This album, one of my favorites, is really a mix of two. In 1974 AC/DC released High Voltage, which was the Australian verison. In 1975 they released TNT , also Australian, and finally, in 1976, they released the American High Voltage .
High Voltage is made up of mainly TNT . It starts off as TNT with It's A Long Way To The Top , Rock 'n' Roll Singer , The Jack , Live Wire , and TNT . Then it skips what originally was Rocker and goes straight to Can I Sit Next To You Girl . Then AC/DC put Little Lover , which was track three on High Voltage (Australian version). Then comes She's Got Balls , which was right before Little Lover on the Australian High Voltage last but not least comes the title track, High Voltage . For some reason, though, High Voltage was originally on TNT . Strange, how the Australian High Voltage didn't have a title track (as most AC/DC albums now do). Most of the songs trashed from the American High Voltage were put onto 1984's '74 Jailbreak (like the songs Jailbreak , Show Business , and Baby Please Don't Go ) Well, that's a little information on the album, now on with the review.
1. It's A Long Way To The Top
This song starts off with Malcolm playing a loud but simple riff. This song was very succesful commercially (later, though). Especially when it was played on that movie School Of Rock . At 0:07 Angus plays his first few notes on this song, and doesn't really join in with Malcolm until the lyrics start. The song is basically Bon telling people that it ain't easy being a rock star ( Getting stoned! ). Angus plays a nice solo, with good sound. The video off Family Jewels was simply spectacular (especially when that girl tries to give Bon a ciggerate, hehe). Bon also plays lot's of bagpies on this song, which greatly weakens the "all songs sound the same" statement made by AC/DC haters. A nice song. If I counted commercial success for the ratings, this would have been a 5/5, but musically, I think it deserves something a little bit less.
4/5 - Excellent
2. Rock 'N' Roll Singer
This song starts with an easy riff that I love to play on the guitar. It has a solo in the very beginning, which is strange for AC/DC. The song is about how Bon left school and grew his hair to become a rock 'n' roll singer. While his parents "They wanted me to be respected as a doctor or a lawyer man". Plain song, not much I can say. Has a few nice parts, but overral a pretty average song. I especially hate the part where Bon says "Gonna be a rock 'n' roll star... I hear it pays well!". Of course, we all know Bon started singing because he loved to be there up on the stage, as shown by videos on Family Jewels , and that he truly loved his job.
3.5/5 - Great
3. The Jack
This song, I hated when I first started listening to AC/DC. I first heard it live from AC/DC Live . I also hate how Brian sings the beginning "She gave me her mind.... then she gave me her body. But she gave it to anybody... But I made her cry, and I made her scream!". The real lyrics go " She gave me the queen, she gave me the king. She was reeling and deeling, just doing her thing..." The original song was about a card game, but Brian turned it into a sexual adult situation. What a bastard (sorry to all you Brian fans, he simply is a bastard). But this song is AC/DC all out hard-rock-blues. Great solo, great part for Malcolm. A great song. I listened closely to the Bon Scoot version, and I love this song now. But musically, some things could've been better.
4.5/5 - Superb
4. Live Wire
This song starts off with a bass, and the two Young brothers slowly take over the song. This song is dirty. I usually hate dirty AC/DC songs because it brings the quality down (example: Ballbreaker album sucks like hell), besides of course Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap . On my personal rating, I would give it a 2/5 (poor), but musically, it deserves something better. The guitar riffs are simply and not too exciting here anyways.
3/5 - Average
5. TNT
This is one of the songs that got AC/DC going. I enjoy it as well, though in my opinion it has some of the weakest riffs Malcolm ever played. Personal rating would be 4/5 (excellent), commercially successful rating would be 5/5 (classic), but musically, about like my personal rating.
4/5 - Excellent. I rounded the rating, because I would've given it 4.7/5 musically.
6. Can I Sit Next To You Girl
One of the greatest songs on the album. My personal favorite on the album too. this song was on their first LP, which had Rocking In The Parlor/Can I Sit Next To You Girl . It has some awesome riffs (finally Malcolm plays separate notes). And a chorus with no guitars in it (for the most part) which may seem preposterous*1, but sounds awesome. The song is, as you can imagine, about Bon asking a chick "Can I sit next to you girl"*2. Personally, 5.999/5 (very, very, very classic), commercially, maybe 3/5.
5/5 - Classic
7. Little Lover
This song is a bit different from most songs. Not too many power chords, using the 1st and 2nd strings (crazy for AC/DC). This song is about Bon trying to get a chick after the show ("When the band said goodnight, I had to say hello [to you] ). Nice riffs, overall good song. Personally 4.999 (very, very, very superb), commercially, I don't know.
4.5/5 - Superb.
8. She's Got Balls
Gotta love the name of this song. So original (hehe)!!! Starts off with an A chord (I believe so, at least), and all of the riffs are branches of A chords. Very nice song. I can't exactly state what this song is about (feel free to enlighten me!). Personally 5/5 (classic). Commercially, no clue (feel free to enlighten me on that too)
5/5 - Classic
9. HIGH VOLTAGE [ROCK 'N' ROLL]
The last song on the album, also the title track. Very nice actually. Comes close to getting trippy in some places (in my opinion). Feels very spontaneous and happy. This is the best song to listen to if you're feeling depressed. Makes you wanna bob your head (not as hard as Angus does of course. We don't want people to sue AC/DC for heads falling off!!!) or dance and clap your hands. I haven't got the rhythm of the riff yet. This has become quite a tough song for me to learn. Don't exactly know what it's about.
