Backtracks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Box set by AC/DC | ||||
Released | 10 November 2009 | |||
Recorded | 1974-2009 | |||
Genre | Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock, rock and roll | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | AC/DC | |||
AC/DC chronology | ||||
|
Backtracks is a box set by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was announced on 29 September 2009 and was released on 10 November 2009.[1] This is a collection of the band's studio and live rarities together in one boxset. There are two editions; a Deluxe Edition and a Standard Edition. All tracks have been remastered to match the sound of the 2003 album remasters and many songs appear on CD for the first time. It is the band's second box set of rarities, following the Bonfire release in 1997.
The Deluxe Edition includes three CDs, two DVDs, one LP, a 164 page hard-back coffee table book and collectible merchandise reproductions all housed in an operating 1 watt guitar amplifier. One CD will include rare studio tracks including b-sides and Australian-only releases, while the other two CDs document live tracks which have appeared on singles over the years. Part three of the Family Jewels DVD series is included and also the entire 2003 Circus Krone, Munich, Germany gig on DVD.[2]
The Standard Edition includes two CDs and one DVD. CD One contains highlights of Studio Rarities, while CD two contains highlights of Live Rarities. The DVD is Family Jewels Disc Three. It was released the same day as the Deluxe Edition.
Contents |
The 12"x12"x4" (30 cm*30 cm*10 cm) exterior box is designed to resemble a vintage AC/DC guitar amplifier and also has the original logo that was spray-painted onto the rear of Angus and Malcolm Young's speaker cabinets in 1975. The “head” of the amp has a handle that lifts the top off to reveal the contents housed within. The head is also a working guitar amplifier. It is a one watt amplifier and is considered to be a collector's item.[3] It is said that only 50,000 of these deluxe versions are available exclusively on acdcbacktracks.com
164 pages of rare and unseen photos spanning 1974-2009 plus full-size re-prints of original press releases, tour itineraries, tour books, test pressing labels, advertisements and much more. A real history of the band from the inside out. Rare photography includes never-before-seen shots of the band recording at the Albert Music studio on King Street in Sydney with producers Harry Vanda and George Young in 1977. There are also unpublished live shots from all over the world.[4]
The memorabilia includes the very first piece of merchandise for AC/DC, a 2"inch button called "I Do it For AC/DC". It features an early shot of Angus Young on the front.[5] Also part of this is a sticker, again an early part of AC/DC merchandise, with Angus' school hat on the front with AC/DC logo on the cap. There is a "Lock Up Your Daughters" Tour Flyer, King Street Studio Track Sheet for "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" Multitracks, a Bon Scott Temporary Tattoo, "Moneytalks" 100 Dollar Bill, AC/DC Guitar Pick, set of three 20 cm by 25 cm art lithographs and a 60 cm by 90 cm, 1977 "Let There Be Rock" European Tour Poster.
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [6] |
BLARE Magazine | [7] |
Studio Rarities collects AC/DC’s studio rarities, many of the songs on CD for the first time. These are all of the songs that the band recorded throughout their career that appeared on Australian-only LP releases, movie soundtracks, 7" and 12" single releases, and CD "tour editions", etc. 12 of the 18 tracks are completely unique songs that have all been remastered to match the sound quality of the rest of the Columbia Records AC/DC catalog reissues. The other 6 tracks are the original versions of classic AC/DC songs previously only available on the original Australian albums.[4] It should also be noted that while "Rocker" and "High Voltage" are credited as being the original Australian versions, they fade out at the ends, however, the versions on the original Australian LP's did not fade out, but ended abruptly. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "Ain't No Fun (Waitin' 'Round To Be A Millionaire)" were already previously released in their full original Australian lengths on the 1994 international Atco reissue of Dirty Deeds, however, the 2003 Columbia remasters used the shorter versions again.
