495. AC/DC / High Voltage [Australian Release]. 1975. 4/5

This album was AC/DC's debut effort, High Voltage, released in Australia in 1975. It is not the album that was released to most of the rest of the world as High Voltage, which was a compilation of the two original Australian releases, and thus a different package, which was a common occurrence during the 1970’s for early AC/DC albums. Unlike the international version, this has none of the great anthemic releases that are still known around the world today. While that may make it a less revered edition, it doesn’t detract from the album itself.

The band and thus their song writing was still in its infancy with this release. The album leads off with the cover version of "Baby, Please Don't Go", a song whose performance on the show Countdown with Bon dressed up in drag is still a hit today. It was the first real coverage of the band on national TV and it began to lift their profile from that point on. "She's Got Balls" became the first song that showed what kind of material this band could produce. It was a steady rock song, highlighted by Bon Scott's lyrics. This is followed by "Little Lover", a good repose of the previous song, showcasing the versatility that has been a hallmark of AC/DC over the past 40 years. The two songs which end Side A and Side B of the album, "Stick Around" and "Show Business", are average kick-around tracks, neither highlighting nor diminishing those songs around them.
"Soul Stripper" is the best indication as to the path the band was to take in future releases. Its more up-tempo beat combined with traded lead licks from Angus and Malcolm Young and Bon's high energy vocals was the forerunner of their great songs that were to come. "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" is so unlike what you would class as an AC/DC song, but it works. It has a mellower guitar riff, while Bon's vocals are also much more sedate than normal, and yet because it is not a slow tempo it works just as well. It's a real slow burner, a song that grows on you over time. "Love Song" however doesn't quite hit the same buttons. In many ways it is closer to an Alice Cooper song, while I really think "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" hits the spot, I'm not as sold on "Love Song". It's not a bad song, but it doesn't fit the style you would expect.

As a debut it is not only a solid showing from a band on the prowl, it is an excellent collection of mid-1970's tracks that may not be remembered when it comes to listing the best (or your favourite) AC/DC tracks of all time, but hold an important place in the history of the band.

Rating:  Then she made me play games I didn't want to play  3.5/5.