High Voltage
While it’s true AC/DC’s debut may resemble Chuck Berry style Rock ‘N’ Roll, understand that it’s got way more sleaze, way more attitude, and way more…balls! Oh yeah, and way more HEADBANGING!
The “science” proves it: AC/DC IS METAL!!!
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Tracks
Side one
1: "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" - 5:02
2: "Rock 'n' Roll Singer" - 5:04
3: "The Jack" - 5:53
4: "Live Wire" - 5:50
Side two
5: "T.N.T." - 3:35
6: "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" - 4:12
7: "Little Lover" - 5:40
8: "She's Got Balls" - 4:52
9: "High Voltage" - 4:04
Total length: - 44:23
Tracks 7 & 8 were previously released on their #firstnewalbum from over-by-der down under - Australian studio album High Voltage in February 1975.
The rest of the tracks were previously released on their #secondfirstnewalbum - Australian studio album T.N.T. in December 1975.
Personnel
Bon Scott – lead vocals, bagpipes
Angus Young – lead guitar
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Little Lover", backing vocals
Mark Evans – bass guitar on tracks 1–6
Phil Rudd – drums on tracks 1–6
Additional personnel
George Young – bass guitar on tracks 7–9
Tony Currenti – drums on tracks 7–9
Production
Producers: Vanda & Young for Albert Productions
Recording Studio: Albert Studios, Sydney, Australia
Cover photo: Michael Putland
Cover lettering by Gerard Huerta
Artwork by Richard Ford
European Version
Break out your bagpipes and bananas, hang on to your balls and JOIN US as we teleport back to 1975 and immerse ourselves into The First New Album by that (and again, we cannot stress this enough) HEADBANGING, Scotstralian juggernaut from Down Under.
It’s time to get you some HIGH VOLTAGE!!!
Go get you some ACDC:
Check out our earlier episode: AC/DC The Bon Scott Years
IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP (IF YOU WANNA ROCK ‘N’ ROLL)
For 1975 I’d say this is definitely heavier than your usual “rock ‘n’ roll” fare at the time. Sorry, but Angus’ persistent, calorie burning HEADBANGING and shredding regimen qualifies this as Metal!! That energy is exuded throughout EVERY AC/DC song, with a guitar sound that Dave Mustaine once noted as being “glowing orange”. Boom! METAL!!!
And the fucking BAGPIPES!! (Only 20 years before Korn re-introduced them in the mid-90’s). It’s physically impossible to NOT move to the music if you’re listening to this, or really anything by AC/DC.
“I tell you folks, it’s harder than it looks…”
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SINGER
Bon always painted a very vivid picture of life on the road with a rock ‘n’ roll band, with just enough shock in his lyrical delivery to grab your attention and then assault your senses with the often explicit and sleazy message. (“But I had other plans…”).
“You can STICK…all the other SHIT that they teach the kids in school!”
THE JACK:
Yeah, some of us (mostly Matt), actually thought Bon was talking about a sexy game of cards. Upon closer inspection of the lyrics, it would “seem” that it’s more about giving good handies and/or providing a whiskey fix. But alas, no…it’s actually a very thinly veiled reference to V.D. (and by “V.D.”, that’s NOT February 14th. That’s Venereal Disease, btw. “Ooooh can’t you tell she’s got the…”)
“Thank you, I’m glad you liked the show, yes. Thank you very much folks. Good night and God Bless.
LIVE WIRE:
It’s deceptive how simple that riff is, but the power and the groove from the rhythm section (and let’s not forget those “gang vocals”) really magnify the overall heaviness and swagger of the song. If you haven’t already done so, go check out the “Let There Be Rock” concert film; this song is the opener and it’s most definitely a killer opener for sure!!
“Oh, stick this in your fuse box!”
T.N.T.:
One of THE heaviest (and most memorable) riffs in all of rock and metal. Whenever WKLS 96 Rock in Atlanta would play it, it was absolutely magic and always a treat to actually hear it being played on the radio. Oh yeah, 96 Rock is BACK via the interwebs. Go give them some love if you remember (actually, always remember. Hahahahaha…My Honk. Sorry, I couldn’t help me-self).
”I’m dirty, mean, and mighty unclean…’
CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU GIRL:
Definitely one of the “nastier” riffs on the album. That traditional sounding “Scotstralian” guitar fill really compliments the straight ahead bluesyness of the main riff, proving that The Young Brothers are truly Riff Lords of a different ilk.
