In Australia when you purchased the band’s 1976 first release Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap it came along with a mailer that when sent to Albert Productions, Australia and with a payment of three dollars, got you a copy of the song book sent in the mail.
This song book is also known as Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap & Other Dine-O-Mite Songs and this very rare piece of AC/DC music memorabilia was released by Albert Productions, Australia. Albert Productions, a division of music publishing and recording company Albert Music, is one of Australia’s longest established independent record labels to specialise in rock and roll music, The label was founded in 1963 by Ted Albert, whose family owned and operated the Sydney music publishing house J. Albert & Son.
In the middle to late 70s, Albert Productions pretty much ruled the Australian music industry. The Albert Productions label is known internationally through its association with hard rock band, AC/DC.
Below is a statement from Angus Young on how the band’s relationship with Albert’s helped AC/DC excel during their early years:
“When we first went out there, we were lucky enough to get a deal with Alberts even before we left Australia, so that was good for us. We didn’t have to go shopping ourselves, but what was good was that Ted [Albert] advanced us a lot of the money so as we could get out there and tour and back-up the records. For him it was a long-term investment, but it paid in the end. It all helped.’’ Told to Jane Albert in the 2010 book, House of Hits.
AC/DC has released other rare song-style books like The Rocka Souvenir Songbook and The Explosive Hits ‘76 Songbook around the same time but neither of them come even close to the rarity Dirty Deeds achieves.
