AC/DC, the review of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"

AC/DC

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings

Also Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), as High Voltage, comes out with two different covers: one for the Australian version and one international. The latter is designed and created by the prestigious Hipgnosis studio, the one responsible – over the decades – for masterpiece illustrations for groups such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, 10cc, UFO, Wings, Black Sabbath, Status Quo, Sweet, Yes, Scorpions… excellent company, in short. The tracklists are different: mainly the edition intended for the international market (remember that in the USA, however, the album was only released in 1981… Atlantic, in fact, categorically refused to distribute it, upon its publication in 1976!) sees the reshuffled songs, a couple of shortened pieces and the replacement of some titles – RIP (Rock in Peace) And Jailbreaking give way to Rockers And Love At First Feel.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap for many it represents the most dangerous, lascivious and streetwise side of the award-winning Young & co. company, to the point of being considered by critics and fans as AC/DC's most “degenerate” album. Very apt definition, given the hot content based on hard rock, blues and very high voltage rock'n'roll

The title and title track are inspired by the business card of a character from the old cartoon Three cheerful sailors (Beany And Cecil) which read “Dirty deeds done dirt cheap. Holidays, Sundays and special rates”; and the lyrics of the song that gives the album its title see Bon Scott step into the shoes of a hired assassin who describes all the ways he knows to eliminate the targets in the missions assigned to him. But it is also necessary to mention the painful blues of Ride Onin which the singer lays bare his feelings, Problem Child with a text dedicated to the bad boy Angus and the closing song (in the international version) Squealera saraband of double meanings, allusions and filth as only Scott was able to do with words.

Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, on the occasion of the band's 50th anniversary, reissues the entire AC/DC catalog on gold vinyl. All LPs – in limited edition – are accompanied by a 12″x12″ print, different for each album, to collect and frame.

Australian edition tracklist:

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round To Be A Millionaire)

There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'

Problem Child

Squealer

Big Balls

RIP (Rock In Peace)

Ride On

Jailbreaking

Tracklist:

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap