Album: Powerage by AC/DC (1978)
Genre: Hard Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Energetic
Record Label: Atlantic
Format: Album

Description: Powerage was a first in the sense that it debuted bassist Cliff Williams, but it really is more of a final curtain to the band's early years. It would be the last produced by Vanda & Young, the legendary Australian production team who also helmed hits by the Easybeats, and it was the last before AC/DC became superstars. As such, it's perhaps the most overlooked of their '70s records, also because, frankly, it is the most uneven of them. Not that it's a bad record -- far from it, actually. There are a few genuine classics here, most notably "Down Payment Blues" and "Up to My Neck in You," and there's a real appeal in how Bon Scott's gutter poems of excess are reaching a mythic level; there's a real sense that he truly does believe that rock & roll leads straight to hell on "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation." But overall, the record is just a bit too wobbly, one where the parts don't add up to a record as hard and addictive as before -- but there's still plenty worth hearing here.

Artist Background: AC/DC are an Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014. Commonly referred to as a hard rock or blues rock band, they are also considered pioneers of heavy metal and are sometimes classified as such, though they have always dubbed their music as simply "rock and roll". AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, High Voltage, on 17 February 1975; ... Part of the Sydney, Australia music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Hard Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Airbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Van Halen

Music Scene: Part of the Sydney, Australia music scene. Emerged in the 1970s era. Associated with Hard Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Hard Rock, Rock/Pop, Energetic, 1970s, Album, Atlantic

Additional Context: Rating score: 9. Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Powerage was a first in the sense that it debuted bassist Cliff Williams, but it really is more of a final curtain to the band's early years. It would be the last produced by Vanda & Young, the legendary Australian production team who also helmed hits by the Easybeats, and it was the last before AC/DC became superstars. As such, it's perhaps the most overlooked of their '70s records, also because, frankly, it is the most uneven of them. Not that it's a bad record -- far from it, actually. There are a few genuine classics here, most notably "Down Payment Blues" and "Up to My Neck in You," and there's a real appeal in how Bon Scott's gutter poems of excess are reaching a mythic level; there's a real sense that he truly does believe that rock & roll leads straight to hell on "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation." But overall, the record is just a bit too wobbly, one where the parts don't add up to a record as hard and addictive as before -- but there's still plenty worth hearing here.

Powerage

AC/DC

Track List

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