AC/DC: Powerage [ALBERT/COLUMBIA]

Why you'll love it

This 180g pressing uses the 2003 remaster, cut from the original master tapes at Sterling Sound. It's the first AC/DC album with Cliff Williams on bass and finds Bon Scott at his sharpest as a lyricist.

This edition

• Remastered from the original master tapes
• 180g vinyl

About the album

Powerage has no title track, no single that anyone planned and no gimmicks, which is precisely why it hits so hard. Several of the songs took shape in July 1977 at Albert Studios in Sydney, in the band's first rehearsals with new bassist Cliff Williams, a player who could sing backing vocals too. Harry Vanda and George Young produced, as they had since the start.

With the first pressings ready to go in the UK, Atlantic asked for something for the radio, so the band went back in and cut "Rock 'n Roll Damnation," which now kicks the album off. From there it's Angus and Malcolm Young's riffs at full tilt and Bon Scott's sharpest writing: "Down Payment Blues" is a wry tale of living on next to nothing, "What's Next To The Moon" tips its hat to Casey Jones and Clark Kent, "Sin City" takes on the bright lights of Las Vegas and became a concert staple, and "Riff Raff" and "Kicked In The Teeth" are pure velocity.

It's the AC/DC record fans love to press on friends who think they've heard it all. Played at the correct volume, it's also a reliable way to meet the neighbours.

Also at Kops: more AC/DC on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Albert Productions / Columbia (cat# E 80204), a reissue of the 1978 album.