Album Dive
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The most impressive thing about the BON SCOTT era of AC/DC is that every word, every riff, every beat, and every note of every song just oozes a certain essence of sleaze and debauchery (in a good way).
And let us not forget the incredible double-entendres splattered across the entirety of the lyrics for the album (umm, “balls” much?).
Check out AC/DC on the Interwebs
Released: 20 September 1976
Recorded: December 1975 – March 1976
Studio: Albert, Sydney
Australian Version
Side one
1. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" 4:12
2. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round to Be a Millionaire)" 7:31
3. "There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'" 3:18
4. "Problem Child" 5:47
Side two
1. "Squealer" 5:15
2. "Big Balls" 2:38
3. "R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)" 3:35
4. "Ride On" 5:54
5. "Jailbreak" 4:41
International Version
Side one
1. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" 3:52
2. "Love at First Feel" 3:13
3. "Big Balls" 2:38
4. "Rocker" 2:52
5. "Problem Child" 5:47
Side two
1. "There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'" 3:18
2. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round to Be a Millionaire)" 6:58
3. "Ride On" 5:54
4. "Squealer" 5:15
Bon Scott – lead vocals
Angus Young – lead guitar
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mark Evans – bass guitar
Phil Rudd – drums
Production
George Young – production, bass guitar on track 3
Harry Vanda - production
We’re doing our best to render “rim-shot hilarity” to everyone in need of it, located within the global confines of the Tri-County Metal Nerdery listening area.
Get ready for a little “frog licking” (it’s not what you think), find out who will win the battle between “Thunder Chief” and the “Thunder Cheeks” and hear the triumphant story of an un-anonymous black dog who wanted to wear black bar anonymity sunglasses just like everyone else in the Album Cover Witness Protection Redacted Eyeballs Program and JOIN US as we dive into the 2nd album of Scotstralian genius from the boys down under and talk about some DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP.
Alternate Cover
DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP:
Definitely one of the heaviest ways to open an album EVAH!!! The heaviness and aggression of AC/DC is what set them above the “rock n roll” of their time…it’s what made them stand out. There was a certain, sleazy yet sinister beast infused inside the music and vocals. Hearing this as a child on the radio was quite literally a thrill, mainly because I didn’t own the tape (yet), but because this was a new kind of music that blew my mind. It’s one of those songs that will NEVER get old or be old.
“Neck ties, contracts, high voltage…”
LOVE AT FIRST FEEL:
The verse riff is something more reminiscent of High Voltage, stylistically, but the chorus has that “next level” of sonic evolution that the band was moving towards: still rock ‘n’ roll in concept, but with more attitude, force, and sleaze (both sonically and lyrically) than most 70’s early (metal) rock bands. It’s safe to say that AC/DC was (and is) “the metalhead’s quintessential rock n roll band.”
“You and me baby, we’re all alone. Let’s get something goin,’ while your mom and dad ain’t home…”
BIG BALLS:
Twelve-year-old laugh alert. I never quite realized how many double entendres and references regarding “balls” there were in this song. The fact that they played this on the radio just made it even better…because they were being so “naughty” talking so much about “balls.” And yes, it’s still hilarious (and fucking awesome) when listening to it now. Bon Scott is one of the most talented vocalists in heavy music, EVAH!!! Balls. They’ll never NOT be NOT funny.
“Some BALLS are held for charity, and some for-fancy dress. But when they’re held for pleasure, they’re the BALLS that I like best.
My BALLS are always bouncing, to the left and to the right. It’s my belief that my big BALLS should be held every night.”
ROCKER:
If this song doesn’t make you want to get up and move in some rhythmical fashion, then clearly you have no sense or appreciation of rhythm or just don’t appreciate the finer things like heavy (and fast!) rock n roll. It almost has that same “go fast” feel as thrash…like if Little Richard or Chuck Berry were trying to play thrash. Fun.
“Wanna jive, honey?”
