Okay I’m a massive fan of Australian rock. The Angels, Midnight Oil etc etc.
IMHO AC/DC are the undisputed kings. But after 4 decades plus I have finally come to a conclusion. Powerage is the greatest album and Down Payment Blues the greatest song. There it is. I’ve said it. No doubt many will disagree but 40 years after the album and song were released they stand the test of time.
Long live Australian rock. Long live AC/DC. Long live Powerage.
Gee time has been kind to
Powerage. A lot of people pumping it up these days. Was even voted best album of the 70's in
Classic Rock magazine.
Down Payment Blues is a killer unsung track. Likewise
Riff Raff, even if the lyrics are a little weak. That two-part guitar solo is as sizzling as anything ever laid down in a studio, and the footage from the Glasgow Apollo is pure gold as they didn't play it live very often.
Rock 'n' Roll Damnation was as commercial as they got and is a nice song, with even a hint of melody in the chorus.
The rest however with its southern US influence always sounded "dashed off" to me. I could happily go on an AC/DC binge and give the rest a miss.
Sin City is crafted but the dramatic bit doesn't work as well as e.g.
Jailbreak.
The other track I don't mind is
Cold Hearted Man, which only appeared on the European version. Most AC/DC fans don't rate it, so maybe it's because I haven't heard it as many times.
Anyway that's my opinion and I have
Powerage ahead of only the Australian
High Voltage and
Dirty Deeds among Bon's albums, and the latter only sometimes.
Let There Be Rock is where it's at - it exudes the sense that rock is serious business.The o/s version works best with
Problem Child replacing
Crabsody In Blue.
Gibson SG isn't a light instrument and little Angus manhandles the bastard.