If You Want Blood...

You’re only as popular as your last post, as my grandfather used to say, and with my hits here dropping like the dollars in my 401(k), I thought it might be a good idea to post a little more frequently.

That said, those of you who are still prisoners of government radio are probably unaware that Sirius Satellite Radio recently launched AC/DC Radio. It’s been quite a while since I’ve spent any amount of time listening to AC/DC, but it’s been fun tuning in for a couple of hours here and there and hearing some songs I haven’t heard in years.

This all-AC/DC-all-the-time channel is part of the media blitz surrounding the October 20 release of Black Ice, the band’s first studio album since 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip. I’m looking forward to hearing the album, which singer Brian Johnson has said is harder-edged than its predecessor. There’s also the news, reported by Rolling Stone, that for the first time on album Angus Young will be playing slide guitar.

Jumping fully on the AC/DC blitz bandwagon, I’ve decided to post up a few of the band’s songs today. Like I’ve done in the past, I went through the disks I have and pulled one song from each, trying where I could to stick to the deep tracks.

Some trivia notes – where applicable – about today’s music:

Gone Shootin’: Written by Malcolm and Angus Young, and Bon Scott, is about a heroin overdose. The song was re-recorded in 2007 with Brian Johnson on vocals.

Love at First Feel: One of only two tracks from international AC/DC albums not available on the band's Australian albums. It was released as a single in Australia, however.

The Jack: According to interviews, the song stemmed from real events when the five members of the band were sharing a house. A groupie who had slept with most – if not all – of the band contracted gonorrhea and subsequently accused one of them of giving it to her.
The live recordings of “The Jack” have very different lyrics than the original studio versions. Whereas the studio version of the song uses poker metaphors as sexual innuendo, the live version tells the story in a literal manner.

Night Prowler: In June 1984, a highly publicized murder case began revolving around Richard Ramirez, who was responsible for several brutal killings in Los Angeles. Nicknamed the “Night Stalker,” Ramirez was a fan of AC/DC, particularly the song “Night Prowler.” Police also claimed that Ramirez was wearing an AC/DC shirt and left an AC/DC hat at one of his crime scenes. During the trial, Ramirez shouted “Hail Satan!” and showed off the pentagram carved into his palm. On VH1's Behind the Music on AC/DC, the band claimed that while the song had taken on a murderous connotation by Ramirez, it is actually about a boy sneaking into his girlfriend's bedroom at night.

Chase the Ace: One of two instrumental tracks from the Who Made Who album. This album, which serves as a soundtrack for the Stephen King film, is also the closest thing AC/DC has to a “greatest hits” album.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Train: The first release from the upcoming Black Ice album. On August 30, the first Saturday of the U.S. college football season, the song was played extensively on ESPN and ABC college football broadcasts as intro and bumper music.

Can I Sit Next to You Girl.mp3 ~ from High Voltage
Gone Shootin’.mp3 ~ from Powerage
Love at First Feel.mp3 ~ from Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
The Jack (live version).mp3 ~ from If You Want Blood
Night Prowler.mp3 ~ from Highway to Hell
Have a Drink On Me.mp3 ~ from Back in Black
Chase the Ace.mp3 ~ from Who Made Who
Meanstreak.mp3 ~ from Blow Up Your Video
If You Dare.mp3 ~ from The Razor’s Edge
Big Gun.mp3 ~ from The Last Action Hero soundtrack
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train.mp3 ~ from Black Ice

Labels: AC/DC, classic rock, guitar heroes

posted by aikin @ 5:36 PM