PROBLEM CHILD:
Obviously, this is also on “Let There Be Rock,” but it was on here first. Read those lyrics. Bon is such a blessing to rock and metal that his words and his delivery just never get old. I listen to this now with the same enjoyment and wonder as when I was a single-digit aged lad trying to find ALL the heavy rock music that pushed boundaries and rattled parent’s nerves. Before this, KISS was the heaviest thing I’d heard. After this, AC/DC was easily the heaviest, sleaziest, most intense thing I’d heard. (At least now you can understand the process of “escalation” …it works the same way with relaxers as it does with rock and metal: you keep going for a more and more intense experience.)
Oh yeah, don’t forget about that weird “Tube Snake Boogie” reprise thing at the end of this version. (Hahahaha, it’s “This Album’s ‘Problem Child” of the Album.” Sorry, but c’mon…that’s hilarious!).
“Say bye-bye while you’re still alive, your time is through…”
THERE’S GONNA BE SOME ROCKIN’:
Not gonna lie; as a kid, this was probably my least favorite song on the record, although it still has its fair share of redeeming qualities (like, being a Bon Scott era track, which just like with pizza, Mexican food, sex and/or relaxers: even when it’s not great, ehhhhh it’s still pretty damn good).
“Every night, there’s a rock n roll queen, gonna quiver and quake, gonna shake her thing…”
AIN’T NO FUN (WAITING ‘ROUND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE):
Unfortunately, it also ain’t no fun waiting ‘round for the riff to change. Almost makes me wonder if they were way too “relaxed” and forgot that they were supposed to move to a different riff. But if you listen to Bon’s vocals, he paints a perfect lyrical picture to accompany the jamming. When the riff finally does change, it does so with real power! It’s like they put all the verses together and then consolidated all the choruses together and said “Okay, that’s a wrap.”
But wait…there’s MORE! It almost sounds like being inside the AC/DC jam room as they’re writing. It’s like the entire last, 3rd part of the song is a combination of the original verse and original chorus. If it truly IS one large jam session, then clearly, they crushed it.
“Only the names have been changed…to protect the guilty”
RIDE ON:
Probably THE bluesiest, lonesomest song that AC/DC has ever recorded. Bon’s lyrical portrayal of life on the road really paints a picture of the frustration and the loneliness of life on the road in a working, touring (rocking) band. Perhaps it’s actually about the bigger picture of trying to enjoy what you have in life, even if it brings you grief: you might as well stay on the ride and continue to “ride on” and enjoy the ride as long as you can.
Fun fact: You can start “Ride On” and ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and they almost, kinda sync up exactly. Sorta. Don’t deny the power of multiple windows of You-Tube.
“Broke another promise. And I broke another heart…”
SQUEALER:
Definitely a killer closer, and definitely more in that “next level” songwriting style…with more focus on dynamics and less focus on “traditional” blues style riffs. Again, there’s something about the artistic palette and atmosphere of the Bon era AC/DC (which, if you haven’t already, please go check out our AC/DC Side 1: The Bon Scott Years episode!!!).
