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Ep338: Inside Albert Productions with Fifa Riccobono

The Vinyl Guide

Music Executive Fifa Riccobono spent much of her career leading Albert Productions and fostering bands like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels. Today Fifa shares stories and speaks of the vinyl records that helped fuel Albert Productions rise to become the most powerful and beloved independent record label in Australian history.

Topics include:

  • Fifa sees the pictures of Bon Scott’s handwriting

  • What was the state of Albert Productions when you joined?

  • Vanda & Young’s partnership with Ted Albert

  • John Paul Young recording ‘Pasadena’

  • Did George & Harry have aspirations to make their own music? Flash in the Pan

  • Different album versions for international releases

  • How involved was Albert in international variations?

  • The brand of AC/DC

  • Malcolm and Angus joining the Albert’s artist roster

  • George and Harry’s involvement in AC/DC personnel changes

  • Dirty Deeds 1st pressing Songbook

  • The impact of the phone number in the song Dirty Deeds

  • Why were those ‘Blue Roo’s on 1st vinyl issues?

  • Albert Productions test pressings

  • Australian cover art of ‘Let There Be Rock’

  • AC/DC New Zealand ‘Music World’ label releases

  • Were any Albert Productions records exported?

  • Common and rare singles

  • AC/DC transitioning from a singles band to an ‘album-focused’ band

  • The variation of the AC/DC band lineup

  • The story of AC/DC ‘Live at Atlantic Studios’

  • ‘If You Want Blood’ live album

  • The story of “12 of The Best”

  • Rare, censored and deleted titles going up in value

  • Fifa’s personal collectable records

  • The state of the Alberts master tapes and archive

  • Saving the Vanda and Young demo tapes

  • Promotional records for pre-release

  • The year of 1980 – AC/DC and the turnaround of Back in Black

  • The purposeful packaging of Back in Black

  • Original plans for the ‘Highway to Hell’ followup

  • The minimal number of Albert picture sleeves for singles

  • Any recalled or low number records

  • Discussion of the band Cheetah

  • What bands did you want to get on Alberts that didn’t work out?

  • The evolution of the Albert Productions record label colours

  • The final days of the Alberts studio in Sydney

  • What Alberts release did Fifa have the most anguish over

  • Does AC/DC album artwork still exist?

  • Original ‘High Voltage’ changes label credits

  • Misprint on early ‘TNT’ album sleeves

  • Interview wrap up

Extended interview available here: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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About The Vinyl Guide

If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related.