ac/dc collectibles - Electric Shock

Rare Singles


	Although AC/DC has never been a "singles" band, their record companies have always issued singles worldwide, and these 7" vinyl items often represent a favorite subject of collection among the band's collectors. Typically, the rarest singles are the ones released early in the band's career, in Australia or some other unusual country where finding vinyl records has now become quite a hunt. Presented here are the rarest pieces that are known to exist.
	Can I Sit Next To You Girl / Rockin' In The Parlour Australia Albert Productions / EMI AP-10551 Released 22 July 1974 The very first AC/DC record, only released in Australia and New Zealand. One of the most sought-after AC/DC singles, it is now extremely rare but does turn up occasionally and worth over $200.
	Can I Sit Next To You Girl / Rockin' In the Parlour New Zealand Polydor 2069 051 Released 1974 The rarest AC/DC single, and certainly the rarest AC/DC record. Oddly this first release was issued on Polydor in New Zealand, and this item is a monstrous rarity. Only three people are known to possess this gem. Difficult to place a value on this single, but it would easily reach well over $1,000 if ever offered for sale again.
	High Voltage / Soul Stripper (Promo) Australia Albert Productions / EMI AP-10829 Released 23 June 75 Just like the rest of the Australian "A" label promo singles, this particular one is extremely rare. Typically issued in very limited quantities to Australian radios in the 70's, each of the black "A" label promos is worth between $100 and $200. They come with a large A over the A-side label with the commercial release date printed on most of them.
	High Voltage / Soul Stripper Germany Atlantic / WEA ATL 10772 N Released May 1976 The very first AC/DC single with a picture sleeve, this was issued in Germany before the band ever toured there. The B-side remained unreleased on album in Europe for many years. With a sleeve similar to the Australian "High Voltage", this 7" is worth around $150 and extremely hard to find.
	High Voltage / Live Wire (Promo) UK Atlantic / WEA K 10860 Released 29 October 1976 This early English single was only issued with a picture sleeve in its promo version, and in a very limited quantity. The stock copy was released with the generic English Atlantic sleeve. As for the early UK promo singles, this one has a pop-out label center. Worth $150.
	It's A Long Way To The Top / High Voltage USA Atco / WEA 45-7068 Released November 1976 The rarest of the US singles, this first release certainly sold very poorly, and although the blue/white labels promo version is common, the stock copy (in typical yellow & white Atco label) is extremely rare. As for most of the US singles, two different versions exist, with a slightly different label, with a master number on the left side of the label ending with "SP" or "MO". Issued in a generic Atco/Atlantic sleeve, its value is hard to determine due to the fact that it is almost never on the market, but it could easily reach the $250 mark.
	High Voltage / It's A Long Way To The Top Portugal Atlantic / Radio Triunfo N-S-28-177 Released 1976 This would be the only single issued in Portugal until "Highway To Hell" three years later, and this one came out in a unique picture sleeve. Worth approximately $50.
	Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap / There's Gonna Be Some Rockin' New Zealand Albert Productions/Music World M.A.S. 222 Released 1976 All the AC/DC single pressed in New Zealand are extremely rare, and one can estimate the number of copies issued at less than a few hundred. How many remain in circulation is anyone's guess but less than a dozen of each could be a very conservative number. This one has the particularity of being issued on the Music World label, Albert production licensee in New Zealand at the time, and to the best of my knowledge this was the only AC/DC single released on this label. The label with flowers is pretty interesting... The B-side is also unique to this release. As other New Zealand singles, worth at least $250.
	Dog Eat Dog / Carry Me Home Australia Albert Productions / EMI AP-11403 Released 21 March 1977 With the first single, the most sought-after Australian 7", mostly due to its non-album B-side "Carry Me Home". This single did not chart and was probably issued in a very limited quantity, and is consequently very hard to find even in Australia. Came with the generic EMI sleeve, it is worth over $150.
	Problem Child / Let There Be Rock South Africa Atlantic/WEA ATS 715 Released 1977 The first South African single, issued without a picture sleeve. As any single from that country, it is extremely rare and worth its weight in gold, at around $200.
