Classic Rock Album of the Day- AC/DC- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap- (1976, 1981 in the U.S)- *** 1/2
Ask any AC/DC fan to list their preferences of the band, you'll be surprised how many spacious seriatims you will get. There is no right or wrong answer on which is the best or worst in the Bon Scott era. They all work fantastically on the formula of head banging 4/4 , 3 chord bombastic classics..... and part 2 of adding just a tad of Angus' ax wizardry. No one did this formula better. But from this humble reviewer perspective, DDDDC is in the mid to lower tiers. And that is not a slam. This album has some fantastic cuts, but does suffer justly slightly in consistency. Pretty much all AC/DC LP's follows that recipe, which accounts for that wild variance in preference.
I've covered the general merits of this band in pretty good detail in the 4 previous review. There is no need to overthink the music, lyrics, direction, or scope. This is party rock at its utter best. When I want to really rock, this play list is blasting away. My Yang is covered with the likes of Yes or Rush. And as I have often said, the bands I am sad to say, I haven't seen live, I'd place AC/DC 3rd behind Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty. I think I had two chances when I lived near Houston, but sadly I had conflicts.
This was the really breakthrough LP for AC/DC, chronologically, though released post Scott Death. This is the one that brought them solidified international fame. And the fact it took 3 albums to reach this zenith, is a pretty damning of the pukes controlling the recording industry. It just showed that this whole system is not predicated on just being good. The industry as we learn more and more as the years pass, was even more crooked than all thought. And even AC/DC left bread crumbs of this matter in the title songs lyrics .... "Contracts" as a deadly weapon was sang eloquently and subtly.
I would be amiss also, to admit eating crow on the band, and was late for the party (Circa 1980) If you happen to previously see my "Top 20 lists" of '73-82, you will see that AC/DC made those lists pretty late. I was wrong, and now band is easily in my all time Top 10 now. But, as an adult early fan, I was somewhat put out with the overuse double entendre cuts. But.... I understand that the target demographic at the time was 13-18 year old boys. Still, this is not a one dimensional band and it deserves its mass popularity, as one of the all time greats.
Fun Fact: This was a shocker. Didn't realize it, but only 6 of 18 studios LP's were in the Bon Scott era. 20 of 37 songs on my AC/DC play list are from these 6. This isn't a knock on Brian Johnson. He pulled off the near impossible, and needs be commended for that.
Fun Fact No. 2 : Well maybe an observation.... I want to recognize the band's bass line musicians of the past 50 years. These guys for the most part were highly competent, and added stealthy to the great band sound. Everyone knows that AC/DC was a front man centristic band (Guitar and Vocals), but these other guys (drums and bass) quietly set the bed rock in fine fashion.
Side 1-
-------------
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap- Great opening riff, and IMO the greatest "revenge rocker" of them all. Not only is this revenge, but to the point of hiring a hit man. Hilarious and innovative songwriting here. The hit and the best song on the LP....period. 1
Love at First Feel- Oops, I forgot the add the parental warning. Odds of this being released today? Zero. Songs about sex with underage women is just damned creepy nowadays. And thankfully, this is a lower tier quality song. 8
Big Balls-
9
Rocker- Band takes a more bluezy/barrel house approach with mixed results. 7
Problem Child- After a lull of the past 3 so-so cuts, the band cuts loose. This song has some of Angus Young's best guitar runs. Yeah this one is in that wheel house formula, but hits home for sure. The slight reprise at the end, was a nice touch too. 2
Side 2-
-----------
There's Going to Be Some Rockin' - Band goes slightly off formula, moving to a barrel house blues direction. Not my preference, but maybe for others- 6
Aint No Fun (Waiting 'Round to be a Millionaire)- My Sleeper on this one. This song actually has some melodic interplay that works very well with base AC/DC repertoire. This one comes across as truly from the heart. Scott's even makes points around his bad teeth, rings that this wasn't a false proclamation. But back to the melodic part. I wish they had tried more of these in the '70's. It wasn't really not until the '80's do you see more of this. 3
Ride On- You normally don't put AC/DC into the Blues category, but this as an example shows that they could have went in this direction and had some level of success. If curious, check out the Angus Young solo at the end. No, it's not Clapton, but few other standard rockers had this level of style change ability A semi-sleeper IMO.... And I'm not really a blues guy. 4
Squealer- Rare AC/DC song that features the bassist. And that is pretty much the highlight of this sexualized tune. Well that, and a decent Angus solo. 5
Ask any AC/DC fan to list their preferences of the band, you'll be surprised how many spacious seriatims you will get. There is no right or wrong answer on which is the best or worst in the Bon Scott era. They all work fantastically on the formula of head banging 4/4 , 3 chord bombastic classics..... and part 2 of adding just a tad of Angus' ax wizardry. No one did this formula better. But from this humble reviewer perspective, DDDDC is in the mid to lower tiers. And that is not a slam. This album has some fantastic cuts, but does suffer justly slightly in consistency. Pretty much all AC/DC LP's follows that recipe, which accounts for that wild variance in preference.
