AC/DC's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap--Shock Rock from the Seventies

When Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was released in 1976, it was widely regarded as a good, raucous rock 'n roll album by a group who sorely tested the bounds of good taste. Today, this album of seventies "shock rock" seems rather tame, especially considering the explicit nature of some of the music now getting airplay. I always thought that AC/DC delivered the music on Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap with a mischievous smirk--if you listen real close to the lyrics, you realize that Bon Scott was singing about sexual themes in an implicit way. He didn't directly say the words that he wanted you to hear, he just implied them, but he got his message across loud and clear, just the same. Combine Scott's lascivious, insinuating vocal delivery with the rowdy brand of AC/DC rock 'n roll and you get an album that makes for a totally satisfying listening experience.

The AC/DC lineup for Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was:

Angus Young, lead guitar
Malcom Young, rhythm guitar
Bon Scott, vocals
Phil Rudd, drums
Cliff Williams, bass

About The Tracks

The title track, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is a tongue-in-cheek romp by bad boy Bon Scott where he threatens to undertake any number of felonies just for the cheap thrill of the experience, while Love At First Feel has all the attraction of a sweaty, back-seat grope. Big Balls is a perfect example of the art of implication--at first blush it might appear that he's singing about pitching big parties on the social scene, but his delivery and Angus Young's raw Gibson SG sound make you understand that he's bragging about his sexual unit. Rocker is just that--it follows the old fifties rock 'n roll formula to create an upbeat tune with a lot of swagger and searing guitar work.

Problem Child originally appeared on Let There Be Rock but it shows up again here as an apt commentary on teen angst in the seventies. There's Gonna Be Some Rockin' sounds like a good piece of roadhouse rock 'n roll, complete with a good bit of sexual innuendo, and Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round To Be A Millionaire) delivers the impatient "I want it all, Now!" message in a musical context that perfectly fits Bon Scott's bluesy, almost incoherent singing style.

Ride On is incredibly prescient--Scott sings about alcohol, being jilted by a woman, and loneliness, and with perfect clarity he intones "'Cause I ain't too old to die", pretty prophetic stuff, considering his fate. The album closes with Squealer, another sexual innuendo, this one about having a woman in bed who's pretty vocal during the sexual act.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap features AC/DC at their raw, elemental best, and the lyrical content combines with the throbbing music to make for a pretty effective performance. As I said earlier, this album is probably not as startling as it was in 1976, but it still delivers on a very visceral level.

Thanks for reading.