| T.N.T. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by AC/DC | ||||
| Released | December 1975 (Australia only) | |||
| Recorded | July 1975, Albert Studios, Sydney | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock, rock and roll | |||
| Length | 41:55 | |||
| Label | Albert | |||
| Producer | Harry Vanda, George Young | |||
| AC/DC chronology | ||||
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T.N.T. is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in December 1975. Seven of the album's nine songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott. "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" was written by Young & Young, and "School Days" is a cover version of a Chuck Berry song.
It was originally released on Albert Productions, and was never reissued by another label. However, most of its contents were included on Atlantic Records' High Voltage album, which was released internationally in May 1976.
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T.N.T. marked a change in direction from AC/DC's debut album, High Voltage, which was released in February 1975. Whereas High Voltage featured more of a glam rock-influenced sound, T.N.T. saw the band fully embrace the formula for which they would become famous: hard-edged, rhythm & blues-based rock 'n' roll. This album contains some of the band's best-known songs, including the title track, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", "The Jack", "Rocker", and "High Voltage".
Two singles were released from the album – "High Voltage" (July 1975) and "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" (December 1975). "High Voltage" was the first song written and recorded for the album, the title inspired by that of the previous album. Issued as the first single before the T.N.T. sessions began, many fans thought it was from High Voltage. Chris Gilbey of Albert Productions later claimed this caused a late surge in that album's sales.[1] T.N.T. was released in a gatefold sleeve, with the inside depicting the various members on mock-ups of police identification cards, listing apparent aliases and partially obscured personal details including birthdates (only Bon Scott's is readily visible and Angus Young's birthyear is shown as 1959 (not 1955) in keeping with his schoolboy persona as this made him appear 16 instead of his real age of 20).
T.N.T. also led to more AC/DC appearances on Australia's Countdown music programme, following those in support of the Australian High Voltage album. These appearances included a live performance of the song "T.N.T.", as well as a music video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)". Filmed on 23 February 1976, the video featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck travelling on Swanston Street in Melbourne, Australia.[2] On 1 October 2004, Melbourne's Corporation Lane was renamed ACDC Lane as a tribute to AC/DC, with the decision being based in part on this video.[3]
T.N.T. is the only Australian AC/DC studio album for which there is no international counterpart. However, seven of its nine songs comprise the international version of High Voltage, released in May 1976. The other two, "Rocker" and "School Days", saw worldwide release as part of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap's international version (1976/1981) and the Bonfire box set (1997) respectively.
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| Allmusic | link |
All songs composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, except where noted.
The original 1975 LP release featured longer versions of "Can I Sit Next to You Girl", "High Voltage" and "Rocker" compared to the versions heard on later CD releases:
Both of these original versions were finally released worldwide on the 2009 box set Backtracks, but actually, both songs only fade out later than the international versions, not being the complete Australian releases.
The version of "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was edited down from an extended jam by producer George Young. The inclusion of the bagpipes was his idea, to add an extra dynamic to the track. Bon Scott had played in a pipe band in his teens, so George suggested he play bagpipes on the song, not realising that Scott had been a drummer, not a piper. Regardless, Scott – who knew how to play the recorder – learned the instrument and went on to play them on stage with the band for several years.
The lyrics of "The Jack" (sometimes titled "(She's Got) The Jack") were developed by Scott who was inspired by a letter Malcolm Young received during a tour of Adelaide. The letter, from a woman in Melbourne, implied that Malcolm had given her a venereal disease, however he claims that when he got tested, he was clean.[1] Scott's original lyrics were far more explicit than those on the album, which he deliberately toned down in case the song got played on radio.
The chanting in "T.N.T." was added after George Young heard Angus Young ad-libbing the "oi" chant to himself, and suggested he record it.[1]
"Can I Sit Next to You Girl" features a different arrangement and slightly different lyrics from the original version that was released in 1974 as the band's first single with Dave Evans on vocals. It also runs almost a minute longer than the first version.
| Chart (1975) | Peak Position |
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| Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart |
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Canadian punk rock band Dayglo Abortions covered "The Jack" from this album for the tribute to AC/DC entitled A Punk Rock Tribute to AC/DC. Also, Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator covered "Live Wire" on a recorded live concert on the album Bag of Tricks.
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