
3. Love Song – 5:15
4. Show Business – 4:46

High Voltage 1976 international version track listing and times:

1. It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) – 5:01
2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer – 5:04
3. The Jack – 5:52
4. Live Wire – 5:50
5. T.N.T. – 3:34
6. Can I Sit Next to You Girl – 4:12
7. Little Lover – 5:37
8. She’s Got Balls – 4:51
9. High Voltage – 4:03

All my Classic Albums posts are in that link or they’re all linked below too!

• Tales From The Australian Underground – Volume 1 & 2 by Various Artists
• Station To Station by David Bowie
• Unplugged In New York by Nirvana
• Rust In Peace by Megadeth
• Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins
• Henry’s Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Whatever You Love, You Are by Dirty Three
• Gala Mill by The Drones
• Black Monk Time by The Monks
• Ex Tropical by Lost Animal
• Work (Work, Work) by HTRK
• In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra
• The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd
• Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
• Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones
• The White House by The Dead C
• Silence Is Sexy by Einstürzende Neubauten
• Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica
• Kaira by Toumani Diabaté
• Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants
• Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth by Dan Kelly And The Alpha Males
• Aerial by Kate Bush
• The Future by Leonard Cohen
• Rock For Light by Bad Brains
• Last Splash by The Breeders
• Sex by The Necks
• Emergency Ward by Nina Simone
• Paradise by My Disco
• Batman by Prince
• Sings Christmas Carols by Mark Kozelek
• What Are Rock Stars Doing Today by Magic Dirt
• Love Of Life by Swans
• Big Name, No Blankets by Warumpi Band
• Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
• In The Pines by The Triffids
• Where Joy Kills Sorrow by Various Artists
• TV Sky by The Young Gods
• King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime by Faith No More
• Jean Lee And The Yellow Dog by Ed Kuepper
• Law Of Nature by Laughing Clowns
• (I’m) Stranded by The Saints
• Super Ape by Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters
• The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound by Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes
• Mutiny/The Bad Seed by The Birthday Party
• Bahdeni Nami by Omar Souleyman
• Ascension by John Coltrane
• The Definitive by Blind Willie McTell
• Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey
• Horses by Patti Smith
• Vespertine by Björk
• Hex Enduction Hour by The Fall
• Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood by DMX
• I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron
• Charcoal Lane by Archie Roach
• In My Own Time by Karen Dalton
• Stay Sick! by The Cramps
• Primary Colours by Eddy Current Suppression Ring
• Veedon Fleece by Van Morrison
• Trainspotting by Various Artists
• After School Session by Chuck Berry
• Body Language by Kylie Minogue
• Bricks Are Heavy by L7
• Trailer Park by Beth Orton
• Arular by M.I.A.
• Moon Pix by Cat Power
• White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground
• Y by The Pop Group
• The Human Jukebox by Scientists
• The Shape Of Things by Pere Ubu
• Congotronics by Konono Nº1

So the idea here is simply for me to write a post about each of my fave albums that I consider total stone cold classics!

Please do leave a reply below and tell me what you think about this album and/or artist or whatever you’d like to say about it?