The AC/DC of Bon Scott was never ever matched by the Brian Johnson AC/DC. Johnson really did a heroic job in handling the job that Bon did, but he was never ever a shade from tha late Scott. Scott had a better voice, MUCH better lyrics, much more charm and tone variations in his voice.

Johnson managed to be a part of the marvellous BACK IN BLACK album, but a few years later his voice was totally shot. He's a very important part of the band, that lives like the Stones do, for example: an entity, a myth.

DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP was released in Australia in 1976, but Atlantic shelved it for the American market and simply did not release it. THey simply tought it was not good enough. Only after Bon died and after the success of BACK IN BLACK, they released it in America, in 1981 (FIVE YEARS LATER!!). In doing so, they simply destroyed the original album, cutting from it possibly the best song: JAILBREAK. Go figure why...LOVE AT FIRST FEEL is a good song, but nowhere as good as JAILBREAK. And they added ROCKER, which was already available in the original Australian album T.N.T., sacking R.I.P (Rock In Peace).

I was incredibly to surprised to see many of the other reviews of this album. I've been a fan of AC/DC for many years now, but just got around to reading the reviews posted here. I have always considered this to be among the bands best albums. The first cut, the title track, is among the top rock songs ever, and its influence in the world of modern heavy metal seems almost painfully obvious. The other tracks are all filled with the same rambunctions rock 'n' roll that comprised their previous album(s). Rocker is great, as is Problem Child, Love at First Feel, and one of personal favorites, Squealer. On top of that Ride On, while not typical AC/DC material, is an incredibly powerful blues song granting the listener with some insight to the man that was Bon Scott. I wish they had done some more slow ones like this every now and then. On the other side of the musical coin from Ride On is Big Balls, which is incredibly stupid, but I've found it also draws some previously biased listeners into the world of AC/DC fandom. This album summarizes to me what the band is really like, its seems more personal than most of their records (namely Powerage), captures the fun of the band in the studio, while still holding on to the driving rock rhythym that they invented. This album is an absolute must.

AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was released in Australia in 1976, but it wasn't issued in America until 1981, following the great success of "Back in Black." Throughout the years, however, it's been one of the band's biggest selling albums. While I don't think it ranks as high as "High Voltage" or "Let There Be Rock," "Dirty Deeds" is certainly a fine Bon Scott record with a few great moments. The near-flawless opening title track is thunderously good, with a catchy chorus and mean riffs from Angus Young. Killer cuts also include the classics "Problem Child" and the playfully juvenile "Big Balls," as well as the blues-driven "Ride On." There is only one wince-inducing moment, "Love at First Feel," in which Bon's lust for an underage girl repelled this reviewer, but otherwise, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is a good album that sounds dirty, but far from cheap.

Released by Atlantic five years after it appeared in Australia, presumably to meet high demand for AC/DC's music, this international version of "DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP" is a farce. Once again, somebody had the rather strange ideas of altering the song sequence, and replacing both "R.I.P. (rock in peace)" and "Jailbreak", two of the strongest numbers in the album's Aussie version, with T.N.T.'s "Rocker" and "Love at first feel", an OK, if not spectacular song. Ah, and "Problem child", already featured in Atlantic's version of "Let there be rock", is also included in here. The same song in two different "official albums". Marvelous!. Oh yeah, and somebody hired HIPGNOSIS in order to re-design the front and back covers. That was a cute detail, but the Aussie version's covers (classic mid 70's cartoonish artwork) are far more appealing.
Who's to blame for this rip off?. Somebody at Atlantic Records?. Some members of AC/DC?. Maybe both?. Who cares anyway?. Once again, now that I've got used to the Aussie album, listening back to this "product" feels worse than a hangover from consuming adulterated, low quality spirits.
Every enthusiastic record collector knows that both Warner Music and Sony Music are serious labels that took, and still take risks, by signing up cutting edge artists and by respecting their will. So, it seems that, with their approval of this re-issue, the surviving members of AC/DC are the ones to blame for this farce to go on, and on, and on ... If this is so ... well ... guys, we, the fans made you filthy rich. We deserve the "real deal", available worldwide, at a "reasonable price". I only give this "product" a 2 star rating, just because "Love at first feel" remains unreleased in Australia. How unusual!.
A final word about this re-issue: I don't own it. In the words of Pete Townshend, I "won't get fooled again". In order to get bonus material, you must go through an irritatingly cumbersome Internet gimmick.
If Bon Scott (undisputedly the band's most uncompromising member ever), was still alive, I believe things would be different. By the way, if you are interested in the real stuff, please be so kind as to read my review of "DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP" (Import).
OTHER ITEMS TO BE AVOIDED: The skimpy "retrospective" EP "'74 JAIBREAK", and "BONFIRE", a rather steep box set in which at least 6 songs are repeated twice, in different versions. None of these titles include all the songs left out by the adulteration of AC/DC's first four Aussie albums.

I just wanted to put in my two cents about the Australian version of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap". Despite its rather hefty price, it offers some bonuses not available on the U.S. or English versions.

1) The artwork is noticeably different, and almost gives the album an "underground" or "independent" feel.

2) The remastered version sounds terrific. Granted, this is probably not substantially different than the U.S. remastered edition, but it puts the two versions on similar sonic ground.

3) The song "Dirty Deeds" on the Aussie edition is a slightly longer version than on the U.S. release; you'll notice it toward the song's end where Bon sings the line "Dirty Deeds" a couple more times and also adds in a little extra squeal.

4) The Aussie version includes all of the song lyrics in the CD booklet. Nice to know for sure what Bon was saying!

5) Maybe most significantly, this album includes the killer song "Jailbreak" in lieu of "Rocker" (an excellent song in its own right, which is found on the Aussie album "T.N.T." or the U.S. "Dirty Deeds"). "Jailbreak" was the reason I bought the Aussie vinyl album back in the early 80's instead of the U.S. version. Great anthemic album closing track and delivers all of the goods you'd expect from the Bon-era AC/DC. (I realize that the "'74 Jailbreak" EP was released in the U.S., it's just kind of cool to have that song on the actual album from which it was originally taken.)

To sum up, the Aussie CD is a worthwhile purchase for the diehard AC/DC-Bon Scott fan, who is looking for the version as it was originally released Down Under, which includes some noteworthy bonuses. I strongly recommend this CD. (This version is also included in the Aussie 6-CD Box Set No. 1, if you've got the $$). Whatever version you have or buy, enjoy!