I’m remembering that I did long ago have a New Zealand, early 80’s gatefold reissue of TNT. So at least I got to know that one in the correct context.
I never knew they were a thing until the Internet! I grew up with the American versions and still haven't seen an Australian copy in real life. I've only been able to listen online. AC/DC: The Australian Albums – Green and Black Music
The overseas High Voltage, is essentially the Australian TNT, with a couple of songs off the Australian High Voltage. It kind of takes the bands second album and tries to turn it into the debut.
I noticed that. The original Aussie High Voltage is essential and should be part of their widely available catalogue. '74 Jailbreak should gather all the stray tracks at least. Five tracks is a pathetic effort!
Some of the tracks they chopped off for the international version ended up on '74 Jailbreak. Which is a record I loved when it came out. "Soul Stripper" and especially "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" were like incredible finds to me. I had no idea where they came from or about the different versions of the albums or any of that. It wasn't as easy to find these things out then. Stuff just showed up in the store and you said "Cool! More AC/DC"
Yeah, although I prefer the UK versions in every case, I think the Australian albums should be standardised worldwide: High Voltage (Oz) T.N.T. (Oz) High Voltage (international) Dirty Deeds — could do a Hendrix style thing of including bonus tracks, so you can make either version yourself. Let There Be Rock — jettison Problem Child. It fits, and the short version is nice as an extra, but Overdose then Crabsody is how it should be. Powerage — same as Deeds
To see the layout of how it went down altogether. Aussie High Voltage - Feb 1975 1. "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Big Joe Williams) 4:50 2. "She's Got Balls" 4:52 3. "Little Lover" 5:40 4. "Stick Around" 4:39 5. "Soul Stripper" 6:25 6. "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me" 3:31 7. "Love Song" 5:14 8. "Show Business" 4:46 Aussie TNT - Dec 1975 1. "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" 5:14 2. "Rock 'n' Roll Singer" 5:04 3. "The Jack" 5:53 4. "Live Wire" 5:50 5. "T.N.T." 3:35 6. "Rocker" 2:55 7. "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" (Angus Young, Malcolm Young) 4:12 8. "High Voltage" 4:02 9. "School Days" (Chuck Berry) 5:22 International High Voltage - Apr 1976 1. "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" 5:02 2. "Rock 'n' Roll Singer" 5:04 3. "The Jack" 5:53 4. "Live Wire" 5:50 5. "T.N.T." 3:35 6. "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" (A. Young, M. Young) 4:12 7. "Little Lover" 5:40 8. "She's Got Balls" 4:52 9. "High Voltage" 4:04
The first album I heard in the late 80s was the Uk/international High Voltage. Through friends I learned it was essentially a compilation of the first two albums, although no-one had heard let alone seen these releases. Of course I kept my eyes on the import section in Tower, which usually was decent but with no luck. I went into the same shop the very day The Razors Edge came out. Grabbed my copy on cassette along with the 12" single of Thunderstruck. Thought to myself 'I'll have a quick look in the import section and, bingo, Australian High Voltage was sitting there, on cassette, for £16. I didn't hesitate and I wasn't disappointed. I'll always been baffled as to why the Australian albums haven't become the standard.
For interest sake also - you will notice that if you take the Jailbreak '74 songs and recreate the Aussie High Voltage, you will be missing Love Song and Stick Around ...
The other two songs missing with the amalgamation of the albums are Rocker, which should show up live later, and School Days, the chuck Berry classic. Rocker
This is probably an unpopular comment, but early AC/DC leaves me a bit cold. I love “Jailbreak” but most of the stuff off High Voltage/TNT is not my bag; a lot of bad blues tunes and joke songs. Let There Be Rock is where they started to really get me.
Released in the UK, one week after The Ramones' debut, High Voltage was a breath of fresh air amidst the stale, fetid, bloated, crap that had infested the music scene since late '74.
Of course Dirty Deeds was never released in the US until the 80’s after the success of Back in Black...
Oh, I get it. I know I’m in the minority. I’m just pointing out that the early stuff for me is not my bag. So often every one is into the “early stuff” but AC/DC and Pink Floyd, for another example, are exceptions for me.
That's cool, just interested. TNT was like the soundtrack to my pre-record buying days. I was 6 or 7 when it came out, and I would look forward to seeing the band on Countdown whenever they appeared
They're stupidly difficult to get hold of, and expensive now. I guess it's kind of like the B*****s thing though. If you grew up with the Brit versions, the Capitol versions are weird, and vice versa