Tuesday 2 January 2018

AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

The Gods of Random have been kind and produced a low number (9), and the first album for perusal is AC/DCs second album of 1976.
This is the bands fourth (or third?) album.
The first two ('High Voltage' and 'TNT') were Australian only releases, and their third release (also titled 'High Voltage') combined the best bits of the Australian albums and was given an International release.
'Dirty Deeds ..' also had a later International release with modified track listing ("RIP (Rock In Peace)" was replaced by the frantic "The Rocker").

9 tracks built around similar patterns of thumping drums and heavy bar room blues riffing (with the quieter, almost delicate "Ride On" chucked in for good measure).

'Dirty Deeds ...' opens with the title track, and an almost sinister sounding riff.  Bon Scott's equally sinister vocals offer his services to help solve any little problems you may be having (these aren't problems like a blocked drain or dripping tap - these services are more criminal in nature).
Part way through the lyrics is the first serving of  lascivious humour, as Bon announces his phone number as 36-24-36.
"Love At First Feel" is, as the title suggests, continuing the theme (sex and drugs and rock and roll are very much a theme of AC/DC).
The lascivious (or more correctly schoolboy) humour returns for "Big Balls" - a harmless song about a man who arranges society dances - anyone who spies dirt in those lyrics must have a really dirty mind (???).

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

No smut there, as far as I can see.

Next up is what probably reads like Bon Scott's autobiography "The Rocker", and there may be a touch of Bon in "Problem Child" too.

Side 1 over, and there has been no let up yet - no time for breath.
"There's Gonna Be Some Rockin" is just as relentless, if on the slightly slower side, and then that riff is back with abandon for 7 minutes of "Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round To Be A Millionaire)". A spoken track announces the song:
"The following is a true story.  Only the names have been changed - to protect the guilty".
And then (at last?) time for breath with the slow dirty blues of "Ride On".
After that respite the thumping drums and riffing returns for closing track "Squealer".

When the album was released in the UK, it was lumped in with the burgeoning Punk movement, and (like Motorhead) AC/DC were the heavy rock band that it was "OK to like if you're a Punk".
The UK was their biggest market until the US breakthrough with 1979s 'Highway To Hell' and then confirmed with 1980s 'Back In Black'.
Whilst not a big seller on release, 'Dirty Deeds ...' is now the bands biggest album in their back catalogue, beaten only be the aforementioned albums.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap




3 comments:

  1. Excellent random selection to start us off. Looking forward to the Barron Knights post next time.

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately The Barron Knights were not the choice for the letter B.
      What it was though, and currently in preparation, is something equally as "off the beaten track" which will knacker my ROCK credentials

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  2. I had no idea that the Aussie track listing of Dirty Deeds was different than the international release. Well, there you go. I don't think I've even heard the Rock in Peace track.

    I think the title track has my favourite AC/DC lyrics; they just didn't write stuff like that after Bon died.

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