Ballbreaker

Ballbreaker
Studio album by AC/DC
Released 26 September 1995
Recorded 1994–95
Genre Hard rock, blues rock
Length 49:47
Label Epic
Producer Rick Rubin, Mike Fraser
AC/DC chronology
The Razors Edge
(1990)		 Ballbreaker
(1995)		 Stiff Upper Lip
(2000)
Singles from Ballbreaker
  1. "Hard as a Rock"
    Released: 1995
  2. "Cover You in Oil"
    Released: 1996
  3. "Hail Caesar"
    Released: 1996

Ballbreaker is the 13th Australian and 12th international studio album by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in September 1995. It was the band's first studio album in five years, since The Razors Edge (1990). The album featured the return of former drummer Phil Rudd, who had been fired from the band in 1983 as a result of drinking and drug problems and a fight with founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young.[1] The album was produced by the prolific producer Rick Rubin. Rubin had briefly worked with the band in 1993 to produce the song/single "Big Gun" for the soundtrack to the movie Last Action Hero.

Production started at the Record Plant Studios in New York City, but the band became dissatisfied with the sound there and moved to Los Angeles' Ocean Way Studios.[2]

Two weeks into the US leg of the Ballbreaker World Tour, four gigs were cancelled so that Brian Johnson could attend his father's funeral. During the tour, MTV cartoon characters Beavis and Butthead appeared in the intro during concerts. Five of the album's songs were played live: "Hard as a Rock", "Boogie Man", "Cover You in Oil", "Hail Caesar", and "Ballbreaker".

Ballbreaker was re-released in 2005 as part of the AC/DC remasters series. The album is currently certified 2x platinum by the RIAA in the US, for sales in excess of 2,000,000.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [3]
Rolling Stone (Mixed)[4]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young. (Copyright J. Albert & Son Inc.-ASCAP). 

No. Title Length
1. "Hard as a Rock"   4:31
2. "Cover You in Oil"   4:32
3. "The Furor"   4:10
4. "Boogie Man"   4:07
5. "The Honey Roll"   5:34
6. "Burnin' Alive"   5:05
7. "Hail Caesar"   5:14
8. "Love Bomb"   3:14
9. "Caught With Your Pants Down"   4:14
10. "Whiskey on the Rocks"   4:35
11. "Ballbreaker"   4:31

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1995 Australian ARIA Albums Chart 1
Billboard 200 4
UK Albums Chart 6

Personnel

Production

Certification

Country Sales Certification
United States 2,000,000 2x Platinum[5]
Finland 38,732 Gold[6]
Preceded by
One Hot Minute by Red Hot Chili Peppers		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
8–14 October 1995		 Succeeded by
Daydream by Mariah Carey

External links

References

  1. ^ "AC/DC History". AC/DC — Bedlam in Belgium. http://www.ac-dc.cc. Retrieved 2 August 2008. 
  2. ^ HARD ROCK MAG - HS2 - December '96 Interview with Cliff Williams
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Ballbreaker – AC/DC". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r224031. Retrieved 5 August 2009. 
  4. ^ Dunn, Jancee (16 November 1995). "Review: AC/DC – Ballbreaker". Jann Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/acdc/albums/album/282145. Retrieved 5 August 2009. 
  5. ^ RIAA.com
  6. ^ Kulta- ja platinalevyt IFPI.fi
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