Ep338: Inside Albert Productions with Fifa Riccobono
The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
Nate Goyer
4.7 • 579 Ratings
🗓️ 9 May 2022
⏱️ 70 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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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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
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode is brought to you by Groove Washer, the best record cleaners and protective sleeves for your vinyl collection. |
| 0:05.6 | Ask for the Groove washer from your local shop or go to groove washer.com. Discount code, |
| 0:10.6 | Vinyl Guide 10. We're also brought to you by audiophile USA.com. The family owned and operated, used at record shop that only sells excellent and near mint vinyl records. |
| 0:20.8 | Over 42,000 titles in stock. |
| 0:23.5 | Search, dig, and load up your cart with your final vinyl upgrades at audiophileUSA.com. |
| 0:29.8 | And now, on with the show. |
| 0:33.7 | Well, hey, everyone. |
| 0:35.4 | Welcome to episode 338 of The Vinyl Guide, the podcast for record collectors and music nerds. |
| 0:41.7 | And guess what, people? |
| 0:42.8 | We've got an incredible guest today. |
| 0:45.0 | Australian music executive FIFA Riccabono, who joins us today to speak about her time at Albert Productions. |
| 0:52.5 | FIFA spent many years working alongside Ted |
| 0:55.2 | Albert and the production juggernaut that was Vanda and Young. That's Harry Vanda |
| 1:00.1 | and George Young, former members of the Easy Beats and producers for bands like |
| 1:04.9 | the Angels, Rose Tattoo, John Paul Young, and of course the band that featured |
| 1:09.6 | George's younger brothers, Malcolm and Angus. |
| 1:12.5 | Today, FIFA takes us through some of the stories of the time, joining Albert's breaking bands |
| 1:17.3 | and pressing vinyl. We discussed the Albert Productions record test pressings, the promotional |
| 1:22.6 | radio station copies, the status of the ACDC and Vanda and Young Master Tapes, some tales of the early days |
| 1:29.6 | of ACDC, the artwork, the sleeves, the rarities, the recalled albums, and lots, lots more. |
| 1:36.2 | Oh, and hey, we've got an extended version of this interview up at patreon.com slash |
| 1:42.7 | vinyl guide. People who support our show get extras, including early |
... |
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