All songs written and composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "High Voltage" (deluxe edition only) | T.N.T. (Australian-only release) (1975) | 4:18 | |
2. | "Stick Around" | High Voltage (Australian release) (1975) | 4:40 | |
3. | "Love Song" | High Voltage (Australian release) (1975) | 5:15 | |
4. | "It's a Long Way to the Top" (deluxe edition only) | T.N.T. (Australian-only release) (1975) | 5:16 | |
5. | "Rocker" (deluxe edition only) | T.N.T. (Australian-only release) (1975) | 2:55 | |
6. | "Fling Thing" | Young, Young | Jailbreak (7" single) (1976) | 2:00 |
7. | "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (deluxe edition only) | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australian release) (1976) | 4:11 | |
8. | "Ain't No Fun (Waitin' Round to Be a Millionaire)" (deluxe edition only) | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australian release) (1976) | 7:30 | |
9. | "R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)" | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australian release) (1976) | 3:35 | |
10. | "Carry Me Home" | Dog Eat Dog (7" single) (1977) | 3:58 | |
11. | "Crabsody in Blue" | Let There Be Rock (Australian release) (1977) | 4:43 | |
12. | "Cold Hearted Man" | Powerage (original European LP pressings) (1978) | 3:35 | |
13. | "Who Made Who" (deluxe edition only) | Young, Young, Johnson | Who Made Who (7" single) (1986) | 4:50 |
14. | "Snake Eye" | Young, Young, Johnson | Heatseeker (CD single) (1988) | 3:16 |
15. | "Borrowed Time" | Young, Young, Johnson | That's the Way I Wanna Rock 'n' Roll (CD single) (1988) | 3:45 |
16. | "Down on the Borderline" | Young, Young, Johnson | Moneytalks (CD single) (1990) | 4:15 |
17. | "Big Gun" | Young, Young | Last Action Hero (official movie soundtrack) (1993) | 4:20 |
18. | "Cyberspace" | Young, Young | Stiff Upper Lip (Australian bonus CD) (2001) | 2:58 |
CD 2 and 3 has a collection of the band’s live rarities from singles, CD promos, compilations and other oddities. All the songs have been remastered from the original source.
All songs written and composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (Live in Sydney, 30 Jan. 1977) | Long Live the Evolution (compilation LP) (1977) | 5:02 | |
2. | "Dog Eat Dog" (Live in Glasgow, 30 Apr. 1978) | Whole Lotta Rosie (7" single) (1978) | 4:30 | |
3. | "Live Wire" (Live in London, 2 Nov. 1979) | Touch Too Much (12" single) (1980) | 5:05 | |
4. | "Shot Down in Flames" (Live in London, 2 Nov. 1979) | Touch Too Much (12" single) (1980) | 3:39 | |
5. | "Back in Black" (Live in Landover, MD, 20 Dec. 1981) | Young, Young, Johnson | Let's Get It Up (12" single) (1982) | 4:21 |
6. | "T.N.T." (Live in Landover, MD, 20 Dec. 1981) | Let's Get It Up (12" single) (1982) | 3:58 | |
7. | "Let There Be Rock" (Live in Landover, MD, 20 Dec. 1981) | For Those About to Rock (7" single) (1982) | 7:30 | |
8. | "Guns for Hire" (Live in Detroit, MI, 17 Nov. 1983) | Young, Young, Johnson | Who Made Who (7" single) (1986) | 5:21 |
9. | "Sin City" (Live in Detroit, MI, 17 Nov. 1983 - deluxe edition only) | Nervous Shakedown (12" single) (1984) | 5:30 | |
10. | "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" (Live in Detroit, MI, 17 Nov. 1983) | Young, Young, Johnson | Nervous Shakedown (12" single) (1984) | 4:15 |
11. | "This House Is On Fire" (Live in Detroit, MI, 17 Nov. 1983) | Young, Young, Johnson | Nervous Shakedown (12" single) (1984) | 3:25 |
12. | "You Shook Me All Night Long" (Live in Detroit, MI, 17 Nov. 1983) | Young, Young, Johnson | You Shook Me All Night Long (12" single) (1986) | 3:30 |
13. | "Jailbreak" (Live in Dallas, TX, 12 Oct. 1985) | Shake Your Foundations (12" single) (1986) | 13:22 | |
14. | "Shoot to Thrill" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991) - deluxe edition only) | Young, Young, Johnson | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (CD single) (1992) | 5:30 |
