Ballbreaker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ballbreaker | ||
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| Studio album by AC/DC | ||
| Released | September 26, 1995 | |
| Recorded | 1994 - 1995 | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length | 49:41 | |
| Label | Elektra Records | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin, Mike Fraser | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| AC/DC chronology | ||
| Live: 2 CD Collector's Edition (1992) |
Ballbreaker (1995) |
Bonfire (1997) |
| Back cover | ||
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Ballbreaker is an album by the iconic hard rock band AC/DC, released in 1995. It was the band's first studio album in five years, since The Razors Edge (1990). The album also featured the return of former drummer, Phil Rudd, who had left the band in 1983 as a result of his problems with alcohol. The three singles released from this album were "Hard as a Rock," "Cover You in Oil," and "Hail Caesar." The album was produced by Rick Rubin, who is arguably better known in the rap genre, but who is said to be a huge AC/DC fan. Rubin had previously worked with the band to produce the song/single "Big Gun," which was released two years before on the soundtrack to the movie "Last Action Hero."
It also marked a return to a dryer sound than its predecessors. Helping that was the use of older Celestion speakers by Angus and Malcolm Young and the latter's use of heavy-gauge Sonomatic guitar strings, which had not been produced for some time. At Rubin's suggestion, bassist Cliff Williams used flatwound strings. Played with a pick, the tone is rounder and deeper than that of roundwound strings.
The lyrics for Ballbreaker, as is the norm for recent AC/DC albums, were penned mostly by the Young brothers, and incorporate numerous sexual innuendoes and double entendres.
The album reached #4 in the US and #33 in the UK.
Two weeks into AC/DC's U.S. tour, the band had to cancel four gigs, because Brian Johnson had to attend a funeral in Britain, after his father died unexpectedly. On January 28 of that year, he immediately flew back to Britain from a gig in San Antonio to attend the funeral. On February 3, he flew back to the U.S., and resumed the Ballbreaker tour with the group, and a gig was attended in Oakland.
The album was re-released in 2005 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.
[edit] Track listing
- "Hard as a Rock"* – 4:30
- "Cover You in Oil"* – 4:32
- "The Furor" – 4:10
- "Boogie Man" – 4:07
- "The Honey Roll" – 5:34
- "Burnin’ Alive" – 5:05
- "Hail Caesar"* – 5:14
- "Love Bomb" – 3:14
- "Caught With Your Pants Down" – 4:14
- "Whiskey on the Rocks" – 4:35
- "Ballbreaker" – 4:32
- All tracks written by A. Young & M. Young
(* Denotes a Single)
[edit] Credits
- Brian Johnson - Lead Vocals
- Angus Young - Lead Guitar
- Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Cliff Williams - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Phil Rudd - Drums
