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ALBUM REVIEW

AC/DC

DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP

First Released - 1976, US release 1981 on Epic Records. Produced by George Young & Harry Vanda

Bon Scott - Lead and Backing Vocals
Angus Young - Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals
Mark Evans - Bass and Backing Vocals
Phil Rudd - Drums

All songs written by: Bon Scott, Malcolm Young and Angus Young

REVIEW

If you like hard hitting, pure rock 'n roll with a bit of dirty lyrics, well this one is for you. To think Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap almost wasn't released in the US, in fact, not for five years after it was first released in AC/DC's home country, Australia, and after lead singer Bon Scott had died.

Scott's vocals sound great on this album, he really did have the perfect singing voice for heavy metal. The best song on the album is "Rocker", just full of energy and truth, and exactly what you expect to hear on a good hard rocking album. Actually, most of the songs on this LP fit that mode, as they should. "There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'" is my next favorite number on this gem, and can I dare say that this one is a "mellow but hard rocker"? After all, how can anything be mellow and hard at the same time?  Deep down this song is a bit of both, and the way the band lays it down so smooth, well even those who don't dig hard rock like this one. It might not rip you apart like a lot of their other songs, but it still hits hard enough where it counts.

There are two other ten's on this album. The title cut, which opens the album, is just a priceless treasure that lets you know that whenever you need a contract killer - or perhaps a pimp, you don't need to look too far. Then the third song on the album has to go down as one of my all time favorite dirty - yet double meaning, songs - "Big Balls". Totally juvenile, but damn, this one is even better and more dirty than the Rolling Stones "Starfucker",  after all, orgies are that way, aren't they!

"Love at First Feel" is wedged in between the opening title song and "Big Balls", and fits in great, a tune about making it with a young groupie and falling in love - a no-no in the business. "Problem Child" is equally as good as "Love at First Feel", and the album's closer, "Squealer" is just what was needed to close this classic out.

The two songs I give the lowest rating to here, still are not bad. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire)" has some great lyrics, and does start to take off a bit near it's close, and "Ride On" is the album's only real mellow song, with one more great vocal delivered by Scott.

I'll close out this review with a salute to lead guitarist Angus Young, as great a lead singer Scott was, AC/DC would not have gone anywhere without Angus and his guitar, nor would have this album, as it takes more than vocals to grab one's attention - and Angus' guitar does grab you on this album.

- - Keno 2005

To listen to some soundclips from DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP, or to purchase it, click on: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

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