Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by Massimo M.
In February 1975, High voltage, THE FIRST ALBUM BY AC DC, was released.
High voltage is the title of the first album released by AC/DC
The first print we are talking about, however, was produced and distributed only in the Australian and New Zealand markets and has never been exported abroad. Only later, precisely in 1976, after the release of the second LP of the band of Bon Scott and the Young brothers, an international version of High voltage was produced. The international version, however, was actually a kind of compilation created by mixing tracks from Australian High Voltage and the second disc, entitled T.N.T. Tracks from the original version of High Voltage were eventually used for the production of ‘74 Jailbreak, an album released in 1984.
The first print, edited by Albert productions, had the blue label with a stylized violin key and bore the inscription “an australian production” under the title. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young,brother of Angus and Malcolm, who, on this record, also enjoyed playing bass on some tracks. High voltage Australian version, was recorded in just ten days in Australia, at Albert Studios in Sydney.
The album reached in 1975, almost unexpectedly, the number 7 of the Australian charts allowing the band to appear several times in the music program, of great follow,” Australia’s Countdown. Among the band’s appearances on this television program there is also the one with the legendary live performance with Scott dressed as a blonde student.
The album opens with a cover “Baby, Please Don’t Go” (Big Joe Williams), really explosive, which immediately the idea of which musical product you are preparing to listen to. “Baby, Please Don’t Go” was also chosen as the first single from the LP. It is immediately a rough hard rock, made of repeated riffs, fast solos, which will be the really distinctive mark of this band, and a voice, that of Bon Scott, extremely original that represents a novelty for those years. The hard rock intention is all there and you can also feel the influence of the blues, as for example in Little lover.
Angus Young and partners were still looking for their own definite form but already at this moment guitars and voice are the protagonists, while bass and percussion occupy a less relevant place. Later they will gain a fundamental role with the arrival of Mark Evans and Phil Rudd.
Although both in terms of sales and in terms of quality we are quite far from the black album, Back in black, which will sell more than 50 million copies from the day of its release to today, High voltage is still an interesting vinyl for our rock collection and can always be purchased at rather affordable prices.
Track list of High voltage original Australian version Catalog APLP009
Side A
Baby Please Don’t Go
She’s Got Balls
Little Lover
Stick Around
Side B
Soul Stripper
You Ain’t Got A Hold On Me
Love Song
Show Business
Track list of High voltage international version of 1976
Side A
It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You want to Rock ‘n’ Roll)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer
The Jack
Live Wire
Side B
T.N.T.
Can I Sit Next to You Girl
Little Lover
She’s Got Balls
High Voltage
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