High Voltage (1976 album)
Encyclopedia
High Voltage is the first internationally-released album
by Australia
n hard rock
band AC/DC
. It contains tracks from their first two Australia-only issued albums, High Voltage
and T.N.T.
(both from 1975). Originally released on Atlantic Records
, this edition of High Voltage has proven popular, selling three million units in the US alone. However, initially the album was panned by some critics upon its release, including a review by Rolling Stone
magazine's Billy Altman that called it an "all-time low" for the hard rock genre. It was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
a year before in Australia only, which had a different track listing. The international release only included two tracks from the original release, with the rest of its songs being pulled from AC/DC's second album T.N.T.
. The international releases of High Voltage also had different album cover
s from the original: one features a picture of Angus Young
as he appeared on the cover of the Australian 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.
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.
The original version of "High Voltage" which features on the T.N.T. album was longer and finished with a sustained guitar note followed by a single hit of the snare drum. The international version has the song fade out before the sustained note.
used the song "Live Wire" as his entrance song at UFC 102
.
The cover was shown in an episode of The Cosby Show
during the first season.
The song "T.N.T." was featured in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
.
magazine's Billy Altman that called it an "all-time low" for the hard rock genre. In his December 1976 review, Altman continued with "AC/DC has nothing to say musically" and that the lead singer, Bon Scott
, "spits out his vocals with a truly annoying aggression". By contrast, Allmusic's review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
is more positive, he 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".
Tracks 7 & 8 were previously released on the band's first Australian studio album High Voltage
in February 1975.
Tracks 1 - 6 & 9 were previously released on the band's second Australian studio album T.N.T.
in December 1975.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
. It contains tracks from their first two Australia-only issued albums, High Voltage
High Voltage (1975 album)
High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 17 February 1975. Six of the album's eight songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. "Soul Stripper" was written by Young & Young, and "Baby, Please Don't Go" is a cover version of a Big...
and T.N.T.
T.N.T. (album)
T.N.T. is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in December 1975. Seven of the album's nine songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
(both from 1975). Originally released on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, this edition of High Voltage has proven popular, selling three million units in the US alone. However, initially the album was panned by some critics upon its release, including a review by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's Billy Altman that called it an "all-time low" for the hard rock genre. It was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
Overview
Prior to the release of the international version of High Voltage, AC/DC had already released their debut album under the same name High VoltageHigh Voltage (1975 album)
High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 17 February 1975. Six of the album's eight songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. "Soul Stripper" was written by Young & Young, and "Baby, Please Don't Go" is a cover version of a Big...
a year before in Australia only, which had a different track listing. The international release only included two tracks from the original release, with the rest of its songs being pulled from AC/DC's second album T.N.T.
T.N.T. (album)
T.N.T. is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in December 1975. Seven of the album's nine songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
. The international releases of High Voltage also had different album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
s from the original: one features a picture of Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
as he appeared on the cover of the Australian single for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
"It's a Long Way to the Top " is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first track of the group's album T.N.T., released in December 1975, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
". An alternative cover was used on the international version's European release.
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
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
replaced the edited version of the track with the full length version. The 2003 remastered CD on Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
reverted it back to the edited version.
The original version of "High Voltage" which features on the T.N.T. album was longer and finished with a sustained guitar note followed by a single hit of the snare drum. The international version has the song fade out before the sustained note.
In popular culture
Randy CoutureRandy Couture
Randy Duane Couture is a retired American mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, a three-time former heavyweight champion, two-time former light-heavyweight champion, former interim light heavyweight champion and UFC 13 tournament winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
used the song "Live Wire" as his entrance song at UFC 102
UFC 102
UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 29, 2009 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon...
.
The cover was shown in an episode of The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
during the first season.
The song "T.N.T." was featured in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film also features John C. Reilly, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and Sacha Baron Cohen. Various Saturday Night Live alumni also...
.
Critical reception
Initially, High Voltage was panned by some critics upon its release, including a review by Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's Billy Altman that called it an "all-time low" for the hard rock genre. In his December 1976 review, Altman continued with "AC/DC has nothing to say musically" and that the lead singer, Bon Scott
Bon Scott
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
, "spits out his vocals with a truly annoying aggression". By contrast, Allmusic's review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
is more positive, he praised Angus Young
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
'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".
Track listing
Published by J. Albert & Son Pty Ltd.Tracks 7 & 8 were previously released on the band's first Australian studio album High Voltage
High Voltage (1975 album)
High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 17 February 1975. Six of the album's eight songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. "Soul Stripper" was written by Young & Young, and "Baby, Please Don't Go" is a cover version of a Big...
in February 1975.
Tracks 1 - 6 & 9 were previously released on the band's second Australian studio album T.N.T.
T.N.T. (album)
T.N.T. is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in December 1975. Seven of the album's nine songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott...
in December 1975.
Personnel
- Bon ScottBon ScottRonald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980...
– lead vocals, bagpipesBagpipesBagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
on "It's a Long Way to the Top" - Angus YoungAngus YoungAngus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Malcolm YoungMalcolm YoungMalcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Mark EvansMark Evans (musician)Mark Whitmore Evans is an Australian bass guitarist who was an early member of hard rock band AC/DC from March 1975 to June 1977. His playing featured on their albums T.N.T, High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock and 74 Jailbreak...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Phil RuddPhil RuddPhillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- Producers: Vanda & YoungVanda & YoungVanda & Young are Harry Vanda , and George Young...
for Albert ProductionsAlbert ProductionsAlbert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia's longest established independent Australian record label to specialise in rock and roll music. The label was founded in 1964 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Australian... - Recording Studio: Albert Studios, Sydney, Australia
- Cover photo: Michael Putland
Certification
| Country | Sales | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,000,000 | 3x Platinum |