	Let There Be Rock / Problem Child Yugoslavia Atlantic / Suzy ATL 11018 Released 1977 The only single issued in Yugoslavia, this came out on Atlantic's licensee Suzy and is now extremely hard to find. This is the only version of the "Let There Be Rock" single with a picture sleeve, worth at least $150.
	Touch Too Much / Walk All Over You New Zealand Albert Productions/WEA Z 10019 Released 1980 Even though "Touch Too Much" was not issued as a single in Australia, it was released in New Zealand on the Alberts label. As any other AC/DC New Zealand 45, it is monstrously rare. This one is most probably the last AC/DC single pressed in New Zealand, and the hardest to find besides the Polydor single. Promo copies were issued with a sticker on the label, and only two hare known to exist. Stock or promo, hard to value this gem, but it could easily reach $500 in price tag. (It actually just recently sold for that amount)
	Touch Too Much / Highway To Hell (Jukebox Promo) France Atlantic / WEA 11439 Released February 1980 Shortly after the release of the "Touch Too Much / Live Wire - Shot Down In Flames" single in France, this 7" was released with the B-side "Highway To Hell" with a different catalogue number. It is believed that this was a Jukebox only release, that came with the same sleeve as the "Highway To Hell" French stock copy with a pink sticker, but unique picture sleeve are rumored to exist also. This extremely rare single is probably worth over $100 without the sleeve and if a sleeve version exists (it has not turned up yet), this one could reach a 4 figures price tag as the rarest AC/DC picture sleeve single.
	Beating Around The Bush / Live Wire - Shot Down In Flames Holland Atlantic / WEA ATL 11.441 Released February 1980 The only single of this track, this was issued in Holland at the same time as the "Touch Too Much" single in the rest of Europe, with the same live B-side. With a unique great live sleeve, this is a highly sought-after item, and worth over $50.
	Me Sorprendiste Durante Toda La Noche [You Shook Me (All Night Long)] / Tomate Un Trago En Mi Nombre [Have A Drink On Me] (Promo) Peru Atlantic / Ell Verrey Industrias F-ALT 0003761.8 Released 1980 This very rare white label promo from Peru has the titles are translated on the label. As with many other South American singles, this is an extremely hard single to find, worth at least $75.
	Back In Black / What Do You Do For Money Honey Ireland Atlantic / WEA K 11632 Released Late 1980 Irish singles are typically very similar to UK ones and it is hard to distinguish between them. However, this title was never issued as a single in the UK, and the Irish pressing is extremely rare. It came without a picture sleeve with the standard red & black Atlantic label. Worth over $100.
	Back In Black / What Do You Do For Money Honey Spain Atlantic / HispaVox 45-2053 Released 1981 The rarest non-promo Spanish single. With the above the only European version of "Back In Black" as a single, this one came out in a unique picture sleeve and is worth $50.
	For Those About To Rock / C.O.D. (Promo) Spain Atlantic / HispaVox CP 389 Released November 1981 The rarest Spanish single. Shortly before the release of the "For Those About To Rock" album, a promo 12" and this 7" were issued, but the 7" is much rarer and extremely hard to come by. It came with a unique sleeve (the same as the 12") with a white label. Again this one turns up for sale so rarely it is hard to value, but probably worth $200 or more.
	Jailbreak / Show Business Brazil Atlantic / EMI Odeon CSLUXO 10.182 Released 1984 A rare South American single with picture sleeve, this was issued in Brazil following the "74 Jailbreak" album release there. The sleeve is similar to the US single sleeve, and this single is worth over $40.
	Sink the Pink / Shake Your Foundations Spain Atlantic / WEA Ariola S789512-7 Released 1985 The only European version of this track as a single, this was issued only in Spain, in a unique sleeve. Worth $30.
	Hard As A Rock / Caught With Your Pants Down (Jukebox Promo) France East West / Carrere 7559 64368-7 Released 1995 Although the UK Yellow vinyl of the same title is very common, this French release is the only other version of this 7" single, the last release of this format for the band. This single was issued with a printed silver label and without a sleeve for jukeboxes only and is quite difficult to locate. Worth over $30.
	Note: These singles 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.