Wiki
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Release Date
5 May 1978
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Length
9 tracks
Powerage is the fifth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in May 1978. It is also AC/DC's fourth international studio album. All songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott.
It was originally released on Atlantic Records, and reached #133 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart in the US, eventually going platinum there. The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.
Overview
Powerage is the first AC/DC album to be released nearly simultaneously in both Australian and international markets, and the first to use just one cover image for both. It was also the first to feature the same track listing on all versions, with the exception of European vinyl editions. These included "Cold Hearted Man", a song that has not been officially released on any other AC/DC album, and some omitted "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation".
Powerage marked the studio debut of bassist Cliff Williams. It was the band's last Bon Scott-era studio release to feature production work by Harry Vanda and George Young.
Track listing
Australian / US & all CD releases
"Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" – 3:37
"Down Payment Blues" – 6:03
"Gimme a Bullet" – 3:21
"Riff Raff" – 5:11
"Sin City" – 4:45
"What's Next to the Moon" – 3:31
"Gone Shootin'" – 5:05
"Up to My Neck in You" – 4:13
"Kicked in the Teeth" – 4:03
Some cassette copies, such as the original Canadian issue had an alternate track listing. For example, "Sin City" was the first song on side 1, while "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" was the first song on side 2. All other tracks appear in the order of the original Australian/US release.
European LP release
"Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" – 3:05
"Gimme A Bullet" – 3:00
"Down Payment Blues" – 5:50
"Gone Shootin'" – 4:19
"Riff Raff" – 5:13
"Sin City" – 4:47
"Up to My Neck in You" – 4:58
"What's Next to the Moon" – 3:15
"Cold Hearted Man" – 3:34
"Kicked in the Teeth" – 3:45
All songs composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott.
Initial editions of the European LP release featured a different mix of the album. It had a 'harder' sound than the later version, with small variations in vocals and/or guitar tracks, and occasionally extra sections and longer or shorter fades. This version omitted "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation from the tracklist. The first cassette issue of the album also features this mix.
The album was later remixed for the American market, with that new mix replacing the original European mix, and becoming the global standard. That mix is still used on all AC/DC 'Powerage' CD releases today.
Personnel
Bon Scott - lead vocals
Angus Young - lead guitar
Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Cliff Williams - bass, backing vocals
Phil Rudd - drums
Production
Producers: Harry Vanda, George Young
Engineer: Mark Opitz
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