High Voltage AC/DC: 50 years since hard rock's first electric shock
In 1975, a young Australian band lit the fuse. AC/DC released their debut album High Voltage — but few know there were two different versions. One was a raw local release in Australia, the other, issued worldwide in 1976, became a hard rock landmark.
⚡ 1975 – The Australian explosion
The first version, released on February 17, 1975, by Albert Productions, captured AC/DC in their earliest and roughest form. Produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, it featured early material written before the band’s global rise. The songs were gritty, energetic, and full of that trademark AC/DC punch.
🌍 1976 – The international breakthrough
On April 30, 1976, Atlantic Records released a completely different version of High Voltage for international markets. Only two tracks came from the Australian LP, while the rest were drawn from the follow-up, T.N.T.. This version is the one that made history.
Tracklist (International 1976 edition):
- It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)
- Rock ’n’ Roll Singer
- The Jack
- Live Wire
- T.N.T.
- Can I Sit Next to You Girl
- Little Lover
- She’s Got Balls
- High Voltage
🎸 Legacy and impact
The world was instantly plugged in. AC/DC’s sound — raw, direct, and electric — became a blueprint for generations of rock bands. Fifty years later, High Voltage remains not just an album, but a declaration of intent: rock louder, live wilder, stay true.
🖤 AC/DC on MusikMachine
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