“She said she’d never been…never been balled before…”
Show Notes:
(00:00): #losers #rimshothilarityASMR #outofalignment #awwwman #thisepisodesclinkyoftheepisode: Slipknot No. 9 Whiskey / #soundsofuncorkingASMR #metalbooze #metalwhiskey #beefliquor #lickerpoquor / #thisepisodesbeerofthepisode #thatsnotthisone #ROGUE: Gumberroo #gumberroo #pigdogmonster / #thickness #filledwithfruit #WestCoastIPA ***check us out on the #instagram and the #facebook and email us at metalnerdery@gmail.com or even better GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICE MAIL AT 980-666-8182!!! #TheVoiceMailSegment #popcornASMRreprise #ThePoddys #numbertwo #theresmorethanone #thankyou and also #yourewelcome #itwillgetbetter
(10:00): #noteven (#hahahaASMR) #itnevergetsold / *Our impartial opinion: That Slipknot booze is REALLY good! * / #itsbetter #motherfucker #newjingle WE’LL PLAY YOUR SHIT!!! #shittah #theyspeakJames #fluentyeah / #listenforinstructions #notFraunch / SEVI (#Sevi) HATE YOU **Go check out their video (it’s the #officialvideo)!!!! / #hashtagsforbaghags /*They’ve got quite a few albums, SEVI* #futureepisodeidea / #fullandthick #tomahawksteak/ The Docket: AC/DC “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” / 1976 and 1981 and differing points of time regarding the Australian only version vs the International-US version / **Does nobody care about album artwork anymore?** #alternatecover / #solidarm #gangsterparrot / #InsomniaChronicles and #airbiscuitfloating #stenchwretch / Favorite #BonScottEra AC/DC albums relative to #DDDDC / #perpetualtwelveyearold / an “extra” dose of heaviness on #DirtyDeedsDoneDirtCheap
(25:00): #psychedelicfroglicker #markthetime #itwillbemarked #ilovegoblincock #hehuhhuhhh #thelastpartofthelastepisode #huhehuh #atthetailend #listentilltheend / Lawsuit over…numbers? A lady’s measurements…or someone’s actual phone number? DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP #cantbeloudenough / #thunderchief or #thundercheeks? #Misheardlyrics for #DDDDC #slobber / #halfassed
(35:28): #nosmoke #notoast LOVE AT FIRST FEEL #secondtrackenergy #gangvocals (the songwriting & guitar playing was elevated on this album, riff wise and lead wise) #lightningbolts #nobottom / BIG BALLS #nutmix #titpurse #doubleentendre #allballsandnoshaft #titchest #eightiespenis #Austin #bollacksknockers (#twelveyearsoldforever) #uhyeah / And now… #RussellsReflections & the Mike Judge/Zack Galifianakis moment of incredible laughter (a full on #laughgasm) #dangole (#renovations at #33rdFloorIUBPStudios) #betweentwoferns
(49:51): ROCKER (and “Problem Child” being on two different albums; two different versions) / #extendedmix #radioedit #dancemix (Is it “cut” or “top”?) #cuttopthis #topcutthis PROBLEM CHILD / *Imagine actually playing getting to play Angus Young’s guitar rig! * / A strange analogy regarding Telecasters and SG’s (for the #tricounty #laypeople) / #sorryiassed / Other gear inquisitions, amps & sound… #Marshall #SuperLead #Wizard #Gibson #AngusYoungIsABlessing
(59:17): #SideTwo #BlackBarAnonymitySunglasses (why doesn’t the dog wear them!?) #dead #albumcoverbackstoryASMR #couldbeahe THERE’S GONNA BE SOME ROCKIN’ #bootscootyeah / “weird” potential rumor or conspiracy theory regarding the 1981 international version vs 1976 #ScotstralianVersion #fakeyourown #ifyouneedareason / AIN’T NO FUN (WAITING ‘ROUND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE) #guilty #usedtobe #longestverseever #lugeylauncher
(1:08:17): #soulful #blues and a soulful #onmicburp / Definitely a favorite… RIDE ON #oneofthesedays #theharmonicasong / #killercloser #init #thismightsoundfamiliar (*There’s got to be a ‘Squealer’ #dancemix somewhere*) SQUEALER #soundsofsleazeASMR #balled #fixedhergood #hey #itsfine
(1:18:05): R.I.P. (Rock in Peace) from the original #AustralianVersion of #DDDDC / *why do some countries get “bonus tracks” and #America doesn’t? * / #heavywalkdown #fangs / Tracking changes? / **Coming soon, a dive on Russell’s favorite #akkadakka album: AC/DC’s Master of Puppets** EDIT: actually, they’re not sonically as “totally different” as once thought…the difference between the 70’s and 80’s; #differenteras #era #fourthwallfuckitude #LGTFOOH / ***BUY OUR SHIT!!!*** metalnerdery.com/merch / #withthat #gumchoker #thefinalword ***GO CHECK OUT SEVI AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AT 980-666-8182!!!) #goodnight #getready #metalnerderyoutroASMR #waittiltheend #thelasttwoseconds
CBLE
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