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Rating: Hard Rock is the subgenre of rock that is most influenced by Rhythm and Blues. At the end of the 60s, Deep Purple created this genre by taking Rhythm and Blues and arranging it with the still primitive Progressive. Already towards the end of the second half of the seventies, this type of music was experiencing a period of stagnation due to other trends that were burying it under useless flourishes. But it was precisely in 1974 in Australia and in 1976 in the rest of the world that AC/DC, through High Voltage unwittingly refounded Hard Rock for the second time, they did this by eliminating the Progressive, increasing the Blues matrix, and incorporating the genuine, instinctive, sincere Rock'n'Roll of the origins. Just consider that in their career, AC/DC made many covers in honor of Chuck Berry, considered one of the fathers of Rock. Hard Rock was refounded for the third time in 1989 by Guns 'n' Roses.
High Voltage opens with an epic track for the band "It's a Long Way to the Top", introduced by Angus's guitar riffs and the voice of that blues animal Scott, which, as a feature of the track, engages in long bagpipe solos. The lyrics talk about the difficulty of reaching the rock and roll Olympus and it is autobiographical. "Rock and Roll Singer" is a fast-paced and adrenaline-driven track and it too will become a staple for future concerts. "The Jack" is an extraordinary blues track and is accompanied by Scott's narrative, which talks about a card game and the various adventures related to it... Notably, George Young was on bass in these last two tracks. "Live Wire" flows by amid the Youngs' guitars and was, during the Bon Scott period, the opening track for concerts.
"T.N.T" is the masterpiece of the album, just listen to the chorus "Cause I'm TNT. I'm Dynamite/TNT and I'll win the fight/TNT I'm a power load/TNT watch me explode", splendidly interpreted by Scott's hoarse, otherworldly, and devilish voice, and Malcolm's voice, which might not be technically perfect but is appreciable. This song can summarize, thanks to its hard riffs, the chorus, and the extraordinary finale in which the bass and guitar of the Youngs alternate slowly at first and then whirl explosively with Kerrante's drums, the philosophy, if it can be called that, of AC/DC. "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" is an engaging track and above all very Rock and Roll. The next track, "Little Lover", is slower and more sensual, characterized by the interplay between the voice and the scales of Malcolm Young's rhythm guitar. "She Got Balls" was the song from the album "dedicated" by Scott to his wife, who shortly after requested a divorce due to the not very flattering content. The track is defined by many as "Hendrixian". Finally, the album closes with the title track "High Voltage", fast, angry, catchy (a bit like all AC/DC songs), and it is the shortest track on the album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 The Jack (05:54)
She gave me the Queen
She gave me the King
She was wheelin' and dealin'
Just doin' her thing
She was holdin' a pair
But I had to try
Her Deuce was wild
But my Ace was high
But how was I to know
That she'd been dealt with before
Said she'd never had a Full House
But I should have known
From the tattoo on her left leg
And the garter on her right
She'd have the card to bring me down
If she played it right
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack
She's got the Jack
Poker face was her name
Poker face was her nature
Poker straight was her game
If she knew she could get you
She play'd 'em fast
And she play'd 'em hard
She could close her eyes
And feel every card
But how was I to know
That she'd been shuffled before
Said she'd never had a Royal Flush
But I should have known
That all the cards were comin'
From the bottom of the pack
And if I'd known what she was dealin' out
I'd have dealt it back
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, And who knows what else?
She's got the Jack, yeah, yeah
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, Ooh, was a bad deal, Jack
She gave me the Jack hey
She's got the Jack, She's got the Jack, She's got the Jack
Ooh, can't ya tell?
She's got the Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack
She's got the Jack, She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, She's got the Jack
You Never know! She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, and it hurts!
She's got the Jack
She's got the Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack
She's got the Jack
AAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Oooooh!
04 Live Wire (05:52)
Well if you're lookin' for trouble
I'm the man to see
If you're lookin' for satisfaction
I'm satisfaction guaranteed
I'm as cool as a body on ice
Hotter than the rollin' dice
Send you to heaven
Take you to hell
I ain't foolin'
Can't you tell?
I'm a live wire
I'm a live wire
I'm a live wire
Gonna set this town on fire
And if you need some lovin'
And if you need some man
You've got the phone and the number
And I got no future plans
Oh come on, honey you got nothin' to lose
You got the thirst and I got the booze
Give you an inch
Take you a mile
I wanna make you fry
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
Holy smoke and sweet desire
Like a hot rod baby?
Oh stick this in your fuse box
Ah, cooler than a body on ice
Hotter than the rollin' dice
Wilder than a drunken fight
You're gonna burn tonight
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
And I'm gonna set this town on fire
Live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
Well, I'm your live wire (Live wire)
I'm a live wire (Live wire)
You're gonna burn
Ah look at me
Guilty
Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn
05 T.N.T. (03:35)
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi
Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi
See me ride out of the sunset
On your colour TV screen
Out for all that I can get
If you know what I mean
Women to the left of me
And women to the right
Ain't got no gun
Ain't got no knife
Don't you start no fight
'Cause I'm
(T.N.T.) I'm dynamite
(T.N.T.) And I'll win the fight
(T.N.T.) I'm a power load
(T.N.T.) Watch me explode
I'm dirty, mean, mighty unclean
I'm a wanted man
Public enemy number one
Understand?
