AC/DC
Backtracks

It's difficult to talk about and review this box set which I don't hesitate to call colossal for the interest it has sparked, its content, and not least also its considerable price. Let's start from the beginning: at the end of September the rumor of an "imminent announcement" from the band emerged; some thought and hoped it was a new album, although unlikely considering the time that had passed between "Stiff Upper Lip" and "Black Ice".

When the announcement came from the big boss and spokesperson Malcolm, the excitement didn't diminish because it was a mega box set, 2 years after the fundamental and magnificent "Plug Me In" and one year after an extended version of the last record containing a DVD, a flag and other gadgets, and this promises to be the most important and richest box: in fact, and here's the point, it contains 2 CDs of rarities in addition to a DVD which is the third and final part of the "Family Jewels" series. But this is only the standard version, the one found in stores, the real excitement lies in the deluxe version, limited, not available in stores, and orderable only online: the one containing as many as 3 CDs of rarities, 2 DVDs, a vinyl rarities LP, a photo book, the unmissable gadgets, and especially a case which is a real and functioning amplifier. Inevitably, the price also rises, inevitably, a price for true fanatics and for those who have blind faith and passion for the Australian band. As I'm part of this category, I gather the funds and, with the excuse of the holidays, I place the order and eagerly await the arrival of the package, and now we come to the actual description.

As said at the beginning, it is not easy to review this product containing various things, so I find myself forced to describe the different contents one by one before reaching a conclusion: CD 1: contains various studio rarities, it starts with the original version of "High Voltage" which is actually practically the same as the one we all know (only at the end a small difference is noticeable), that legendary track belonging to the band's second album "T.N.T." and that will also be the first to be captured on video at an Australian festival, the same from which the video of "Show Business" is taken.

The subsequent "Stick Around" and "Love Song" are real rarities as they belong to the very first 1975 LP of the group, but recorded in November of the previous year over a few days after concerts: the first is an excellent preview of future successes, already showing the unmistakable style of the five with lyrics centered on Bon's great ladies' man life; the second is a real gem: the only authentic love ballad ever produced by the five, also their first single of their career, dating back to the very early period with Dave Evans on vocals but the lyrics are by Bon; A rare moment of romance for the five kangaroos even though some speculate that the "Jene" in the lyrics is actually gin, yes an authentic love for the great singer, a truly atypical song and overall a pleasant surprise in finding a different style from the usual, even if we all prefer the more classic ones.

Another gem of atypical style is "Fling Thing": a traditional Scottish piece originally called "Bonny Banks Of Loch Lomond", a delightful instrumental of just 2 minutes, instrumental even if you can hear the members' voices in the background. This piece comes from the "Dirty Deeds" sessions but was inserted only in the "Jailbreak" single and was often used to open concerts, almost a moment of relaxation before the "war" of other explosive pieces.

The other real rarities are: "R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)", a track excluded from the worldwide version of "Dirty Deeds" and written to honor the old rockers always opposed by the media like Jerry Lee, "Carry Me Home" from the "Dog Eat Dog" single, "Crabsody In Blue" excluded from "Let There Be Rock" which takes up the theme already addressed by "The Jack" with its skit, a common theme to the band members, and finally "Cold Hearted Man" excluded from "Powerage". The others with Bon's vocals are all original versions of already known tracks like "It's A Long Way To The Top", "Rocker", "Dirty Deeds", and "Ain't No Fun", versions that add little to the originals except small variants in duration.

The tracks with Bryan are nearly all B-sides that are fairly dispensable and not particularly noteworthy, I won't tell them all to avoid running too long. 18 tracks in total, more or less all interesting anyway. Rating: 3.5

Now let's move on to the live rarity CDs: CD 1: a true masterpiece, fills a gap of almost 20 years and finally fully justifies the purchase; 15 tracks as always filled with amphetamine-like energy and explosiveness, some really rare, the only pity is that most are from the post-Scott period, 11 out of 15 tracks indeed have Bryan on vocals. Noteworthy is a "Dog Eat Dog" from the legendary concert at the Apollo Theatre, mysteriously excluded from "If You Want Blood". Rating: 5

CD 2: offers 14 tracks from famous and very important concerts for the band, namely the infamous Monster Of Rock '91 at Donington, the celebrated Moscow concert also in '91, the '96 Madrid "No Bull"; ends with the beautiful "Safe In New York City" live in Phoenix 2000. Rating: 4

Now let’s move on to the 2 DVDs: DVD 1: the third part of "Family Jewels" with all the videos of the group from "Big Gun" to the latest "Anything Goes", also includes precious bonus videos like the alternative one of "Jailbreak" and live versions, as well as the making of "Hard As A Rock" and "Rock N' Roll Train", the latter already present in the metal box of last year mentioned at the start, and the absolute masterpiece video "Hail Cesar" is noteworthy; Rating: 3.5

DVD 2: features the entire "Circus Krone" concert in Germany in 2003, of which a half-hour promotional version was also aired on TV in December on various MTV channels; Rating: 3.5

LP of rarities: a genuine gem containing all the rarest tracks from the first CD but in vinyl; Rating: 5

Gadgets: personally, I always greatly appreciate these memorabilia, a pick and a pin representing early logos from early tours in the homeland, a visor sticker (dispensable), a poster from the first British tour, a fantastic poster from the second European tour in '77, three stunning lithographs of Angus Malcolm and Bon in the studio, a banknote with Angus from the "Moneytalks" times, a recording slip, and one of the many (temporary) tattoos worn by Bon; Rating: 4

Photo book: 164 pages of photos, posters, words, and history, splendid memories that testify to the incredible journey of our heroes, a must-have, in my opinion, the best thing in the entire box, further words would be superfluous; Rating: 5

Finally the amplifier: last but not least, as they say in these cases, a real and functioning guitar amp as a container with the logo at the center; Rating: 5

In conclusion, announced as the definitive AC/DC box set, it is actually a product that is not perfect and perhaps could have been better given the expectations but still offers many interesting aspects: another 2 live discs were needed after the other 2 existing official ones; in the first disc, some rarities are excellent gems, and especially, as mentioned above, the book offers a great source of culture and enrichment. I reiterate once again that it was not easy to review this box set, which is why I know it's come out as a semi-scroll, but it was necessary to describe this overall excellent product, the price is for real fanatics and maybe does not fully justify it, however, I do not feel in a position to discourage the purchase for those who want to complete their collection.

After all, it is not easy after so many years and already many other similar products to find truly unreleased things.