Licorice Pizza: Some Random AC/DC

10/03/2007

Some Random AC/DC

I ran across something the other day that seemed like it might have some potential: A boot titled AC/DC: Shockingly Rare. As it turns out, the main shocker on this disk is that so little of it is AC/DC.

There are 13 tracks on this collection. Of those, at least three aren’t AC/DC at all. Then there’re a few others where the only connection to AC/DC is a guest spot by a member of the band. Bottom line, this disk was a little disappointing.

But since I’m a pretty decent guy, I’ve cut through all the bullshit for you and honed Shockingly Rare down to four songs. I’ve never heard any of them before, so I’m hoping they’re new to you as well.

The first track, “Johnny B. Goode,” may be from a jam with Cheap Trick. From Crabsody in Blue: “A CD has been released by the Cheap Trick fan club featuring a previously unavailable live jam with members of AC/DC performing the track 'Johnny B Goode.'  The album, put together by Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos and titled 'Bun E's Basement Bootlegs,' contains a number of onstage collaborations with artists such as Roy Wood, Alex Harvey and Cozy Powell. The track, which features Bon, Malcolm, and Angus, is ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and was recorded in 1979. The CD is limited to 1000 copies and only available to members of the Cheap Trick fan club.”

“Shot in the Head” is a track by the Marcus Hook Roll Band. MHRB was an identity assumed by Harry Vanda and George Young at the very end of their four-year stint in London as session musicians and independent record producers. George Young, of course, being the older brother to Angus and Malcolm Young. In 1974, the band recorded 10 tracks, using Angus and Malcolm on the recording. The album eventually saw limited release in Australia as Tales of Old Grandaddy, but “Shot in the Head” did receive some notice as the band’s “theme song” of sorts.

“Whole Lotta Rosie” is the AC/DC classic, covered by Guns n’ Roses, with Angus Young on guitar.

“Boom Boom” is a bluesy sort of jam that Brian Johnson and Angus Young recorded live during an interview at a French radio station.