The Tempter

After a steady stream of cheap records earlier this year, I started making conscious decisions to buy records that would make a more serious impact on my collection. Records plucked from the dollar bin for unknown and forgotten hardcore bands is fun, but sooner or later it just gets to the point when I question what the fuck I'm doing. I'd added a couple heavy hitters over the recent months, and it pushed me to actually look at my Top Wants list for the year.

The first four Trouble albums are doom metal perfection. I own the vinyl for Run To The Light and the self titled record, but their first two were missing in my collection. The singer, Eric Wagner, died of covid complications a few years ago, and that loss pushed the first Trouble record near the top of my want list. It has taken me longer than I want to get my hands on one, but it was worth the wait because, other than a crushed corner on the cover, this thing is in fantastic condition. Colored vinyl was not that common when this album was released back in 1984, but Metal Blade nailed it when they originally had this pressed on white vinyl.

Ugh. This record is so heavy and Eric Wagner was a force on vocals. He was still touring and recording with his new band, The Skull, at the time of his passing. Such a tragic loss.

Beating Around The Bush

Back in 2017, I started a quest to collect original Australian pressings for all of the AC/DC albums from the Bon Scott era. They don't come cheap, so I've had to pace myself... basically picking up one a year. Last year, I stumbled and didn't pick one up. Record prices were getting out of control, and it made me very tentative about pulling the trigger on something big like an Aussie AC/DC pressing. This year, I needed to make it happen.

With it's unique flames cover, I knew that Highway To Hell was going to carry a big price tag... but as the final Bon Scott studio album that I needed for the collection, I was determined to just get my hands on one regardless of the cost. Fucking hell. This thing looks and sounds amazing! As soon as I dropped it on the turntable and the title track kicked off, I knew that I'd made the right decision in buying this thing.

I tend to lean towards Powerage as my favorite AC/DC record, but Highway To Hell makes a case for taking the top spot. This record is so fucking good. Front to back, every song on here is a blast.

I decided to pull out my original US pressing for Highway To Hell to get the side-by-side photo. While I do like how the flames cover catches your attention, I may prefer the other one with plain shot of the guys just standing there. Angus with the schoolboy uniform and devil's tail is too iconic to hide under a blanket of fire.

While Highway To Hell is the last studio album I needed from the Bon Scott era, I do still need an Australian press of the live album, If You Want Blood (and don't get me going on the few different pieces of colored vinyl as well). Maybe next year.