This 5-CD box set was released by the band (and it really does seem to have been approved by the band rather than the usual record company cash-in) as a tribute to Bon Scott. The title is apparently what Bon would have called his solo album, had he ever released one.
In addition to the 5 ... Read review
Disc 1 Live Wire Problem Child High Voltage Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be Dog Eat Dog The ... more
Jack Whole Lotta Rosie Rocker Disc 2 Live Wire Shot Down In Flames Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be Sin City Walk All Over You Bad Boy Boogie Disc 3 The Jack Highway T...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: A must-have for true fans Disadvantages: Not much new material
This 5-CD box set was released by the band (and it really does seem to have been approved by the band rather than the usual record company cash-in) as a tribute to Bon Scott. The title is apparently what Bon would have called his solo album, had he ever released one.
In addition to the 5 CDs, there is a glossy 48-page brochure with a brief band history, plenty of quotes from Bon and the boys, previously unseen photographs (as well ... ...a young Bon in full Highland dress), and reproductions of hand-written lyrics by Mr. Scott. In addition we are treated to a poster, temporary tattoo, sticker, guitar pick and a really cool keyring/bottle opener.
The discs themselves comprise the following:
"Back In Black" – remastered in a gatefold sleeve.
"Live From The Atlantic Studios" – yes, the same one I bought on vinyl last ... more
This 5-CD box set was released by the band (and it really does seem to have been approved by the band rather than the usual record company cash-in) as a tribute to Bon Scott. The title is apparently what Bon would have called his solo album, had he ever released one.
In addition to the 5 CDs, there is a glossy 48-page brochure with a brief band history, plenty of quotes from Bon and the boys, previously unseen photographs (as well as a cracker inside the lid of the box showing a young Bon in full Highland dress), and reproductions of hand-written lyrics by Mr. Scott. In addition we are treated to a poster, temporary tattoo, sticker, guitar pick and a really cool keyring/bottle opener.
The discs themselves comprise the following:
"Back In Black" – remastered in a gatefold sleeve.
"Live From The Atlantic Studios" – yes, the same one I bought on vinyl last year. D'oh! At least the full introduction and closing remarks are included to give it the full "as broadcast" feel. Handy to have on CD too I suppose.
"Let There Be Rock" – the soundtrack from the film of the same name over 2 CDs, Bon's last professionally recorded live performance in Paris, 1979. "TNT" has been added, and "Walk All Over You" is not truncated as it is in the video release. "Sin City" has also been spelled correctly ("Sun City" on the video box – that's always annoyed me!)
"Volts" – the real diamond for the fans, this features early versions of some classic AC/DC songs, mostly recorded some months before "Highway To Hell". This is the full track listing;
"Dirty Eyes" – first version of "Whole Lotta Rosie". Lyrics are completely different, and only snippets of the music are recognisable. Not as good as the finished article obviously, but still a fine track in its own right.
"Touch Too Much" – again different words and music, and a little slower. You can still sing along to the chorus though.
"If You Want Blood You Got It" – first ever recording of this, but not too far away from the familiar track.
"Back Seat Confidential" – this became "Beatin' Around The Bush", but the feel here is more bluesy, with the guitar more to the fore.
"Get It Hot" – again, almost unrecognisable from the later version.
"Sin City" – a live TV performance from "Midnight Special", whatever that is.
"She's Got Balls" – a superb live rendition from the "Bondi Lifesavers" club in Sydney, an early haunt of the Seedies.
"School Days" – a Chuck Berry song, only previously available on the Australian version of "TNT". (Yes, I did buy that on import a while ago just for this track – d'oh again!)
"It's A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock 'n Roll" – lifted straight from "High Voltage".
"Ride On" – from "Dirty deeds Done Dirt Cheap", and a fitting epitaph to Bon. There is also the bonus (after the usual minute's gap) of a few snippets from interviews with the great man. The best by far is his description of his encounter with the infamous "Rosie". We all know she weighed in at nineteen stone, but I didn't realise she was six feet two as well. What a whole lot of woman.
So is it worth it? Considering there are only really five new songs and a few live recordings not available elsewhere, it depends what you pay for it. I've seen it at £70, but I picked it up in New York for the equivalent of £47, only to arrive home to find I'd won a copy from the Rock Show on VH-1! Signed by Angus too, with a nice self-portrait. Still, can't complain.
