Maps of Music

The Razors Edge (1990)

Where the lyrics of The Razors Edge take you, and where it was really made.

The album that marked AC/DC's major comeback was recorded in Vancouver, Canada, and was produced by a producer who had worked with Aerosmith and Bon Jovi.

Key places

Recorded in Vancouver (1990)

Recording site Little Mountain Sound Studios — The album was recorded in 1990 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada. The map pin is set at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Razors Edge: twelfth studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC
• Released 24 September 1990
• Released through Albert Productions/CBS Records International in Australasia, Atlantic Records in Europe, and ATCO Records in North America
• Recorded in 1990 at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, Canada
• Mixed and engineered by Mike Fraser; produced by Bruce Fairbairn
• Major comeback for the band, with the hits "Thunderstruck", "Are You Ready" and "Moneytalks"
• Only studio album to feature Welsh drummer Chris Slade, who was the band's drummer from 1989 to his dismissal in 1994

Background

• In 1987 the band recorded Blow Up Your Video (1988) with original producers Harry Vanda and George Young
• In 1989 drummer Simon Wright left to work on Dio's Lock Up the Wolves (1990)
• Chris Slade replaced Wright
• Brian Johnson was unavailable for several months while finalising his divorce
• During that absence the Young brothers wrote all the songs for future albums

Recording

• Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York City
• Producer Bruce Fairbairn had previously worked with Aerosmith and Bon Jovi
• George Young was involved early on but had to bow out because of personal issues

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young.
• The band name comes from the AC/DC symbol on the adapter of their sister Margaret's sewing machine.
• Their music has been described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, though the band calls itself simply a rock and roll band.
• Their early sound was rooted in Australian pub rock.

Members

• Angus Young (lead guitar) and Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar) were the founding core of the band until Malcolm retired in 2014.
• Bon Scott was lead vocalist until his death in February 1980.
• Brian Johnson became lead vocalist in 1980.
• Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams and Stevie Young have also played key roles.

Career

• Their 1980 album Back in Black became one of the best-selling albums of all time.
• The band has sold an estimated 200 million records worldwide.
• They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critical commentary for the album was generally mixed
• Alex Henderson of AllMusic complimented both the vocal performance by Brian Johnson and the guitar playing of Angus Young
• Henderson said the album was "arguably [the band's] strongest album in over half a decade"
• Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a very favourable review
• Martin Popoff described the album as "tight, highly strung and menacing"
• John Mendelsohn of Rolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, criticising its similarity to past AC/DC works
• Mark Putterford of Select gave the album four out of five

Reappraisal

• Mixed to positive reviews at release overall
• Rolling Stone's criticism focused on the album's similarity to the band's earlier work

Records

• The album reached number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and number 4 on the UK Albums Chart
• It stayed on the Billboard 200 for 77 consecutive weeks
• Certifications include 8× Platinum in Canada and 6× Platinum in the US
• Platinum in Argentina, Austria, Finland, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden
• Approximately 18.8 million copies sold worldwide
• Third highest-selling AC/DC album after Back in Black and High Voltage

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Angus Young came up with the opening riff of "Thunderstruck" almost by accident: "I was just fiddling with my left hand when I came up with that riff"
• Thousands of Angus Bucks, a replica of an American $1 bill with Angus pictured instead of George Washington, were dropped on the audience during "Moneytalks" on the world tour
• A music video of "Moneytalks" was directed by David Mallet and features a live performance from the tour
• Angus Young said the funniest song on the album was "Mistress for Christmas", and said it was about Donald Trump
• Young also declared his best guitar solo on the album was on the title track, which includes a rare foray into finger picking

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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