Fun fact: the album was originally going to be called “Highland Voltage” but was changed at the last minute as Angus refused to wear a kilt on the album’s cover, deciding instead to wear the schoolboy outfit that would become his trademark.
LITTLE LOVER:
Definitely sleazy; sounds like the house band at a combo strip-club/truck stop somewhere off the interstate. Read and listen to those lyrics. (Seriously… they’re pretty naughty, baby…yeah!). It’s almost like the prequel to Squealer. Kinda cool how that guitar solo starts off sounding like a piano…
“Killed me when I saw the wet patch on your seat…”
SHE’S GOT BALLS:
Kinda like a slowed down Motorhead…funny, I never really thought about it before now, but that analogy totally fits. These days, this song is relevant regardless of how you choose to identify: with or without a tit scrotum (or “actual” scrotum). An anthem to “bad-bitches” everywhere, young and old.
“She’s got spunk, that woman…”
HIGH VOLTAGE:
Another classic AC/DC anthem. Or banger. Or whatever the kids who are “high” are calling it these days.
“All you gotta do is plug me into high…”
Show Notes
(00:01) - #HeyBeavis #Fireballs #clinky courtesy of #FireOnTheMountain #NotNecessarilyNotCourtesyOfCharlieDaniels and the #beer for this episode from #pontoonbrewing #beeroftheepisode #NewEnglandIPA and #thefirstnewalbum from #akkadakka on #eighttrack!!! YES! 8-track!! #AlexOoooohOfApproval #8track #fullynude (that’s #ACDC if you’re not from #downunder #andthereitis #itsalot #ifit): HIGH VOLTAGE (#American edition, not the #Australian edition and the difference between #thefirstnewalbum and #thefirstfirstnewalbum, tracking wise and song wise). More cover tunes on the #Aussie version (it’s #tentacleovertimetime) *Drummer “by committee”* (#TNT #rhymes #noteven #poetry #stillnoteven) than the #Murican version the #firstfoyer and #firstforay: Aussie + Murican #versions #TNT + #HighVoltage #crocodiledundeesfavoritealbum (#HighVoltage) #noteven #marketing ***CALL METAL NERDERY AND LEAVE US A MESSAGE AND/OR SOME FEEDBACK REGARDING THE SHOW AT 980-666-8182!!!*** #voicemail #what (Extended Super Progressive #Duckfart #DanceMix) and the key to #enlightenment #tantricfarting #dancingskulls #alwaysremember #myhonk #checkfacebook
(09:19) – The alternative cover for the album (#supposably) / Could you imagine seeing #Motorhead and AC/DC together (or AC/DC with a #punk band?)? #BluesWithBalls #ACDCisMetal (and apparently, somewhat #straightedge #teetotaler) #rocknroll #gangvocals and some confusion as to “what” ACTUALLY constitutes #heavymetal #kindafunny / Angus is #undoubtedly an #artist (*Painting a picture*) the # mascot for AC/DC #thefinerthings #sugarhigh***go watch the Let There Be Rock concert movie!!! It’s fucking RAD!!!***(check out our #killeropeners #episode(s) as it is #tangentionally related to this #discussion) #recordscratch #rockinghard #unwoke #fareast #asianconcertcourtesy #cuntycuntasaurus #sorrynotsorry #wokefolk / A word from Anus Jung…Watch AND Listen (or y’all can just listen, but #seekout this video!! It’s #hilariouslyfunny)) #LemmyShorts and #bananas #waitwhat #thoseshorts #areyoumakingthebread #straightfromschool and an #offmicburp #listenersatisfactionsurveyASMR #empathy
(18:36) – Personnel (NOTE: Stevie Young was Malcom’s nephew and played guitar on Power Up #aka #PWRUP) and AC/DC beer #PowerUpBeer #HighVoltageBeer #willyoulookatthat #eyeoftheBEERholder #uhyeah (drink some High Voltage beer while listening to this episode!) #apologyASMR (***the next Metal Nerdery episode will be #dedicated to #softintros only!!!***) #MetalNerderyASMR #genius #manifestation #multiverse #hashtagoverdose #boLth / How fucking Metal is it to have #bagpipes on #thefirstnewsong of #thefirstnewalbum!? #tangentional #shoutout to #metalmcdonald for referencing them and doing a #shitawful #MichaelMcDonald impression #gross #angsty #turnituptoeleven #cantbeloudenough / IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP (IF YOU WANNA ROCK ‘N’ ROLL) #goodmood #goodvibes***check out the music video!!!*** #themostlaidbackdrummerinmetalhistory #neonorangeglowingtubes #bagpipeboner on a #paradefloat / The AC/DC #melody is perfectly #subtle (and brilliant): it’s like the way that salting the steak dude puts salt on his steak (#thesteaksaltingdude) …only they do that with their melodies ***#BTW Check out our AC/DC Side One: The Bon Scott Years Episode in the unfortunate event that (for whatever #ludicrous reason) you haven’t had a chance to already do so***
