High Voltage

Album: High Voltage (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • An early AC/DC track, this one plays off their band name, keeping with the electricity theme as Bon Scott sings about their "high voltage rock and roll." The band would produce many more songs about rock and roll over the next four decades, and these tracks were often the showstoppers at their concerts.
  • AC/DC's first album, released in 1975 only in Australia, was called High Voltage, but this song wasn't part of it. "High Voltage" the song was released as a standalone single, reaching #6 in Australia and goosing sales of the album.

    Another Australia-only album (T.N.T.) followed later that year, and in 1976 tracks from these first two albums were compiled, along with this song, for another album called High Voltage that was given international release and set the stage for the band's rise to stardom. The "High Voltage" single was also released internationally in 1976, and a video was made to promote the song.
  • This was the first AC/DC song on which drummer Phil Rudd played.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.