Backtracks

AC/DC

The ultimate AC/DC experience is now a box set to rival all others. Including collectibles, multiple CDs of studio and live rarities, DVDs (including the long–awaited Family Jewels Disc 3), and other novelties, Backtracks has just about anything anyone would need or want when it comes to Australia’s hardest working band.

There’s a bunch of stuff here, in a standard, as well as a deluxe edition configuration, but let’s tackle the CDs first. CD One, Studio Rarities features some cool tunes you might not be all that familiar with. “High Voltage” you might know, but tunes like “Stick Around” and “Love Song” only ever appeared on the Australian High Voltage album (AC/DC released their first six albums in two different versions; Australian-only releases as well international). “Love” has quite a dramatic — dare I say —artsy opening with what sounds like Angus Young playing over arpeggiated keys and the sweetest Bon Scott vocal you’re ever going to hear.

“R.I.P. (Rock In Peace),” from another Aussie-only release of the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album, roars. There’s the rare instrumental “Fling Thing,” the band’s take on the Scottish folk tune, “Loch Lomond.” Plus there’s couple of tunes from the band’s film work is included, like “Who Made Who” (the extended 12-inch mix) from Maximum Overdrive, and the staccato single-note assault of “Big Gun” from the Last Action Hero soundtrack. B-sides of singles, movie tracks and early stuff from Australian-only releases make this 18-song CD an excellent collection of true rarities from AC/DC.

The second and third CDs are packed with Live Rarities. One features mostly Bon Scott screaming and the other one has Brian Johnson. “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” from a 1977 Sydney Festival; the superbly nasty “Dog Eat Dog” from 1978 and two tunes from a November 1979 Hammersmith Odeon concert showcase Scott in all his glory. The menacing “Live Wire” and the sloppy (yet it works) “Shot Down In Flames” may be the best double-shot on Backtracks.

CD three opens with four tracks — “High Voltage,” “Hells Bells,” “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” — from the infamous 1991 concert at Donington Park. Three more from 1991 performed at the Tushino Airfield in Moscow follow, with a blisteringly thick “Highway To Hell” and “Back In Black” among them. Six songs from a 1996 Madrid show include the more obscure “Hard As A Rock” and “Hail Caesar.” There is also a very tight “Safe In New York City” from the Ballbreaker album, the latest live performance from 2000 in Phoenix, AZ.

A little more older stuff (I could have dealt very nicely with an entire CD of Bon Scott live) and some upgraded sound quality (like the songs from 1981 on the second CD) might have made Backtracks a little more fetching. But beggars can’t be choosers when you’re getting 29 tracks of live AC/DC!

Perhaps the two DVDs can make up for any shortcomings. Family Jewels Disc 3 is a collection of AC/DC music videos from the late 80s and beyond. There’s some stuff that enjoyed rather heavy rotation back in the day, like “You Shook Me All Night Long.” And there’s a great promo for “Big Gun,” featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger himself up on stage, doing his best Angus Young imitation. There are also videos for “Safe In New York City,” “Stuff Upper Lip” and “Rock N’ Roll Train.”

And yes, there is some early stuff, such as a Bon Scott-era “Jailbreak” (featuring a very young Angus Young). And there’s the band at the height of their powers taking the “Highway To Hell.” Live versions of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”" and “Highway To Hell,” featuring Johnson, finish it off. The DVD also has two mini documentaries on the making of the videos for “Safe In New York City” and “Rock N’ Roll Train.”

A second DVD included with the deluxe version is Live At The Circus Krone, a 2003 concert from Munich, Germany, described as a "front-row immersion" and a rare club appearance for the band. The camera placement, from up on stage mostly, under Angus Young, right up in Brian Johnson's face, or tight on the band in general, make this 20-song show breathtaking. The sound quality alone is mind-blowing (play it loud!). Highlights include unrivaled audience participation on “Thunderstruck,” the schoolboy strut and strip (and amazing guitar playing too) on “Bad Boy Boogie,” and the cannons over and behind the band, firing fully on “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You).”

The deluxe edition of Backtracks is an exclusive run of 50,000 copies, packed into a “media carrier” that doubles as a working mini guitar amp. It includes not just three CDs and two DVDs, but also a vinyl LP of studio collectibles, a 164-page coffee table book, facsimiles of authentic memorabilia like an “I DO It For AC/DC" button (the band’s first tour merchandise), recording track sheets, posters, fine art lithographs, etc. It's a hefty sum to be sure, but a very cool package. The amp is worth the price alone. Which ever you choose, Backtracks is the last word on all your AC/DC needs and a must for all devil-horned rockers.

~ Ralph Greco, Jr.

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