(29:20) – The accidental adoption of the schoolboy outfit / ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SINGER (see also #TheCult – Electric-“Wildflower”, because #Russell said so) #offmicburpASMR #ohno #rancidthroatsphincterodor #fuckthatASMR (“…but I had other plans…”) / Matt’s #deepthoughts regarding #ACDC: they’re the perfect #soundtrack for #strippers (***#FYI: y’all need to wear #crosstrainers for #betterstripperfoothealth*** / NOT about #gambling or #handies / #venerealdisease #AlexOooohOfDiscernment THE JACK (yeah, definitely NOT what it sounds like it would be about, although it’s #always a #literal #fuckinggamble / apparently the “live” version of is #naughtier and more #XRayTed than the studio version #comingtothemainstage #Adelaide #baddeal #andwhoknowswhatelse #gangvocals #Off #sleazy #shuffled #villagebicycle #doubleentendres and #innuendos and #entendres #NilesNigelson #twentyfive
(39:23) – The #opener for the #LetThereBeRock #movie, #VHS #DVD #8mm #BetaMax ***The Russell #shudder of #hesitation*** a #bold #admission that is somewhat #tangentionally related to #LedZeppelin and #TheSongRemainsTheSame #concertfilm #consistency and #relaxers #irregardless #optiontwelveteen #SoHigh watching #TSRTS #MarkItDude #MotherFucker (LIVE WIRE) #cantbeloudenough #CBLE #banger #perpetualheadbanging equals #ACDCisMetal #hotrodbaby (Stick THIS in your fuse box!) #GetSome #BluesShredder and #RiffLord #AngusIsABlessing
(49:13) – ***#96Rock is back…and this is where it was first heard: #WKLS96ROCK *** Oi…Oye…Oy: it’s like #Aussie #Hetfield and a bit of #history regarding the #prisoncontinent of Australia a #Scotstralian in #Scottsdale #andthereitis #ILoveTheHelmet (T.N.T.) time to #explode that #powerload #superoi #samebutdifferent #anthems (***WHY hasn’t AC/DC played the #SuperBowl? ***) #offmicburpASMR See also #WarPigs #ineedtobarrysomethin / CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU GIRL #nastyriff #metalchuckberry #heybaby and some #nonsequitirASMR that had ZERO #tangentionalalityismness (from #ACDC to #Ozzy #UltimateSinAlbumCover #cmonbruh) #MarkItDude / #throwingballs #cocainemirror #thenewcore #ballchuggingcore #segue
(58:05) – LITTLE LOVER (as opposed to Whole Lotta Rosie, who was just #bigly) ***Perhaps #tangnetionally connected to #Squealer (like a #Prequel, #mehbeh?) / Wrong ending referenced (#standby) SHE’S GOT BALLS #wrongending #listentothoselyricsASMR #letmetellya #digupacoupleofem #readthoselyricsASMR #titscrotums and #badbitches and #definitions (#hashtagASMR) #ItWasTheJack #YesterdayDontMeanShit / Tracking changes and “The 2112 Phenomenon” #MarkItDude #TimeMarchesOn #albums #oldschool
(1:07:42) – HIGH VOLTAGE #chicachica #high #tallboys #eleven #highgravity / #thankyouforthat THE JACK #outtro #quality #BonScott #thankyouimgladyoulikedtheshow #toomuch #wow #markthetime #thenewcore #markthetimecore #snippetcore / Compare High Voltage to everything else that came out in #1975 #nohatred #thankyouforthat #backshadowing / When the #humantrials for the #timemachinerelaxers start… / The budding #partnership between #pontoonbrewing and #bunkerpoonstudios all based on #asimplerhyme ***PLEASE CONTACT US AT OUR TOLL NOT-FREE NUMBER***CALL METAL NERDERY IF YOU’D LIKE TO SPONSOR US WITH YOUR BEVERAGES AND/OR MONEY AT 980-666-8182*** #restinpower #hail #urinationASMR / #outro #itsallbullshit #thereisnomoon #eastereggs #foreducationalandinstructionalpurposesonlyASMR