Biography
AC/DC are an Australian hard rock band, formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. A hard rock/blues rock band, they have also been considered a heavy metal band, although they have always dubbed their music simply “rock and roll”. AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, High Voltage, in 1975. Membership subsequently stabilised until bassist Mark Evans was replaced by Cliff Williams in 1977 for the album Powerage. Within months of recording the album Highway to Hell, lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died on 19 February 1980 after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. The group considered disbanding, but buoyed by support from Scott’s parents, decided to continue and set about finding a new vocalist. Ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson was auditioned and selected to replace Scott. Later that year, the band released the new album, Back in Black, which was made as a tribute to Bon Scott. The album launched them to new heights of success and became their all-time best-seller. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC
Album & Cover
It was the band’s third LP released in Australia and in Europe in 1976 but was not released in the US until 1981, more than one year after Bon Scott’s death. All songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott. AC/DC began recording what would become Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in December 1975 at Albert Studios with Harry Vanda and George Young (older brother of guitarists Malcolm and Angus) producing. In April, the band went on their first tour of the U.K. where “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” was released as a single. According to the book AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll, Vanda and Young traveled to the U.K. to record several songs with the band at Vineland Studios for a scheduled EP, which was eventually scrapped. One of these songs, “Love at First Feel,” would surface on the international Dirty Deeds release. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap has been certified 6x platinum both in Australia and in the US, selling at least six million copies, becoming the third-highest selling album by AC/DC in the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Deeds_Done_Dirt_Cheap
The individuals on this cover are all unknowns with their eyes blacked out so not to be recognised in their sleazy world. The album title does the cover justice…
Cover Location: A Motel on Sunset Strip, Los Angelus, USA
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell
Label: Atlantic K50323(US), Atlantic SD16033(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Love At First Feel Big Balls Rocker Problem Child |
Side Two There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round To Be A Millionaire) Ride On Squealer |
Credits
Bon Scott – lead vocals
Angus Young – lead guitar
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mark Evans – bass guitar
Phil Rudd – drums
George Young – production, bass guitar on track 3
Harry Vanda – production
