The ultimate AC/DC experience is now a box set to rival all others. Including
collectibles, multiple CDs of studio and live rarities, DVDs (including the
long–awaited Family Jewels Disc 3), and other novelties, Backtracks
has just about anything anyone would need or want when it comes to Australia’s
hardest working band.
There’s a bunch of stuff here, in a standard, as well as a deluxe edition
configuration, but let’s tackle the CDs first. CD One, Studio Rarities
features some cool tunes you might not be all that familiar with. “High
Voltage” you might know, but tunes like “Stick Around” and
“Love Song” only ever appeared on the Australian High Voltage album
(AC/DC released their first six albums in two different versions; Australian-only
releases as well international). “Love” has quite a dramatic —
dare I say —artsy opening with what sounds like Angus Young playing over
arpeggiated keys and the sweetest Bon Scott vocal you’re ever going to
hear.
“R.I.P. (Rock In Peace),” from another Aussie-only release of the
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album, roars. There’s the
rare instrumental “Fling Thing,” the band’s take on the Scottish
folk tune, “Loch Lomond.” Plus there’s couple of tunes from
the band’s film work is included, like “Who Made Who” (the
extended 12-inch mix) from Maximum Overdrive, and
the staccato single-note assault of “Big Gun” from the Last
Action Hero soundtrack. B-sides of singles, movie tracks and early
stuff from Australian-only releases make this 18-song CD an excellent collection
of true rarities from AC/DC.
The second and third CDs are packed with Live Rarities. One features
mostly Bon Scott screaming and the other one has Brian Johnson. “Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” from a 1977 Sydney Festival; the superbly nasty
“Dog Eat Dog” from 1978 and two tunes from a November 1979 Hammersmith
Odeon concert showcase Scott in all his glory. The menacing “Live Wire”
and the sloppy (yet it works) “Shot Down In Flames” may be the best
double-shot on Backtracks.
CD three opens with four tracks — “High Voltage,” “Hells
Bells,” “Whole Lotta Rosie” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt
Cheap” — from the infamous 1991 concert at Donington Park. Three
more from 1991 performed at the Tushino Airfield in Moscow follow, with a blisteringly
thick “Highway To Hell” and “Back In Black” among them.
Six songs from a 1996 Madrid show include the more obscure “Hard As A
Rock” and “Hail Caesar.” There is also a very tight “Safe
In New York City” from the Ballbreaker album, the latest live performance
from 2000 in Phoenix, AZ.
A little more older stuff (I could have dealt very nicely with an entire CD
of Bon Scott live) and some upgraded sound quality (like the songs from 1981
on the second CD) might have made Backtracks a little more
fetching. But beggars can’t be choosers when you’re getting 29 tracks
of live AC/DC!
Perhaps the two DVDs can make up for any shortcomings. Family Jewels Disc
3 is a collection of AC/DC music videos from the late 80s and beyond. There’s
some stuff that enjoyed rather heavy rotation back in the day, like “You
Shook Me All Night Long.” And there’s a great promo for “Big
Gun,” featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger himself up on stage, doing his best
Angus Young imitation. There are also videos for “Safe In New York City,”
“Stuff Upper Lip” and “Rock N’ Roll Train.”
And yes, there is some early stuff, such as a Bon Scott-era “Jailbreak”
(featuring a very young Angus Young). And there’s the band at the height
of their powers taking the “Highway To Hell.” Live versions of “Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”” and “Highway To Hell,” featuring
Johnson, finish it off. The DVD also has two mini documentaries on the making
of the videos for “Safe In New York City” and “Rock N’
Roll Train.”
A second DVD included with the deluxe version is Live At The Circus Krone,
a 2003 concert from Munich, Germany, described as a “front-row immersion”
and a rare club appearance for the band. The camera placement, from up on stage
mostly, under Angus Young, right up in Brian Johnson’s face, or tight on the
band in general, make this 20-song show breathtaking. The sound quality alone
is mind-blowing (play it loud!). Highlights include unrivaled audience participation
on “Thunderstruck,” the schoolboy strut and strip (and amazing guitar
playing too) on “Bad Boy Boogie,” and the cannons over and behind
the band, firing fully on “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You).”
The deluxe edition of Backtracks is an exclusive run of 50,000
copies, packed into a “media carrier” that doubles as a working
mini guitar amp. It includes not just three CDs and two DVDs, but also a vinyl
LP of studio collectibles, a 164-page coffee table book, facsimiles of authentic
memorabilia like an “I DO It For AC/DC” button (the band’s
first tour merchandise), recording track sheets, posters, fine art lithographs,
etc. It’s a hefty sum to be sure, but a very cool package. The amp is worth
the price alone. Which ever you choose, Backtracks is the last
word on all your AC/DC needs and a must for all devil-horned rockers.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
