The Razors Edge (album)

The Razors Edge
Studio album by AC/DC
Released 21 September 1990
Recorded 1989–1990
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 46:32
Label Atco Records
Producer Bruce Fairbairn
AC/DC chronology
Blow Up Your Video
(1988)		 The Razors Edge
(1990)		 Ballbreaker
(1995)
Singles from The Razors Edge
  1. "Thunderstruck"
    Released: 10 September 1990
  2. "Moneytalks"
    Released: 20 November 1990
  3. "Are You Ready"
    Released: 28 March 1991

The Razors Edge is the 13th Australian and 12th international studio album by hard rockers AC/DC, released on September 21, 1990. It is the only studio album to feature drummer Chris Slade, and includes "Thunderstruck" and "Moneytalks," which are among AC/DC's most well-known tracks. The album reached No. 2 on the United States Billboard 200 and No. 4 in the United Kingdom. A smash commercial success that returned the band to the popularity of its glory years between the mid-1970s and early 1980s. The album has been certified quintuple platinum (5 million copies sold) in the US,[1] and was re-released in 2003 as part of AC/DC's remasters series. The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn. Malcolm Young, having completed his rehabilitation for alcoholism, once again played rhythm guitar and co-wrote (with his brother Angus) all the songs on the album.

Contents

Background

Hard rockers AC/DC recorded Blow Up Your Video (1988) with their original producers, Harry Vanda and George Young.[2] It was a commercial success and sold more copies than the previous two studio releases combined. The Blow Up Your Video World Tour began in February 1988, in Perth, Australia. That April, following live appearances across Europe, Malcolm Young announced that he was taking time off from touring, principally to begin recovery from his alcoholism. Another member of the Young family, their nephew, Stevie Young, temporarily took Malcolm's place on rhythm guitar.

Following the tour, drummer Simon Wright left the group to work on the upcoming Dio album Lock Up the Wolves, and was replaced by session veteran Chris Slade. Lead singer Brian Johnson was unavailable for several months while finalising his divorce,[3] so the Young brothers wrote all the songs for the next album, a practice they continued for all subsequent releases through Black Ice in 2008.

The new album, The Razors Edge, was recorded in Vancouver, Canada, and produced by Bruce Fairbairn, who had previously worked with Aerosmith and Bon Jovi. It is the only studio album to feature Slade on drums. Released on September 21, 1990, it was a major comeback for the band, and included the hits "Thunderstruck" and "Are You Ready", which reached No. 5 and No. 16 respectively on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart, and "Moneytalks", which peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] The album went multi-platinum (5 million copies sold) and reached the US top ten. Malcolm Young, having completed his rehabilitation for alcoholism, once again played rhythm guitar.

Several shows on the Razors Edge Tour were recorded for the 1992 live album, titled Live. Live was produced by Fairbairn, and is considered one of the best live albums of the 1990s.[5] It was during this tour that AC/DC headlined the Monsters of Rock show, which was released on DVD as Live at Donington.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Angus Young and Malcolm Young. 

No. Title Length
1. "Thunderstruck"   4:53
2. "Fire Your Guns"   2:54
3. "Moneytalks"   3:46
4. "The Razors Edge"   4:23
5. "Mistress for Christmas"   4:00
6. "Rock Your Heart Out"   4:07
7. "Are You Ready"   4:10
8. "Got You by the Balls"   4:30
9. "Shot of Love"   3:57
10. "Let's Make It"   3:32
11. "Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck"   3:14
12. "If You Dare"   3:18

Personnel

Tour

See main article at Razors Edge world tour

With the release of The Razors Edge, AC/DC undertook a world tour, possibly the most publicised tour they had ever done. The success of the tour was fueled by the crowd- pleasing songs, such as "Thunderstruck", "Moneytalks", "Fire Your Guns", "The Razors Edge", and "Are You Ready", which were also included on the AC/DC Live Collector's Edition album.

During the Australian leg of the tour, the band was supported by the controversial Sydney band Candy Harlots. Members of AC/DC were extremely impressed with the band's performance, despite the fact that it was only their fifteenth show since the then new singer Aiz Lynch had joined.

Reception

Sales

The album peaked No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts and stayed there for 77 consecutive weeks. The album's most famous song: "Thunderstruck" has received wide acclaim and is sometimes even considered the best AC/DC song. The album also reached No. 4 on the UK charts. The album gave AC/DC its popularity back. Currently, the album has sold 5 million in the U.S., certifying it at 5x Platinum. The album has sold approximately 10 to 12 million copies worldwide, making it the third highest selling AC/DC album (after Highway to Hell and Back in Black and ahead of Who Made Who).

Criticial reception

 Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[6]
Blender 3/5 stars[7]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[8]
Rolling Stone 2/5 stars[9]

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1990 Billboard 200 2
1990 UK Top 75 4

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1990 "Thunderstruck" Mainstream Rock 5
1991 "Moneytalks" Billboard Hot 100 23
1991 "Are You Ready" Mainstream Rock 16
1991 "The Razors Edge" Mainstream Rock 8

Certification

Country Sales Certification
United States 5,000,000 5x Platinum
Canada 2,500,000 5x Platinum
United Kingdom 1,000,000 2x Platinum
France[10] 100,000 Gold

References

  1. ↑ Blabbermouth.Net - AC/DC: Classic Albums Reach New Sales Heights
  2. ↑ Prato, Greg. "AC/DC — Blow Up your Video". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:tye097b7kr5t. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  3. ↑ "AC/DC History". AC/DC — Bedlam in Belgium. http://www.ac-dc.cc. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  4. ↑ "EveryHit". http://www.everyhit.com. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  5. ↑ Weber, Barry. "AC/DC — AC/DC Live". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kcfixqw5ld0e. Retrieved 2008-08-02. 
  6. ↑ Allmusic.com review
  7. ↑ Blender review
  8. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  9. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  10. ↑ infodisc.fr

External links

AC/DC
Brian Johnson · Angus Young · Malcolm Young · Cliff Williams · Phil Rudd
Bon Scott · Dave Evans · Peter Clack · Rob Bailey · Simon Wright · Chris Slade · Mark Evans
Studio albums
High Voltage · T.N.T. · High Voltage (international version) · Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap · Let There Be Rock · Powerage · Highway to Hell · Back in Black · For Those About to Rock We Salute You · Flick of the Switch · Fly on the Wall · Blow Up Your Video · The Razors Edge · Ballbreaker · Stiff Upper Lip · Black Ice
Compilations
'74 Jailbreak · Volts · Bonfire · Backtracks
Live albums
If You Want Blood You've Got It · Live · Live from the Atlantic Studios · Let There Be Rock: The Movie – Live in Paris
Soundtracks
Who Made Who · Iron Man 2
Video albums
AC/DC: Let There Be Rock · Fly on the Wall · Who Made Who · AC/DC · Clipped · Live at Donington · For Those About to Rock · No Bull · Stiff Upper Lip Live · Live '77 · Family Jewels · Plug Me In''
Production
Vanda & Young · Harry Vanda · George Young · Mutt Lange · Bruce Fairbairn · Rick Rubin · Brendan O'Brien
Tours
For Those About to Rock Tour · Flick of the Switch/Monsters of Rock Tour · Fly on the Wall Tour · Who Made Who World Tour · Blow Up Your Video World Tour · Razors Edge World Tour · Ballbreaker World Tour · Stiff Upper Lip World Tour · Black Ice World Tour
Related articles
Discography · Awards and nominations · ACDC Lane · Angus Bucks · Members · Tribute albums · AC/DC Remasters
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