15. | "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991 - deluxe edition only) | Live (Japanese version) (1992) | 4:37 |
All tracks on the deluxe edition only, except where noted
All songs written and composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "High Voltage" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991) | Highway to Hell (CD maxi single) (1992) | 9:25 | |
2. | "Hells Bells" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991) | Young, Young, Johnson | Highway to Hell (CD maxi single) (1992) | 5:57 |
3. | "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991) | Hail Caesar (CD single) (1995) | 4:45 | |
4. | "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (Live at Donington, 17 Aug. 1991) | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (CD single) (1992) | 5:00 | |
5. | "Highway to Hell" (Live in Moscow, 28 Sep. 1991 - standard edition also) | 5 Titres Inedits En Concert (French 5-track CD) (1993) | 4:00 | |
6. | "Back in Black" (Live in Moscow, 28 Sep. 1991) | Young, Young, Johnson | Big Gun (CD single) (1993) | 4:10 |
7. | "For Those About to Rock" (Live in Moscow, 28 Sep. 1991 - standard edition also) | Young, Young, Johnson | Big Gun (CD single) (1993) | 6:50 |
8. | "Ballbreaker" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | Young, Young | Stiff Upper Lip (Australian bonus CD) (2001) | 4:40 |
9. | "Hard as a Rock" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | Young, Young | Stiff Upper Lip (Australian bonus CD) (2001) | 4:50 |
10. | "Dog Eat Dog" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | 3 Live Tracks (No Bull promo CD single) (1996) | 4:46 | |
11. | "Hail Caesar" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | Young, Young | 3 Live Tracks (No Bull promo CD single) (1996) | 5:25 |
12. | "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | Stiff Upper Lip (Australian bonus CD) (2001) | 5:27 | |
13. | "You Shook Me All Night Long" (Live in Madrid, 10 Jul. 1996) | Young, Young, Johnson | Private Parts (official movie soundtrack) (1997) | 3:58 |
14. | "Safe in New York City" (Live in Phoenix, AZ, 13 Sep. 2000 - standard edition also) | Young, Young | Safe in New York City (American promo CD single) (2000) | 3:55 |
This DVD picks up where the original 2DVD Family Jewels set leaves off (1991), Family Jewels Disc Three begins with "Big Gun" the theme song to the motion picture Last Action Hero which is included on Studio Rarities and is the first time on any AC/DC album. Also on this disc it has three music videos from the Ballbreaker album, three from Stiff Upper Lip and the most recent clips for "Rock 'n' Roll Train" and "Anything Goes" from the AC/DC album Black Ice. There are also several songs from the original Family Jewels set that actually had more than one promotional clip. On this are the alternate versions of those songs and are on DVD for the first time.[8]
Bonus Videos
2003 was a big year for AC/DC which included their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[9] to European dates with the Rolling Stones, the band made several high-profile public appearances (including the SARS concert in Toronto for 200,000 people). One run of shows found the band returning to their roots and playing clubs and theaters where fans were treated to sweaty, stripped-down shows and even playing some rarities they hadn't played in years. This DVD show from Munich, Germany was filmed at Circus Krone 2003 and this disc only available on the Deluxe Edition.
The 12 unique studio rarities from CD 1 presented on 180 gram audiophile vinyl, mastered specifically for LP.[4]
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[10] | 16 |
Austrian Albums Chart[11] | 31 |
Swiss Albums Top 100[11] | 24 |
UK Albums Chart[12] | 134 |
US Billboard 200[13] | 39 |
|