In 1990, seminal Aussie headbangers AC/DC released The Razors Edge, which became perhaps their best known and most well respected latter era work. It spawned two massive MTV and radio hits, Moneytalks and Thunderstruck. The time was right for a live album, something to thank the fans for, at the time of its release in 1992, twenty years of hard rocking support.
They had released a live album before, back in the late 70s, which featured the late (and great) original lead singer Bon Scott. But since then, the band had sold close to 25 million records with their new lead singer, Brian Johnson. The time was now or never: the band wasn't getting any younger, and if they wanted to capture the essence of an AC/DC show before it was impossible to do due to age, they had to do it then.
Live actually was released in single and double disc formats. The double disc edition was much rarer and is now out of print, but I still see it occasionally in Best Buy. The single disc edition is what I own, along with over 3 million other people. And despite two drawbacks that at one time overshadowed what there was to love about it, I've come to accept them and say to myself: "dammit Matt, this stuff rocks...HARD!"
The single disc issue contains 14 tracks, a mix of AC/DC's greatest hits (think You Shook Me All Night Long and Highway to Hell), and longtime live favorites of diehard fans (think T.N.T. and The Jack).
RANT MODE ON
According to the liner notes, "All tracks were recorded during AC/DC's 1990-1991 world tour that covered twenty one countries and one hundred and fifty three shows." OK, so unlike the video released documenting the show in Donnington, perhaps not all of this is from one show (although my best bet would be that 75% of this at least is from that same video). Now, having said that, what the hell is the point of all the fading in and out between tracks? If I'm going to go see AC/DC live, I'm not going to see the place become slowly silent in between songs. I can say this because I've seen AC/DC live (just over a year ago actually), and let me tell you, they have some crazy fans. The fading in and out detracts from the overall enjoyability of the disc because it's so ridiculous. I think they might be the only band who has ever had something like that on a live album. It's just asinine, period.
Now, for a second rant. When I buy the package and it says AC/DC: Live on it, I expect that I'm hearing music played in front of a live audience. Is this live? Well, yes, in most spots. However, the ridiculous amount of overdubbing on this record is insane. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they just pulled a 1970s and threw crowd noise on top of some new studio takes.
RANT MODE OFF
But here's the thing about the overdubs: I don't care. I used to, like I mentioned in my opening. I used to hate the fact that what I was hearing wasn't 100% live. But you know, I don't care. And I don't care because this whole disc rocks like no other. If I'm driving on the highway with this thing blaring, get out of my way.
The songs give a good overview of AC/DC's career, from the Bon Scott era to what was the newest hits for the band with Johnson. All of these songs are songs that AC/DC may whip out when they tour currently. It reads as a live greatest hits. The power of the opening Thunderstruck, the meat and potatoes straight ahead rock stylings of Back in Black, the absolutely undeniably catchy Moneytalks, all of these songs just rock like you wouldn't believe.
By the time you get to the disc closing For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), your ears might just be bleeding. Or you might be dizzy from the headbanging you just did. Or you might find yourself in a schoolboy's outfit because you wanted to be Angus Young doing his little strut across the length of the stage.
Yeah, there's overdubs. Yeah, there's fade ins and fade outs. But most importantly, yeah, it rocks. This might be the best album to introduce AC/DC to someone, although if you have to actually "introduce" someone to AC/DC, then that someone needs to get out of the house more.
Here's the tracklisting:
Thunderstruck
Shoot to Thrill
Back in Black
Who Made Who
Heatseeker
The Jack
Moneytalks
Hells Bells
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Whole Lotta Rosie
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Since this disc, AC/DC has released two studio albums, 1995's Ballbreaker (which spawned a minor hit in Hard as a Rock) and 2000's Stiff Upper Lip. As I said, about a year ago, I saw them and I reviewed the show at that time. That review is here: http://www.epinions.com/content_1450549380
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