AC/DC-Powerage Song by Song Thread

They played Gone Shootin'

 

I quote Bon Scott every day: “hah hah HAH!”

 

Hey @ohnothimagen would love for you to check in

 

Riff Raff just the greatest. What a cool song. Never heard a bad version. Always seemed to be a pleaser to people who didn't dig AC/DC back in the day. Everyone loved Riff Raff. Such a cool riff. Such a cool song. A burner!

 

Gonna chime in when possible, I wouldn't even like to guess how many times i've heard this record, it's my favorite studio album of all time, it's the bands most diverse in song style but their most cohesive sound wise, imo. Raw, dark, uncompromising and an even bigger 'f**k you, we'll do what we want' to their record company than LTBR. Still feels weird going with the International version as I had the UK version first and prefer that mix all the way. Wasn't even aware there was another mix done til a few years later, lol.

R 'N' R Damnation 8/10, 7/10 for fade/edited version.

Gimme A Bullet 8/10
(the lyrics are 10/10, also prefer this one for the opener)

Down Payment Blues 11/10
Probably my favourite song of theirs. I prefer the vocal take on the early mix with no bluesy bit at the end.
I'll give the newer mix 10/10 even tho i'm not keen on the vocal effect or dubs.

Riff Raff 10/10
Easily one of the best things they've ever done, the live version from IYWB is one of my favorite ever live performances. None more terrifying.

Debatable, it would be nice if it could be confirmed. For sure, no tapes have surfaced...as of yet.

Perfectly put

 

He's better than Ferrer, he is pretty much a drum machine though. No one can play Rocket Queen except Adler.

 

Riff Raff
Impossible to follow Musicman1998's review. Whoa, you're on fire, man!

Perfect in every way. The main riff reminds me of another kick-ass riff much later on That's The Way I Wanna Rock'n'Roll. Love the drum beat during the verse. The solo has a cool structure, the way it stops twice and then goes on again, to end with the intro riff.

Rocks.

 

I missed a couple here so I'll briefly comment on both:

"Gimme A Bullet" - Here's a song where Cliff Williams really contributes to the song in terms of its groove and melody (not that he doesn't on other songs, but here he's more prominent). Williams' moving bass line is actually quite funky and the figures he plays like on 2:02 make "Gimme a Bullet" move much more so than if he was just playing it straight. I think the perception of Williams is he is a straight root bass player and for a lot of songs he is, but he locks in with Rudd to great satisfaction and their solid foundation was a huge part of AC/DC's sound. So, yeah, "Gimme a Bullet" has a bit of funkiness to it which is not the norm for AC/DC, but certainly not the exception either.

"Riff Riff" - This has to be one of AC/DC's greatest songs. A really rousing, fun rocker that, if you think about it, could actually have a horn section augmented to it and it would work. Now, I don't really like horn sections that much but the build ups (at like 2:20) would work for the song if they had chosen that direction. It would work as well for all the emphasis changes (like the fast changes from to A to D). It's definitely kind of a cranked up 50's style rocker with Bon's great snarling/sarcastic vocal over it.

As promised, here's Mark Kozelek's cover of it from What's Next to the Moon:

 

At And now we enter.....
Sin City:

Sin City, basically Las Vegas.
I love the way the rhythm section sort of subtlety kicks off the song and the we get the meatiest and AC/DCiest of meaty AC/DC riffs, and Bon of course is the star of this song, really showing himself as this guy really wanting that big score, the jackpot, and taking some risky moves to do so, a lot like how being in a band is a big gamble. And we mention Angus the Pint Sized Powerhouse at 1:54, really ripping and showing we he is the man and I'm not. Oh, and the ladders...and snakes section at 2:38, with Cliff laying down this killer, killer groove along with Phil's hi hat. Again, **** your flashy virtuosos, Cliff n Phil are the s***. And Goddamn should the badassery of this song be hammered into your head, because you and I will never do anything this awesome in our lifetimes. These five guys are superior to everybody on this forum and they will prove that in less than five years.
I give this winning the whole casino on a scale of one to ten.

 

Midnight Special:

 

Paris 79:

 

2015:

 

And Axl DC:

 

One of the more popular tracks from the album and played live more than some of the others. Another great track on my favorite AC-DC album. I was happy that they played this one at the Paris 1979 show.

 

Happy thanksgiving everybody!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

 

One of my favorite AC/DC songs.

Opens with the big, open chords and then moves into the driving rhythm for the tune. During Bon's vocal the rhythm is clipped more (showing a bit of Malcolm's percussive feel). I love the "oh!" right after "dry martinis" line. Good stuff. What else can I say? I love the riff, I love the driving rhythm section, I love Bon's winner/loser lyric. I love Angus's manic solo and Bon's soliloquy in the middle "ladders give, snake's take".

 

Sin City was kind of their "hit" or the song they played a lot at the time. That Midnight Special thing gives me that idea. And on the live shows of that era, seems like Sin City was always in there. What a cool song. I used to play along with this over and over and over. Cool lyrics. Great music. Love this song and record. Rockin' and groovin'. Nice mellow breakdown in the middle. Love Sin City.

 

Sin City - the second part of the song after the guitar solo is **** hot.

 

Stormer!

My joint favourite track on the album. Along with about 6 others.

So spin that wheel
Cut that pack
And roll those loaded dice
Bring on the dancing girls
And put the
Champagne on ice

Love it! And yeah, the low down groovy bit after the solo just roolz!

Did anybody else play the studio clip above, and when it had finished, immediately have the opening riff to the next song in their head? Just me?

 

Sin City is one of AC/DC's best songs ever. The breakdown is SO satisfying.

"I'm goin' in..."

 

Sin City - the B-side of the 45 I mentioned earlier in this thread, so it's one of the first AC/DC songs I heard.

It's just amazing. Always loved the "ladders and snakes" bit in the middle. I've always thought it sounds incredibly cool with that bass driving it along. It's explosive when it kicks in again. They haven't done anything else like it as far as I'm aware. Of course the rest is more sublime power, groove and energy from AC/DC with fantastic lyrics again. I remember my Dad playing it and I've loved Sin City for as long as I've loved music. It is of course, another 10/10.

 

Thinking about Sin City has made me get out my trusty much loved Powerage vinyl.

It never fails to hit the spot. Such a great record.

 

Ha. Angus is the best.

 

I'm gonna get on stage before Mal kicks my ass. I'm he-oh ****, I'm supposed to be center stage!