AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Dlx)
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CD Details
Artist: AC/DCBrand: SONY
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-02-18
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
- Love At First Feel
- Big Balls
- Rocker
- Problem Child
- There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'
- Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round To Be A Millionaire)
- Ride On
- Squealer
Music reviews of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Dlx)
Music Review: Downright dirty...
Rating: 4 Stars
You got that right! This one has got to be one of the raunchiest, sleaziest records ever made! And it is good, too! But before going any further, I feel compelled to make 2 disclaimers: first, this is a record of men, by men and for men, so unless you ARE a man or a TRUE, 21st century, fully liberated woman (and I'm not talking about those "weekend feminists" who are feminists only as long as it suits them), chances are you might find yourself offended more than once while listening to this CD. It IS NOT for the feint of heart, I tell you that much! As accurately stated in the liner notes, this is the kind of record you don't want your parents, your in-laws and maybe even your girlfriend to find out about. And since I mentioned the liner notes, the second diclaimer: if you, like me, are not a "white teenage boy", I recommend you NOT to read the liner notes, either, as you may find yourself slightly offended; apparently, the narrow-minded, moronic author of those liner notes seems to believe that only the above mentioned demographic can enjoy this music...he is sorely mistaken...you've been warned... now on to the music...
Indeed "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was AC/DC's third album overall but, for reasons that totally elude most hard rock fans (and historians, mind you), remained shelved for the world outside of Australia until 1981, some 5 years after it was originally recorded, and a year into the second era of the band with Brian Johnson replacing the beloved Bon Scott. On the heels of "Back in Black" phenomenal success, Atlantic decided to profit from that momentum by releasing it, and the gamble paid off handsomely, as it reached #3 in the American charts and became the band's highest charting album until that point.
Unfortunately for all of us, the record company decided to toy even more with the release by altering the track list of the original. Hence the songs "Jailbreak" and "R.I.P" were removed and replaced with "Love at First Feel" and "Rocker", while the track sequence was completely changed. In a highly controversial move, "Jailbreak" would finally be released in 1984 along with some other "lost" tracks from the band's Australian debut album in the form of "Jailbreak `74", but "R.I.P" remains MIA to this day.
So, when I heard that AC/DC was switching record labels and reissuing their back catalog, I hoped this would be the perfect opportunity to finally make things right and reincorporate all of those "lost" songs to the albums to which they belonged (there are other songs from other albums STILL missing). However, this turned out not to be the case, as Sony simply reissued the same albums that Atlantic already had made available.
This fact notwithstanding, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is STILL a fabulous record, all tampering considered: it rocks, big time, and it displays the band fully indulging in all of those naughty little things that make rock n' roll such a guilty pleasure. This was the second Bon Scott-era album that I got (completely at random...where I live, you don't get to choose what music you buy, you buy what you can find...) after being hooked by "Powerage", and this record only served to add fuel to the bon(Scott)fire. This could be considered almost as a "concept" album, if only critics would accept sex as a valid concept for such an album.
Of course, most people who like AC/DC know its infamous title track, since it has been a live favorite ever since it was written, so I won't waste time (yours AND mine) saying things that have already been said and that you already know: the song is deceivingly simple, yet catchier than hell and infectious, and it perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album.Quoting Bon: "Come right in, forget `bout him, we'll have ourselves a ball..."
"Love at First Feel" continues in the same line of naughty storytelling as Bon describes his less than gentlemanly intentions with regards of a girl who just happens to be at home all by herself. For the next tune, Bon proves that he is good on his word: having invited us to have a ball with him, it is only appropriate that he delivers "Big Balls" with such gusto; I'll leave it up to you to choose which of the balls described by Bon you like best: the ones held for charity, the ones for fancy dress, or the ones held for pleasure. One thing's for sure, though: Bon's balls were ALWAYS bouncing!
"Rocker" got magically transported here from its original place in AC/DC's second Australian album "TNT", and while I find such a deed to be particularly dirty coming from the record company, the track packs considerable punch and fits in adequately, even if you can tell that it is a bit different from the rest; "Problem Child" is a great track, featuring one of AC/DC's trademark guitar riffs, simple yet catchy, and graces us with yet another story of sex, booze and brawls in the streets.
"There's gonna be some rockin'" is as honest a declaration of intent as one could hope to find, its pace slightly slower and its groove absolutely contagious. "Ain't no fun (waiting round to be a millionaire)" is a another slower number, simple yet compelling, with Bon's lyrics telling a tale of frustration and anger, but also hope and drive to succeed; then the song picks up its pace for its grand finale, slowly fading to the sound of its immortal gang chant.
Now, the last 2 songs here deserve a special note from me, since they contain two of my favorite guitar passages ever: first is "Ride On", with its bluesy cadenza and some particularly inspired soloing from Angus, especially for the second solo (the first of those passages I was talking about), which reminds me of Jimmy Page soloing on "Since I've been loving you". Killer! And then comes probably the crown jewel of this album, but also the one of the most controversial songs in AC/DC's catalog: "Squealer" is just a downright nasty, unapologetic ode to first timer sex; but all outrage aside, the song is great, propelled by an infectious bass line over which the guitars later add some powerful chords, which in turn make way for Angus outro solo, where he indulges as much as Bon does with his lyrics, managing to kick some major rear ends in the process. This solo is the second guitar passage I alluded to before, where Angus includes a series of high-pitch harmonics that are totally awesome, as well as the rest of the solo.
Bottom Line: this is a 4 ½ star CD at least, and if you're an AC/DC fan, it is an album you can't possibly do without. It presents the band at its naughtiest best, perfectly marrying clever songwriting and inspired playing. The only possible complaint that I might have is about the already mentioned "lost songs", but that is a minor quibble. If you are a newcomer, you might be a little surprised by its content and general subject matter, but once you get past the "Oh my god, I can't believe they got away with that!" shock, you'll find yourself enjoying this album immensely. I know I did.
Description of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Dlx)
AC/DC's 1981 album digitally remastered and reissued in a special digipak plus a 16 page full color booklet containing all original album art, many unpublished photos, classic memorabilia and new 2003 liner notes. Epic.While Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap sounds like every other AC/DC album, it is distinguished by a lyrical puerility spectacular even by Bon Scott's standards. Two tracks--"Love at First Feel" and "Squealer"--are ruminations on the morality of sex with schoolgirls. "Big Balls," ostensibly a narrative from the perspective of an aristocrat socialite, is actually a somewhat labored excuse for the band to chant "We've got big balls." This juvenile posturing was, to a large degree, AC/DC winding up their burgeoning foreign audience by playing to stereotypical expectations of Australians. On Dirty Deeds, however, AC/DC try too hard. Only on "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire)" is Scott's laconic wit deployed to real effect: the sheer glee in the line "Get your fuckin' jumbo jet off my airport!" is almost worth the album's purchase price. --Andrew Mueller
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