Post Description

AC/DC Bonfire Boxset

Release Dates:  

USA: November 18th, 1997
Europe: November 7th, 1997


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
  
"Live From The Atlantic Studios":
 Shortly before returning to Australia at the end of their 1977 US tour, the band performedthis intimate concert in front of a small crowd at New York's Atlantic Recording Studios.The concert was recorded and later pressed on the Lp "Live From The AtlanticStudios" for limited distribution to US radio stations only in 1978. Althoughwidelily available on bootleg since 1980 (This was the concert used on the legendary firstAC/DC boot "110/220"), and more recently on CD bootleg, this version soundsbetter than even the best quality bootlegs around, due to the remix by George Young andobviously CD Mastering from original tapes rather than from the actual original vinylrelease. It has been rumoured over the years that more tracks were performed and recordedduring that concert (people mentioned "Soul Stripper", "It's A Long way ToThe Top" and"Let There be Rock" among others), this is still unconfirmedand this release tends to prove otherwise. The concert was apparently also filmed onvideo, but never shown anywhere. 

"Let There Be Rock / The Movie - Live InParis"
Much more than the soundtrack of the still available video "Let There Be Rock",this concert presents also one song not in the video ('T.N.T.") and the full versionof "Walk All Over You". (ie. The reason "TNT" was omitted from themovie? "We just didn't like that song and decided not to include it. That pissed offtheir manager" was the answer from the movie directors) Although the movie was shownin Dolby Stereo, the video is still on mono only. Also available on bootleg over the years(Notably "Bon Scott's Last Oui Oui-Live In Paris"), this is definitely muchbetter than any of the many releases available on the black market. All the bootlegsavailable were taken from a radio broadcast (from french FM station Radio 7  inDecember 1980), with static, cuts, and missing tracks. This was originally recorded on24-Track and later mixed by AC/DC engineer Tony Platt at Family Sound studios in Paris(where AC/DC later recorded parts of "For Those About To Rock") for the movie"AC/DC The Film Let There Be Rock". The band performed two concerts on that sameday (the original date sold out and there was no other date available on the tour!), andthe second concert was filmed and recorded for the movie. However, the version of"bad Boy Boogie" presented on this release is taken from the first show, due totechnical problems on the original tape. The short instrumental that was used during themovie opening credits is a solo from Angus recorded during a soundcheck at Metz onDecember 6th, 1979, this is also included on this CD. To many fans this is probably one ofBon's ultimate performance (and definitely his last live concert recorded professionally)and presented here in an absolute killer sound!! 

"Volts":
The ultimate bonus of this "Bonfire" for any AC/DC fan. Its has been said overthe years that very few if any unreleased AC/DC's studio song with Bon Scott existed.Presented here are 5 tracks absolutely never heard before by the public, even the die-hardAC/DC fans. And much more than unfinished demos, these are vintage tracks! 
 The first track "Dirty Eyes" being the original song that evolved into"Whole Lotta Rosie", with different lyrics, and 4 tracks most probably recordedat Albert Studios in January 1979 (produced by Vanda & Young) during thepre-production of "Highway To Hell" before the band took off to Miami to recordwith Eddie Kramer at Criteria Studios. (Those Miami sessions are still unreleased). 
 "Sin City"'s versionis taken from the band's live TV performance on ABC's"Midnight Special" in the US. Recorded during september 1978, this was showed onNovember 26th 1978. That legendary show was hosted by Ted Nugent and Aerosmith, with whom AC/DC had performed during that year.
 "She's Got Balls", recorded during AC/DC's secret gig at the Bondi Lifesavers inSydney (as a benefit for the club at which they performed many times in their early days)in late June or July 1977. The band gave two concerts and were billed as "LiveWire" and "Dirty Deeds" (Although liners notes on the booklet ssem toindicate it might have been "Live Wire International Guest Act "), this was alsoCliff Williams' first ever live performance with the band. A killer verion of the song.
 "School Days", "It's A Long Way To The Top" and "Ride On"are available on regular CDs, even though the first one has never been published outsideAustralia and New Zealand. There is apparently some confusion among people as to why"Ride On" is stated as "The last song Bon ever performed", even thoughthe version presented here was recorded in 1976. It is actually true, Bon's lastperformance was sharing the lead vocals on "Ride On" with Bernie, backed byFrench band Trust on February 17th, 1980 during their second album's recording, two daysbefore he passed away. This fantastic version of the song was recorded but not availablefor the Box Set, andmost probably will never be released. 

