Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (song)
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| “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” | |||||
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| Single by AC/DC from the album 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' |
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| B-side | "R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)" | ||||
| Released | 1976 | ||||
| Format | CD | ||||
| Recorded | 1976 | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock | ||||
| Length | 3:46 | ||||
| Label | Albert Productions | ||||
| Producer | Harry Vanda, George Young | ||||
| AC/DC singles chronology | |||||
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| “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” | |||||
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| Song by AC/DC | |||||
| Album | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap | ||||
| Released | September 20, 1976 | ||||
| Recorded | Summer 1976 | ||||
| Genre | Hard Rock | ||||
| Length | 4:11 | ||||
| Label | Albert Productions | ||||
| Writer | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott | ||||
| Producer | Harry Vanda, George Young | ||||
| Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap track listing | |||||
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| “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” | |||||
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| Song by AC/DC | |||||
| Album | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap | ||||
| Released | November 1976 (U.K.), April 1981 (U.S.) | ||||
| Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap track listing | |||||
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| “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (live)” | |||||
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| Single by AC/DC from the album 'Live' |
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| B-side | "Shoot to Thrill" (live) | ||||
| Released | 1992 | ||||
| Format | CD, 12-inch single | ||||
| Recorded | 1991 | ||||
| Genre | Hard Rock | ||||
| Length | 5:02 | ||||
| Label | ATCO | ||||
| Producer | Bruce Fairbairn | ||||
| AC/DC singles chronology | |||||
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"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first track of their Australian album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in September 1976, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. It is also the first track on the international version of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in November 1976. The international version was not released in the United States until April 1981.
It was also released as a single, with "R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)" as the B-side in Australia, in 1976. In the U.K. the single is backed with Big Balls (and also on the re-release, with The Jack).
This is one of AC/DC's best known songs.[citation needed] It features a unique backing vocal consisting of a heavy breathing sound, made on the downbeat during verses. It is also the only AC/DC song to feature a line sung solely by Malcolm Young, who sings (in a spoken-word style) the title at the end of the chorus. The full length recording (approximately 4:11) has the title of the song chanted 4 times starting at 3:09, but on the more common edited version (approximately 3:51) the chant is heard only 2 times.
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[edit] Composition
In the song, an unnamed person invites people with problems to either call him at 362-436 or visit him at his home, and he will perform assorted unsavoury acts to resolve said problems. Situations in which he offers assistance include those involving lewd high school principals and significant others who cheat or nag. As detailed by the song, the "dirty deeds" provided at low cost include:
Two of the services offered share names with AC/DC's first two Australian albums, T.N.T. and High Voltage. They are also the names of songs that appeared on Australia's T.N.T. and the international version of High Voltage. Additionally, the six digits of the telephone number provided by the speaker are the idealized "perfect measurements" of a woman (36"-24"-36").
[edit] Influences
The term "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is an homage to the cartoon Beany and Cecil, which Angus Young watched when he was a child. One of the cartoon's characters was named Dishonest John, and carried a business card that read, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. Holidays, Sundays and Special Rates."
[edit] Live recordings
Though well-known to fans, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" has only been included on one official AC/DC live album, 1992's Live: 2 CD Collector's Edition, sung by Scott's replacement Brian Johnson.
An earlier version with Bon Scott recorded live in Sydney (Haymarket) at the Festival Of Sydney, January 30 1977, was released on an Australian only radio 2JJ compilation album titled "Long Live The Evolution".
In 2007 on the Plug Me In 3 track bonus CD from Best Buy, a live version from Detroit, MI (Joe Louis Arena) 17 or 18 November, 1983 was released. This version featured Brian Johnson on vocals and Simon Wright on drums.
[edit] Personnel
- Bon Scott - lead vocals
- Angus Young - lead guitar
- Malcolm Young - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Mark Evans - bass
- Phil Rudd - drums
[edit] Production
- Producers: Harry Vanda, George Young
[edit] Recorded cover versions
- A parody of this song was recorded by Bob Rivers, called "Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep".
- Hayseed Dixie recorded a bluegrass-style cover for their albums A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC and Let There Be Rockgrass. This version replaces Bon Scott's scream with singer John Wheeler's loud belch at the end.
- Joan Jett achieved modest chart success with a single of this in 1990.
- A cover of this song was recorded by Thrash Metal band Exodus for the album Tempo of the Damned.
- The queercore band Pansy Division also recorded a parody, called "Dirty Queers Don't Come Cheap".
- Lesley Gore recorded a cover for the album "When Pigs Fly".
- Graveyard BBQ also did a cover of this song for their Greatest Hits 2 album.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
The song ranked #24 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs [1]
[edit] Resources
- AC/DC Two Sides to Every Glory by Paul Stenning
[edit] Notes
- ^ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs", 1-4 May 2006, VH1 Channel, reported by VH1.com; last accessed September 10, 2006.
[edit] External links
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