Rare Promo Albums

• ROCKA RADIO SPECIAL
• Australia
• Albert RRS 1/2/3/4
• Released August 76
• Includes interview & tracks of AC/DC (Angus interview & 3 AC/DC tracks), Easybeats, Marcus Hook Roll Band, John Paul Young, Ted Mulry Gang, Little River Band, Stevie Wright and Angels.
• This ultra-rare promo double Lp was released in conjunction with the "Rocka" compilation album, and very few were issued for radio only. This is also most certainly the first radio-only promo album to feature AC/DC. The labels are the classic Alberts blue labels with no writing on them, and it came with cue sheets. Only two are known to exist now... Probably worth well over $300.

• HIGH VOLTAGE
• USA
• Atlantic/WEA SD 36-142
• Released October 76
• Same track listing as regular Lp.
• All the US Lp's up to 1983 were released as promo with a large sticker on the front sleeve listing the songs with timing & publishing info for radio stations. The sleeves are identical to the commercial releases with no promo marking, but the labels have the reference below credits ending in "-PR" for promo. Most are quite easy to find and are valued at $20 each, although the early ones, like "High Voltage", are rarer and worth around $30.

• BBC TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES - POP SPECTACULAR
• UK
• BBC Transcription Services CN 2647/S
• Released 1976
• Side 1: Live Wire, It's A Long Way To The Top, Soul Stripper, High Voltage.
• Side 2: Maxx Merrit & The Meteors live.
• The very first AC/DC promo-only Lp, this features the famous London Marquee concert of July 76 on side 1 (although the BBC broadcast also included "Baby Please Don't Go", not on the album), and Maxx Merit on side 2. Watch for the counterfeit copy issued in the late 80's, which features Def Leppard on side 2, and has a black & white label. The original BBC Transcription Discs have the green & white label, and were issued in a plain yellow sleeve. Two other AC/DC BBC Discs exist, one issued in 78 with the London Oct. 77 performance (one side only), and the other includes the London Hammersmith Nov. 79 concert (full album). The later has also been bootlegged. The originals are worth $200 and extremely rare.

• LIVE FROM THE ATLANTIC STUDIOS
• USA
• Atlantic LAAS 001
• Released May 78
• Side 1: Announcement, Live Wire, Problem Child, High Voltage, Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be, Dog Eat Dog.
• Side 2: The Jack, Whole Lotta Rosie, Rocker.
• This is the famous original promo Lp, which is now available as part of the "Bonfire" box set, with the studio live performance recorded on December 7th, 1977 at New York's Atlantic Studios. This has been bootlegged many times and a few counterfeit copies exist. The original release (which has a white label) is still very much sought-after, and copies that include the press release and reply-postcard are very hard to find. The value of the Lp that includes those 2 extra items is around $200.

• IF YOU WANT BLOOD
• Australia
• Albert/EMI APLP.034
• Released November 78
• Same track listing as regular Lp.
• The only 70's Albert pressing with a printed promo mark on label. This ultra rare item was certainly pressed in very small quantity and this promo Lp is harder to find than any Alberts "A" label single. The sleeve, although it bears no promo mark, has a glossy finish on the front. Worth $200 at least.

• HIGHWAY TO HELL
• Japan
• Atlantic/Warner Pioneer P-10719A
• Released July 79
• Same track listing as regular Lp.
• Most of the Japanese pressings were released as promo with a white label, and are quite hard to find. They also come with the OBI and insert sheets with lyrics & Japanese text. Some also have a "Sample" sticker on the front cover. Japanese promo Lp's are worth over $50.

• FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK
• Australia
• Alberts/EMI APLP 053
• Released November 1981.
• Same track listing as regular album.
• This Australian promo Lp was issued in a brown vinyl gatefold folder/sleeve in which the regular gatefold cover would slide in, and came with press release & promo pictures. The brown outside cover is plain but has the album title on the spine. Almost impossible to find now, it is worth well over $100.

• JAPAN TOUR '81 (Lp Picture Disc)
• Japan
• Atlantic/Warner Pioneer PS-180
• Released February 1981
• Side 1: Back In Black, Shake A Leg, Let Me Put My Love Into You, You Shook Me All Night Long, Shoot To Thrill, Hells Bells.
• Side 2: Highway To Hell, Beating Around The Bush, Touch Too Much, Riff Raff, Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be, Whole Lotta Rosie.
• Released in conjunction with the band's first Japanese tour in February 1981, this album contains regular studio tracks. The original issue of this disc (Which is identifiable by its cat. number and a clear rim around the disc) is extremely rare and worth over $200. It was also issued by Atlantic in Europe a year later with the catalogue number SAM 155 with a black rim around the disc. It was believed to be a counterfeit of the Japanese version but is in fact a genuine release. This European version is more common but still worth $150.

• FOREIGNER vs AC/DC SPECIAL D.J. COPY
• Japan
• Atlantic/Warner Pioneer PS-205
• Released June 1982
• Side 1: Foreigner tracks.
• Side 2: Back In Black (Live Largo 12/81), Let's Get It Up, For Those About To Rock, Hells Bells, Inject The Venom, Whole Lotta Rosie (Live)
• Released by Atlantic Japan to coincide with the band's second Japanese tour, this promo-only Lp includes 1 side of AC/DC studio tracks and 1 side of tracks by Foreigner, also an Atlantic act. Comes in a unique color cover, this album is quite hard to find and worth approximately $150.

• NBC SOURCE RADIO SERIES
• USA
• NBC/The Source  #NBC 82-24
• For broadcast July 2nd, 1982.
• Includes Interviews & tracks.
• This triple Lp is the rarest promo-only US Lp, and includes interviews and studio tracks. The "Source" Lp's were pressed for radio stations in the States and pressed in very limited quantity. This one is worth over $200.

• OFF THE RECORD SPECIAL
• USA
• Westwood One OTRS 83-48
• For broadcast November 21st, 1983
• Side :
• This double album includes an interview with the whole band with tracks. The first "Off The Record Specials" on AC/DC, two other double Lp's were issued in 1991. These are very hard to find but the most common of the vinyl radio promo albums. Still worth $100 each.

• RETROROCK (2 Lp's)
• USA
• Clayton Webster Corp. RR-84-7&8
• For broadcast February 6th, 1984.
• Side 1: Intro, You Shook Me All Night Long, Int. Angus, Dog Eat Dog [Live New York 77], Int. Angus, Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be [Live], Int. Angus, Rocker [Live]
• Side 2: Int. Angus, If You Want Blood, Int. Angus, Girls Got Rhythm, Int. Cliff, Highway To Hell, The Jack [Live]
• Side 3: T.N.T., Interview, Live Wire [Live], Natural Born Loser [Geordie], Int. Brian, Shake A Leg, Int. Cliff, Angus, Hells Bells, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
• Side 4: Interview, For Those About To Rock, Int. Angus, Flick Of The Switch, Interview, Whole Lotta Rosie [Live], Int. Angus, High Voltage.
• A very rare series of US radio promo Lp's, two "Retrorock" AC/DC specials exist, the first one issued in May 1982 (RR 82-21). This 1984 version contains interview with tracks, and worth over $100. Both are extremely hard to find.

Note: These albums are NOT for sale from the author of this site. The values indicated are purely indicative and can vary widely from one seller to another. They are based on rarity of item, and general selling price taken from different sources. Some of these can be found in used-vinyl record stores worldwide.