Columbia / Sony Music/Arvato Services, EMI / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics, Albert / F-Minor
Additional notes
Album Notes
BONFIRE contains rare live tracks, alternate takes, and previously unreleased material as well as a digitally remastered version of the album BACK IN BLACK. Extras include an extensive booklet, a poster, keychain, window sticker, guitar pick and a temporary tattoo. AC/DC: Bon Scott, Brian Johnson (vocals); Angus Young, Malcolm Young (guitar); Cliff Williams (bass); Phil Rudd (drums). Producers include: Harry Vanda, George Young, Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Includes liner notes by Murray Engleheart. When Bon Scott died at the age of 33, many thought this was the end of AC/DC. The band rebounded by recruiting vocalist Brian Johnson (a Scott favorite) and releasing their best-selling album ever, BACK IN BLACK. BONFIRE is a five-disc tribute to the pugnacious and raspy-voiced Scott, overflowing with the bare-fisted riffs and ribald lyrics that were the trademark of his edition of the band. Recorded live at New York's Atlantic Studios, Disc 1 was originally a promotional-only release that's been bootlegged countless times over the years. All thriller, no filler, this recording overflows with plenty of classics ranging from the band's cheeky tribute to venereal disease ("The Clap") to the tale of an over-sexed Rubenesque female fan ("Whole Lotta Rosie.") Discs Two and Three are an expanded version of the soundtrack to the 1980 concert film "Let There Be Rock." Recorded before a French audience, AC/DC's in-your-face performance transcended any cultural differences and the audience often sang along despite language barriers. Entitled VOLTS, Disc Four consists of work-in-process studio recordings of material such as "Touch Too Much" and "Get It Hot" with different lyrics than the finished versions. The inclusion of the slow blues of "Ride On" shows another side to AC/DC often lost among the lascivious offerings of "Beatin' Around The Bush" and "She's Got Balls." A re-mastered version of BACK IN BLACK completes this set marking the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Album Reviews
Spin (2/98, p.104) - 7 (out of 10) - "...This is dance music for boys who claim they hate dance music....Ultimately, what you hear on BONFIRE is the link between mainstream metal, disco, and punk self-destruction, a formula that has obviously been studied by such beat-intensive bands as Guns N' Roses and Prodigy..." NME (12/13/97, p.38) - 8 (out of 10) - "...BONFIRE...is raw, hoarse and flawed, but it's AC/DC in flame. This box should carry a warning: `Wear protective gloves before opening.'" Entertainment Weekly (12/12/97, p.84) - "...Though BONFIRE could have been titled VARIATIONS ON FOUR CHORDS, it's as down and dirty as rock gets." - Rating: B
Titles on disc 1
26.
Back Seat Confidential
27.
Get It Hot
28.
Sin City
29.
She's Got Balls
30.
School Days
31.
It's A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll, It's A Long Way To The Top
32.
Ride On, If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll
33.
Hell's Bells, Ride On
34.
Shoot To Thrill
35.
What Do You Do For Money Honey
36.
Given The Dog A Bone
37.
Let Me Put My Love Into You
38.
Back In Black
39.
You Shook Me All Night Long
40.
Have A Drink On Me
41.
Shake A Leg
42.
Rock 'n' Rock
43.
Ain't Noise Pollution
1.
Live Wire
2.
Problem Child
3.
High Voltage
4.
Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
5.
Dog Eat Dog
6.
Jack
7.
Whole Lotta Rosie
8.
Rocker
9.
Live Wire
10.
Shot Down In Flames
11.
Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
12.
Sin City
13.
Walk All Over You
14.
Bad Boy Boogie
15.
Jack
16.
Highway To Hell
17.
Girl's Got Rhythm
18.
High Voltage
19.
Whole Lotta Rosie
20.
Rocker
21.
TNT
22.
Let There Be Rock
23.
Dirty Eyes
24.
Touch Too Much
25.
If You Want Blood You Got It
Titles on disc 2
1.
Live Wire (live)
2.
Shot Down In Flames (live)
3.
Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be (live)
5.
Walk All Over You (live)
4.
Sin City (live)
6.
Bad Boy Boogie (live)
Titles on disc 3
7.
T.N.T. (live)
6.
Rocker (live)
5.
Whole Lotta Rosie (live)
8.
Let There Be Rock (live)
4.
High Voltage (live)
1.
Jack, The (live)
2.
Highway To Hell (live)
3.
Girls Got Rhythm (live)
Titles on disc 4
10.
Ride On
5.
Get It Hot
6.
Sin City (live)
7.
She's Got Balls (live)
2.
Touch Too Much
3.
If You Want Blood You Got It
1.
Dirty Eyes
8.
School Days
4.
Back Seat Confidential
9.
It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N' Roll)
Titles on disc 5
2.
Shoot To Thrill
3.
What Do You Do For Money Honey
1.
Hells Bells
4.
Given The Dog A Bone
7.
You Shook Me All Night Long
8.
Have A Drink On Me
5.
Let Me Put My Love Into You
6.
Back In Black
9.
Shake A Leg
10.
Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
13/07/2000
Compare Bonfire - AC/DC to other similar Hardcore, Punk & Heavy Metal »