In the pumped-up disco era of the late '70s, Tanya Tucker, a full six years after her debut -- and all of 19 years old -- was still tearing up the charts and exploiting her now fully developed womanhood. Hooking up for the first time with Jerry Goldstein, who was about as far from Billy Sherrill as you could get, Tucker issued a mostly up-tempo, steamy record that rocked as hard or harder than it twanged. Opening with Phil Everly's rocker "Lover Goodbye," complete with synth drums, and following it with the torch and twang of "I'm the Singer, You're the Song," co-written with Goldstein, it was pure eros wrapped in strings and electric guitars. But the real tale of the tape is told beginning with track three: a cover of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away," with Mickey Raphael on blues harmonica, which funked almost as much as it rocked. Cross this with a riveting read of John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" that rivals Bonnie Raitt's and a scorching "Heartbreak Hotel," and you have a side that can be played over and again ad infinitum. But side two is charged on with a scorching, sensual "Brown Eyed Handsome Man." While it never gains the same momentum as that track, the ballads and honky tonk numbers are steeped in a pop sound that wears surprisingly well over two decades later. Oh yes, on the beautiful mid-tempo ballad "The River and the Wind," Seals & Crofts help on the backing vocals; it's probably the best thing they ever did given how awful their own records are. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
John Prine (Vocals), John Prine (Vocals (Background)), Phil Everly (Vocals), Phil Everly (Vocals (Background)), Lonnie Jordan (Organ), Mickey Raphael (Harmonica), Joe Chemay (Vocals), Joe Chemay (Vocals (Background)), Ed Barton (Engineer), Ed Barton (Remixing), Curt Becher (Vocals), Curt Becher (Vocals (Background)), Milan Bogdan (Digital Editing), Bob Bullock (Assistant Engineer), Dash Crofts (Vocals), Dash Crofts (Vocals (Background)), Venetta Fields (Vocals), Venetta Fields (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Goldstein (Vocals), Jerry Goldstein (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Goldstein (Producer), John Hobbs (Piano), La Costa (Vocals), Paul Leim (Percussion), Paul Leim (Drums), Michael McGinnis (Vocals), Michael McGinnis (Vocals (Background)), Glenn Meadows (Mastering), Larry Muhoberac (String Arrangements), Brent Nelson (Vocals), Brent Nelson (Vocals (Background)), Joey Paige (Vocals), Joey Paige (Vocals (Background)), Jody Payne (Vocals), Jody Payne (Vocals (Background)), Julia Tillman Waters (Vocals), Jerry Scheff (Bass), Jim Seals (Vocals), Jim Seals (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Swallow (Dobro), Jerry Swallow (Guitar), Jerry Swallow (Mandolin), Jerry Swallow (Guitar (Electric)), Tanya Tucker (Vocals), Tanya Tucker (Main Performer), Luther Waters (Vocals), Luther Waters (Vocals (Background)), Oren Waters (Vocals), Oren Waters (Vocals (Background)), Lorna Willard (Vocals), Lorna Willard (Vocals (Background)), Simon Levy (Art Direction), Katie Gillon (Coordination), Sherri Halford (Coordination), Julia Tillman (Vocals (Background)), Billy Joe Walker (Guitar (Acoustic)), Billy Joe Walker (Guitar), Billy Joe Walker (Mandolin), Billy Joe Walker (Guitar (Electric)), Olivier Ferrand (Photography)
It was originally released on Albert Productions, and was never reissued by another label. However, most of its contents were included on Atlantic Records' High Voltage album, which was released internationally in May 1976.
T.N.T. marked a change in direction from AC/DC's debut album, High Voltage, released in February 1975. Whereas High Voltage featured more of a glam rock-influenced sound, T.N.T. saw the band fully embrace the formula for which they would become famous: hard-edged, rhythm & blues-based rock 'n' roll. This album contains some of the band's best-known songs, including the title track, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", "The Jack", and others.
T.N.T. also led to more AC/DC appearances on Australia's Countdown music program, following those in support of High Voltage. These appearances included a live performance of the song "T.N.T.", as well as a music video for "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)".
Filmed on February 23, 1976, the video featured the band's then-current lineup, along with members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band, on the back of a flat-bed truck traveling on Swanston Street in Melbourne, Australia.[1] On October 1, 2004, Melbourne's Corporation Lane was renamed ACDC Lane as a tribute to AC/DC, with the decision being based in part on this video.[2]
International release
T.N.T. is the only Australian AC/DC studio album for which there is no international counterpart. However, seven of its nine songs comprise the international version of High Voltage, released in May 1976. The other two, "Rocker" and "School Days", saw worldwide release as part of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap's international version (1976/1981) and the Bonfire box set (1997), respectively.
The original 1974 LP release featured longer edits versions of "High Voltage" and "Rocker".
"Rocker" originally cuts out abruptly as the riff hits it peak, but on the 1994 Australian remastered CD releases, the song fades out before the cut.
“High Voltage” originally finished with a sustained note, which is then followed by studio banter and a jam of “School Days”. The 1994 CD release fades before the note, making "School Days" a standalone track.
