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Specials » by Nate Althoff - Oct 20, 2007
Overview |
Disc 1 |
Disc 2 |
Disc 3 |
2 Disc Set |
3 Disc Set |
Final Thoughts
DVD 1 (1975-1979)
High Voltage
(King of Pop Awards, Australia, Oct 1975)
My Rating: 10/10
Summary: This clip was leaked via YouTube before I had seen the track list, and it blew me away at the time. I knew it existed based on different notes & information I had seen, but had no idea what it would be like. The band's performance is amazing, even if it is dubbed with Bon's mic being live so you get a few extra squeals and banter from him. The stage set up is great for TV and Bon's outfit is something else. Overall, a great video that has been hidden for a long, long time.
It's a Long Way to the Top
(Bandstand, Australia, Feb 1976)
My Rating: 8/10
Summary: This one has been passed around trading circles for a while now, commonly known as the 'dancing girls' version. The quality is pretty good and is a definite upgrade from all that I had seen before. The camera shots themselves are a bit questionable, as it rarely shows Angus throughout the song. But with Bon syncing the bagpipes, it's a great video and Bon shows a lot of his personality in his facial expressions and movements. Would have been a lot better if it featured more Angus as he was going crazy when you could see him on the screen.
School Days, TNT
(St Albans High School, Australia, Mar 1976)
My Rating: 10/10
Summary: Unbelievable! Even though these songs are black & white only, they show the gritty roots that AC/DC started with. A rowdy crowd, a small stage and a hell of a lot of energy. The environment is crazy, with the fans packed against the stage and the band members really playing hard. School days has never been a huge rocking song in my opinion, but it's great to see it played live. This song is shot from the stage along with the band, so you can really see everyone close up (I never knew Angus was THAT skinny) as well as the front of the crowd itself. The camera moves to the floor in the crowd for TNT which is great too, aside from the backs of heads & hands in the shot. Bon is on fire with the lyrics, and Angus leads the crowd toward the end with a series of 'Oy's' before finishing the song. Simply amazing video and priceless that it is from this period in the band's life.
Live Wire, Can I Sit Next to You Girl
(Super Pop/Rollin' Bolan, London, Jul 1976)
My Rating: 10/10
Summary: The video quality on these songs are amazing. Incredibly clear with great sound. Live Wire is played live, which is a huge bonus in my opinion. The tempo is slower than the normal frenzy of them opening a live show with it, and everything seems more deliberate to be close to the album version. I believe Baby Please Don't Go is synced, but I would have to check again. Even if it is, the quality of this video is startling. I'd been after it for a few years now since the audio bootleg has been passed around many times. My only complaint is that not all of the songs that were played were included on the disc.
Baby Please Don't Go
(Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Dec 1976)
My Rating: 7/10
Summary: This has been a fairly common video in trading circles, but good to have it with great quality and finally have the date listed. There has been some dispute as to whether this was Dec 5 or Dec 12 and a few other dates, so clarification is a good thing. This is a great example of the raunchy-ness that the band brought to the stage in those days.
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be, Rocker
(Sight & Sound in Concert, London, Oct 1977)
My Rating: 6/10
Summary: Excellent quality, but unfortunately it's very common. This was 'officially' released in Japan under a Rock Masters title and while the quality is great, it's been around. Although it is great to see Angus and a look-alike up on the balcony.
Rock and Roll Damnation, Dog Eat Dog, Let There Be Rock
(Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Apr 1978)
My Rating: 8/10
Summary: This concert has also been around traders, but the quality on this version is a step up from others that I've seen. This gig is where the album 'If You Want Blood' came from, and is a high energy performance that is very enjoyable. The quality is great, and is definitely worth watching again.
Problem Child, Sin City, Bad Boy Boogie
(Rock Goes to College, Colchester, Oct 1978)
My Rating: 6/10
Summary: Again, this one has been seen many times. It has recently been aired on television in Europe and captured to disc with great quality, so it's nothing new. Worth watching again, but nothing that hasn't been seen before.
Highway to Hell, The Jack, Whole Lotta Rosie
(Countdown, Arnhem, Aug 1979)
My Rating: 8/10
Summary: I'm a bit biased toward this recording. This is probably my favorite of the Bon concert videos available, and I personally believe it's better than Let There Be Rock: The Movie. The quality on this version is much better than most, but still has a few issues in my eyes. I was hoping to see more of it, including a full Bad Boy Boogie (if it exists). The camera shots are amazing though, and keeps bringing me back to watch it over and over.
Bonus Features
Interview at Sydney Airport, Apr 1976
My Rating: 9/10
Summary: Excellent interview of a much younger AC/DC than many of us remember in great quality.
Interview in Covent Garden, London, Jul 1976
My Rating: 8/10
Summary: Just a great little band introduction with the guys running around in the street, in to & out of a bar. Bon in short, SHORT, shorts with a banana of all things. Bon's personality really shines through.
Baby Please Don't Go, Szene 77, Cirus Krone, Munich, Sep 1979
My Rating: 6/10
Summary: Good to have this one on dvd, but the quality is definitely lacking for a pro shot video to be included on a box set like this.
Problem Child, Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Dec 1976
My Rating: 7/10
Summary: Just like the other song in this show mentioned above, this is just average. There are a few other clips I would have expected as a bonus over this one when it could have been included right after Baby Please Don't Go to give the viewer some kind of connection to the two videos.
Interview/Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Promo film for Melbourne Radio, Dec 1976
My Rating: 9/10
Summary: Great little clip with some interviews of the band and some live footage. Angus comes across and tough & a bit wild.
Rock and Roll Damnation, Top of the Pops, London, Jun 1979
My Rating: 8/10
Summary: Another good clip with great quality video. It makes sense for this one to be included, but I would have expected it to be part of the regular section of the disc rather than in the bonus features. A typical synced peroformance that is tv friendly, but you can tell there is another side by the look in Bon's eyes.
Live & Interview, Australian Music to the World, Atlanta, GA, Aug 1978
My Rating: 10/10
Summary: Really a great interview with Bon & Angus about the current tour. I had never seen it before and really enjoyed hearing what they had to say about the shows they play & the writing for the albums.
Live Super 8 Bootleg Film, Theatre de Verdure, Nice, France, Dec 1979
My Rating: 9/10
Summary: Probably the worst clip quality-wise on all 3 discs, but easily one of my favorite ever. None of the songs included are complete, but it is definitely worth watching. It opens with Live Wire, which is similar to the opening of Let There Be Rock: The Movie. It is a bit grainy and the colors bleed, but is still easy to watch. The highlight of this was finally getting to see part of Walk All Over You played live. In the movie, there is the short video of the band on a lake, in a plane, etc. In the Wembley footage from mid 1979, the filmer tapes a guy dancing in the crowd rather than the stage when Walk All Over You is played. With this one, you get a good look at the energy Angus shows during the solo. Simply fantastic.
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