I've covered the general merits of this band in pretty good detail in the 4 previous review. There is no need to overthink the music, lyrics, direction, or scope. This is party rock at its utter best. When I want to really rock, this play list is blasting away. My Yang is covered with the likes of Yes or Rush. And as I have often said, the bands I am sad to say, I haven't seen live, I'd place AC/DC 3rd behind Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty. I think I had two chances when I lived near Houston, but sadly I had conflicts.
This was the really breakthrough LP for AC/DC, chronologically, though released post Scott Death. This is the one that brought them solidified international fame. And the fact it took 3 albums to reach this zenith, is a pretty damning of the pukes controlling the recording industry. It just showed that this whole system is not predicated on just being good. The industry as we learn more and more as the years pass, was even more crooked than all thought. And even AC/DC left bread crumbs of this matter in the title songs lyrics .... "Contracts" as a deadly weapon was sang eloquently and subtly.
I would be amiss also, to admit eating crow on the band, and was late for the party (Circa 1980) If you happen to previously see my "Top 20 lists" of '73-82, you will see that AC/DC made those lists pretty late. I was wrong, and now band is easily in my all time Top 10 now. But, as an adult early fan, I was somewhat put out with the overuse double entendre cuts. But.... I understand that the target demographic at the time was 13-18 year old boys. Still, this is not a one dimensional band and it deserves its mass popularity, as one of the all time greats.
Fun Fact: This was a shocker. Didn't realize it, but only 6 of 18 studios LP's were in the Bon Scott era. 20 of 37 songs on my AC/DC play list are from these 6. This isn't a knock on Brian Johnson. He pulled off the near impossible, and needs be commended for that.
Fun Fact No. 2 : Well maybe an observation.... I want to recognize the band's bass line musicians of the past 50 years. These guys for the most part were highly competent, and added stealthy to the great band sound. Everyone knows that AC/DC was a front man centristic band (Guitar and Vocals), but these other guys (drums and bass) quietly set the bed rock in fine fashion.
Side 1-
-------------
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap- Great opening riff, and IMO the greatest "revenge rocker" of them all. Not only is this revenge, but to the point of hiring a hit man. Hilarious and innovative songwriting here. The hit and the best song on the LP....period. 1
Love at First Feel- Oops, I forgot the add the parental warning. Odds of this being released today? Zero. Songs about sex with underage women is just damned creepy nowadays. And thankfully, this is a lower tier quality song. 8
Big Balls-
9Rocker- Band takes a more bluezy/barrel house approach with mixed results. 7
Problem Child- After a lull of the past 3 so-so cuts, the band cuts loose. This song has some of Angus Young's best guitar runs. Yeah this one is in that wheel house formula, but hits home for sure. The slight reprise at the end, was a nice touch too. 2
Side 2-
-----------
There's Going to Be Some Rockin' - Band goes slightly off formula, moving to a barrel house blues direction. Not my preference, but maybe for others- 6
Aint No Fun (Waiting 'Round to be a Millionaire)- My Sleeper on this one. This song actually has some melodic interplay that works very well with base AC/DC repertoire. This one comes across as truly from the heart. Scott's even makes points around his bad teeth, rings that this wasn't a false proclamation. But back to the melodic part. I wish they had tried more of these in the '70's. It wasn't really not until the '80's do you see more of this. 3
Ride On- You normally don't put AC/DC into the Blues category, but this as an example shows that they could have went in this direction and had some level of success. If curious, check out the Angus Young solo at the end. No, it's not Clapton, but few other standard rockers had this level of style change ability A semi-sleeper IMO.... And I'm not really a blues guy. 4
Squealer- Rare AC/DC song that features the bassist. And that is pretty much the highlight of this sexualized tune. Well that, and a decent Angus solo. 5