High Voltage is made up of mainly TNT . It starts off as TNT with It's A Long Way To The Top , Rock 'n' Roll Singer , The Jack , Live Wire , and TNT . Then it skips what originally was Rocker and goes straight to Can I Sit Next To You Girl . Then AC/DC put Little Lover , which was track three on High Voltage (Australian version). Then comes She's Got Balls , which was right before Little Lover on the Australian High Voltage last but not least comes the title track, High Voltage . For some reason, though, High Voltage was originally on TNT . Strange, how the Australian High Voltage didn't have a title track (as most AC/DC albums now do). Most of the songs trashed from the American High Voltage were put onto 1984's '74 Jailbreak (like the songs Jailbreak , Show Business , and Baby Please Don't Go ) Well, that's a little information on the album, now on with the review.
1. It's A Long Way To The Top
This song starts off with Malcolm playing a loud but simple riff. This song was very succesful commercially (later, though). Especially when it was played on that movie School Of Rock . At 0:07 Angus plays his first few notes on this song, and doesn't really join in with Malcolm until the lyrics start. The song is basically Bon telling people that it ain't easy being a rock star ( Getting stoned! ). Angus plays a nice solo, with good sound. The video off Family Jewels was simply spectacular (especially when that girl tries to give Bon a ciggerate, hehe). Bon also plays lot's of bagpies on this song, which greatly weakens the "all songs sound the same" statement made by AC/DC haters. A nice song. If I counted commercial success for the ratings, this would have been a 5/5, but musically, I think it deserves something a little bit less.
4/5 - Excellent
2. Rock 'N' Roll Singer
This song starts with an easy riff that I love to play on the guitar. It has a solo in the very beginning, which is strange for AC/DC. The song is about how Bon left school and grew his hair to become a rock 'n' roll singer. While his parents "They wanted me to be respected as a doctor or a lawyer man". Plain song, not much I can say. Has a few nice parts, but overral a pretty average song. I especially hate the part where Bon says "Gonna be a rock 'n' roll star... I hear it pays well!". Of course, we all know Bon started singing because he loved to be there up on the stage, as shown by videos on Family Jewels , and that he truly loved his job.
3.5/5 - Great
3. The Jack
This song, I hated when I first started listening to AC/DC. I first heard it live from AC/DC Live . I also hate how Brian sings the beginning "She gave me her mind.... then she gave me her body. But she gave it to anybody... But I made her cry, and I made her scream!". The real lyrics go " She gave me the queen, she gave me the king. She was reeling and deeling, just doing her thing..." The original song was about a card game, but Brian turned it into a sexual adult situation. What a bastard (sorry to all you Brian fans, he simply is a bastard). But this song is AC/DC all out hard-rock-blues. Great solo, great part for Malcolm. A great song. I listened closely to the Bon Scoot version, and I love this song now. But musically, some things could've been better.
4.5/5 - Superb
4. Live Wire
This song starts off with a bass, and the two Young brothers slowly take over the song. This song is dirty. I usually hate dirty AC/DC songs because it brings the quality down (example: Ballbreaker album sucks like hell), besides of course Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap . On my personal rating, I would give it a 2/5 (poor), but musically, it deserves something better. The guitar riffs are simply and not too exciting here anyways.
3/5 - Average
5. TNT
This is one of the songs that got AC/DC going. I enjoy it as well, though in my opinion it has some of the weakest riffs Malcolm ever played. Personal rating would be 4/5 (excellent), commercially successful rating would be 5/5 (classic), but musically, about like my personal rating.
4/5 - Excellent. I rounded the rating, because I would've given it 4.7/5 musically.
6. Can I Sit Next To You Girl
One of the greatest songs on the album. My personal favorite on the album too. this song was on their first LP, which had Rocking In The Parlor/Can I Sit Next To You Girl . It has some awesome riffs (finally Malcolm plays separate notes). And a chorus with no guitars in it (for the most part) which may seem preposterous*1, but sounds awesome. The song is, as you can imagine, about Bon asking a chick "Can I sit next to you girl"*2. Personally, 5.999/5 (very, very, very classic), commercially, maybe 3/5.
5/5 - Classic
7. Little Lover
This song is a bit different from most songs. Not too many power chords, using the 1st and 2nd strings (crazy for AC/DC). This song is about Bon trying to get a chick after the show ("When the band said goodnight, I had to say hello [to you] ). Nice riffs, overall good song. Personally 4.999 (very, very, very superb), commercially, I don't know.
4.5/5 - Superb.
8. She's Got Balls
Gotta love the name of this song. So original (hehe)!!! Starts off with an A chord (I believe so, at least), and all of the riffs are branches of A chords. Very nice song. I can't exactly state what this song is about (feel free to enlighten me!). Personally 5/5 (classic). Commercially, no clue (feel free to enlighten me on that too)
5/5 - Classic
9. HIGH VOLTAGE [ROCK 'N' ROLL]
The last song on the album, also the title track. Very nice actually. Comes close to getting trippy in some places (in my opinion). Feels very spontaneous and happy. This is the best song to listen to if you're feeling depressed. Makes you wanna bob your head (not as hard as Angus does of course. We don't want people to sue AC/DC for heads falling off!!!) or dance and clap your hands. I haven't got the rhythm of the riff yet. This has become quite a tough song for me to learn. Don't exactly know what it's about.
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