AC/DC's Entire Catalog Finally Available On iTunes

Columbia Records and Apple today announced that AC/DC's entire catalog is now available digitally for the first time exclusively on the iTunes Store worldwide. From their 1976 debut "High Voltage" to seminal classic "Back In Black" and 2008 smash hit "Black Ice", every one of AC/DC's 16 studio albums, along with four live albums and three compilation albums, are available for the first time ever on the iTunes Store. All tracks are mastered for iTunes, and fans have the ability to download full albums or simply purchase their favorite individual songs. Fans can also choose from two specially packaged digital compilations: "The Complete Collection", the complete iTunes-exclusive AC/DC catalog; and "The Collection", which includes all 16 studio albums.

AC/DC's thunderous and primal rock and roll has excited fans for generations with their raw and rebellious brand of music, which also resonates with millions of new fans discovering AC/DC everyday. Their growing legion of fans will now experience the intensity of AC/DC's music in a way it has never been heard before. AC/DC's music has been mastered for iTunes, ensuring the music is delivered to listeners with increased audio fidelity, more closely replicating what the artists, recording engineers and producers intended.

The full catalog which has all been mastered for iTunes includes:

Collections:

* The Collection (all studio albums for $99.99)
* The Complete Collection (all studio albums, live albums and box sets for $149.99)

16 studio albums:

* High Voltage (1976)
* Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
* Let There Be Rock (1977)
* Powerage (1978)
* Highway To Hell (1979)
* Back In Black (1980)
* For Those About To Rock We Salute You (1981)
* Flick Of The Switch (1983)
* 74 Jailbreak (1984)
* Fly On The Wall (1985)
* Who Made Who (1986)
* Blow Up Your Video (1988)
* The Razors Edge (1990)
* Ballbreaker (1995)
* Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
* Black Ice (2008)

Four live albums:

* If You Want Blood You've Got It (1978)
* Live (1992)
* Live (2 Volume Collector's Edition) (1992)
* Live At River Plate (2012)

Three compilation albums:

* Bonfire (1997)
* Backtracks (2009)
* Iron Man 2 (2010)

AC/DC had previously rejected iTunes distribution in an attempt to preserve the concept of the album.

"Since iTunes came into existence, we've actually increased our back-catalog sales without being on the site. We were sternly warned by our management team and our record label that the complete opposite would be the case," guitarist Angus Young said in an interview.

"I know THE BEATLES have changed but we're going to carry on like that," Angus told Sky News. "For us, it's the best way. We are a band who started off with albums and that's how we've always been. We always were a band that if you heard something [by AC/DC] on the radio, well, that's only three minutes. Usually the best tracks were on the albums."

Speaking to The Telegraph in a 2008, Young said, "If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album — and we don't think that represents us musically."

"Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned, but this iTunes, God bless 'em, it's going to kill music if they're not careful," singer Brian Johnson told Reuters. "It's a...monster, this thing. It just worries me. And I'm sure they're just doing it all in the interest of making as much... cash as possible. Let's put it this way, it's certainly not for the... love, let's get that out of the way right away."

AC/DC will release "Live At River Plate" on November 20 as a the three-disc red vinyl or a two-CD set featuring multiple covers and a 24-page booklet. The live record follows last year's "Live At River Plate" DVD, filmed during their three triumphant Buenos Aires concerts on the "Black Ice" world tour, in December of 2009 in front of nearly 200,000 fans.