AC/DC

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

First released1976

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was recorded at Festival Studios in Sydney, Australia in 1976, marking AC/DC's second studio album and their first to feature vocalist Brian Johnson alongside the classic Angus and Malcolm Young songwriting partnership. The album was produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, the latter being Malcolm and Angus's older brother, who brought experienced production expertise to the raw blues-rock sound the band was developing. The recording utilized straightforward, no-frills production techniques that emphasized the guitar-driven energy and live feel of the material, with minimal overdubbing and a focus on capturing the band's powerful stage presence in the studio. This stripped-down approach, combined with the album's shorter production timeline and modest budget, helped define AC/DC's signature sonic aesthetic of heavy, riff-based rock that would influence countless bands. The album was initially released only in Australia and New Zealand before receiving wider international distribution, eventually becoming one of the band's most enduring works and a cornerstone of hard rock.