So lock up your daughter
Lock up your wife
Lock up your back door
And run for your life
The man is back in town
So don't you mess me around
'Cause I'm
(T.N.T.) I'm dynamite
(T.N.T.) And I'll win the fight
(T.N.T.) I'm a power load
(T.N.T.) Watch me explode
(T.N.T.) Oi, oi, oi
(T.N.T.) Oi, oi, oi
(T.N.T.) Oi, oi, oi
(T.N.T.) Oi, oi, oi
(T.N.T.) I'm dynamite (Oi, oi, oi)
(T.N.T.) And I'll win the fight (Oi, oi, oi)
(T.N.T.) I'm a power load (Oi, oi, oi)
(T.N.T.) Watch me explode
07 Little Lover (04:57)
Saw you in the front row
Moving to the beat
Just movin' and groovin'
Killed me when I saw
The wet patch on your seat
Was it Coca Cola?
Oh baby I hope you liked the show
When the band said goodnight
I had to say hello
Little lover, I can't get you off my mind, no
Little lover, I've been trying hard to find
Someone like you
Oh baby you sure looked sweet
Cruisin'
A leg either side
Of my motorcycle seat
Just oozin'
Could have been a nightmare
Could have been a dream
But on my way home, baby
I thought I heard you scream
Little lover, I can't get you off my mind
Little Lover, oh I tried so hard to find
Someone to give me the things that I need, ah
Little lover, I can't get you off my mind, no
Little Lover, oh I tried so hard to find
Someone like you
You had my picture on your bedroom wall
Next to Gary Glitter, yeah
I was standing on the stage playing rock 'n' roll
I was a guitar picker, yeah
Never had a record
Never had a hit
Ooh baby, you didn't mind a bit
Little lover, I can't get you off my mind
Little Lover, you know I tried so hard to find
Someone like you, you, you
Baby I know you're a
Little lover, ooh
09 High Voltage (04:53)
(well) You ask me 'bout the clothes I wear
And you ask me why I grow my hair
And you ask me why I'm in a band
I dig doin' one night stands
and You wanna see me do my thing
All you gotta do is plug me into high
I said high
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage, High voltage
High voltage rock 'n' roll
rock 'n' roll
You ask me why I like to dance
And you ask me why I like to sing
And you ask me why I like to play
I got to get my kicks some way
and You ask me what I'm all about
Come and let me hear you shout high
I said high
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage, High voltage
High voltage rock 'n' roll
rock 'n' roll
I said high, I said high
Waaaah!
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage, high voltage
High voltage rock 'n' roll
(mumble, mumble...)
Spotlight, put the lights out, happy hour!
High voltage rock 'n' roll
High voltage rock 'n' roll
Wine, women and song
High voltage, high voltage
Wine women and song
High voltage rock 'n' roll
10 School Days (04:08)
C'mon ...
Up in the morning and out to school
The teacher is teaching the golden rule
American history and practical maths
You studyin' hard and you're hopin' to pass
Ooh you're working your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won't leave you alone
Ring ring goes the bell
The cook in the kitchen is ready to sell
But you're lucky if you can find a seat
You're fortunate if you got time to eat
Well back in the classroom open your books
Ooh the teacher don't know how mean she looks
Hail hail rock 'n' roll, hail hail rock 'n' roll
Hail hail rock 'n' roll, hail hail rock 'n' roll
Hail hail rock 'n' roll, hail hail rock 'n' roooooll
As soon as 3 o'clock goes around
You finally lay your burden down
Throw down your books and outta your seat
You go down the hallway into the street
And you're tryin' to forget just where you've been
You find a juke joint, you go in
You drop the quarter right into the slot
You gotta hear something that's really hot, like me
With the one you love you're makin' romance
All day long they wanted to dance
And you're feeling the music from head to toe
As round and round and round you go
Get over here
Long live rock 'n' roll, long live rock 'n' roll
Long live rock 'n' roll, long live rock 'n' roll
Long live rock 'n' roll, long live rock 'n' roll, hey
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, c'mon
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll
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Other reviews
By Copernico
A truly exceptional debut for the Scottish-origin group, which delivers a hit of hard rock with the blues elements of their origins.
You could almost say they unknowingly created grunge (I apologize if anyone takes offense).
By YC
AC/DC should be listened to in periods, after long pauses, only when you truly desire simplicity, of a bare but strong guitar, of a bare amplifier, of a hoarse, angry voice, a scratch of vocal cords.
Because it is immature, as I feel immature, and it is of a rock wonderfully empty of everything except energy, as I feel.