"Back In Black":
AC/DC biggest-ever seller (at over 15 million copies sold), this might come to some peopleas a dissapointment to include it without any "musical" bonus (alternateversions, extra tracks or demos) but this was the band's tribute to Bon and the album thatwould have probably brought him to his peak, thus the decision to include it. This is therecently remastered version, presented in a digipack-version with all the originalcomponents of the vinyl release, and this packaging is exclusive to the Box Set. For somereason this is only available in the USA, so in a sense fans still have the choice ofgetting the Box Set with or without this album. It has been rumoured over the years thatBon actually wrote some of the lyrics on "Back In Black", and that demos werecut with Bon singing some of the songs. This has always been denied by the band andnothing has ever been brought up to prove the contrary. In a recent interview they saidthat some instrumental working demos were cut with Malcolm, Angus and Bon on drums inFebruary 1980.  

Content:

CD 1: "LIVE FROM THE ATLANTIC STUDIOS" :
   1. Live Wire
   2. Problem Child  
   3. High Voltage 
   4. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be 
   5. Dog Eat Dog 
   6. The Jack 
   7. Whole Lotta Rosie 
   8. Rocker 
 Recorded live in New York (Atlantic Recording Studios) December 7th, 1977. This is taken from the promotional-only album "Live From The Atlantic Studios", released by Atlantic Records in the USA in 1978. The tracks were remixed this year by George Young from the original master tapes. Never available on official CD before, but widely bootlegged over the years.

CD 2&3: "LET THERE BE ROCK" (THE MOVIE LIVE IN PARIS):
  1. Angus solo
   2. Live Wire
   3. Shot Down In Flames
   4. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
   5. Sin City
   6. Walk All Over You
   7. Bad Boy Boogie
   8. The Jack
   9. Highway To Hell
   10. Girls Got Rhythm
   11. High Voltage
   12. Whole Lotta Rosie
   13. Rocker
   14. T.N.T.
   15. Let There Be Rock
  

Recorded live in Paris (Pavillon de Paris) December 9th, 1979. 
 This is taken from the original master tapes used  for the movie "Let There Be Rock", including a track not in the movie, "T.N.T.", and the full version of "Walk All Over You" which was cut in the film. Mixed by Tony Platt. Never available on official CD before.
 
CD 4: "VOLTS" :
  1. Dirty Eyes (First title & lyrics for "Whole Lotta Rosie") Unreleased.
  Recorded in 76 or 77, produced by Vanda & Young.
   2. Touch Too Much (Different lyrics & music) Unreleased.
   3. If You Want Blood You've Got It (Early version) Unreleased.
   4. Back Seat Confidential (Early version of "Beating Around The Bush") 
    Unreleased.
  5. Get It Hot (Different lyrics & music) Unreleased.
   Four above recorded early 1979. Produced by Vanda & Young.
  6. Sin City (Live on "Midnite Special" September 1978) Unreleased.
  7. She's Got Balls (Live in Sydney Bondi Lifesavers July 1977) 
   Released on B-Side of 7" & 12" of "You Shook Me (All Night Long)".
  8. School Days (Ring Ring Goes The Bell) Unreleased outside Australia.
    Recorded in July 1975, From "T.N.T." album.
  9. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll)
  Recorded in July 1975, From "High Voltage" album.
   10. Ride On 
   Recorded January-March 1976, From "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". 
 Cuts 1 through 5 have never been issued anywhere, not even bootleggers ever got hold of these! 

 

CD 5: "BACK IN BLACK" (USA ONLY) :
  1. Hell's Bells
   2. Shoot To Thrill
   3. What Do You Do For Money Honey
   4. Given The Dog A Bone
   5. Let Me Put My Love Into You
   6. Back In Black
   7. You Shook Me (All Night Long)
   8. Have A Drink On Me
   9. Shake A Leg
   10. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
Recorded in Nassau (Compass Point Studios) April-