The Razors Edge (album)
Encyclopedia
Personnel
- Brian JohnsonBrian JohnsonBrian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
– lead vocals - Angus YoungAngus YoungAngus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - Malcolm YoungMalcolm YoungMalcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Cliff WilliamsCliff WilliamsClifford Williams is an English bassist and backing vocalist, who has been a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC since mid-1977. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Chris SladeChris SladeChris Slade is a Welsh rock drummer.-Career:Slade has worked with Gary Numan, Tom Jones, Olivia Newton-John , and Uriah Heep. He was a member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1972 to 1978...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Tour
- See main article at Razors Edge world tourRazors Edge world tourThe Razors Edge world tour was a rock concert tour played by the hard rock band AC/DC , which had 5 legs around the world lasting 12 months starting on 2 November 1990 in Worcester, MA finishing on 16 November 1991 in Auckland, New Zealand. The tour was the only tour to feature drummer Chris...
With the release of The Razors Edge, AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
undertook a world tour
Razors Edge world tour
The Razors Edge world tour was a rock concert tour played by the hard rock band AC/DC , which had 5 legs around the world lasting 12 months starting on 2 November 1990 in Worcester, MA finishing on 16 November 1991 in Auckland, New Zealand. The tour was the only tour to feature drummer Chris...
, possibly the most publicised tour they had ever done. The success of the tour was fueled by the crowd-pleasing songs, such as "Thunderstruck
Thunderstruck (song)
"Thunderstruck" is the first song on the 1990 AC/DC album The Razors Edge.The song peaked at No. 5 on U.S. the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was released as a single in Germany, Australia, and Japan. The song is said to be inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's hair-raising experience...
", "Moneytalks
Moneytalks
"Moneytalks" is a song written by Malcolm and Angus Young and produced by Bruce Fairbairn for the hard rock band AC/DC. Originally released on 21 September 1990 on the album The Razors Edge, it was later released as a single in December later that year...
", "Fire Your Guns", "The Razors Edge", and "Are You Ready
Are You Ready (AC/DC song)
"Are You Ready" is a song by AC/DC. It is featured on the band's 1990 hit album The Razors Edge.The music video to this song, directed by David Mallet, shows prisoners attending an AC/DC mini-concert at their prison. One prisoner is being dressed up to get ready for the band to play the song...
", which were also included on the AC/DC Live Collector's Edition album.
During the Australian leg of the tour, the band was supported by the controversial Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
band Candy Harlots
Candy Harlots
Candy Harlots were an Australian glam metal band from Sydney, active between 1987 and 1995. They also released material as Helter Skelter and The Harlots...
. Members of AC/DC were extremely impressed with the band's performance, despite the fact that it was only their fifteenth show since the then new singer Aiz Lynch had joined.
Sales
The album peaked No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts and stayed there for 77 consecutive weeks. The album also reached No. 4 on the UK charts. The album gave AC/DC its popularity back. Currently, the album has sold in the U.S., certifying it at 5x Platinum. The album has sold approximately 10 to copies worldwide, making it the fourth highest selling AC/DC album (after Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Highway to Hell and Back in Black and ahead of Who Made Who).Critical reception
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Billboard 200 | 2 |
| 1990 | UK Top 75 | 4 |
| 1990 | Australian Kent Music Report Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... Albums Chart |
3 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Thunderstruck" | Mainstream Rock | 5 |
| 1991 | "Moneytalks" | Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| 1991 | "Are You Ready" | Mainstream Rock | 16 |
Certification
| Country | Sales | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 5,000,000 | 5x Platinum |
| Canada | 500,000 | 5x Platinum |
| United Kingdom | 1,000,000 | 2x Platinum |
| Finland | 63,926 | Platinum |
| France | 100,000 | Gold |