House of Hits: The Great Untold Story of Australia’s First Family of Music

The journey of a small family business that went from running an unassuming clock repair shop, to becoming the group responsible for bringing mega-stars AC/DC into the public spotlight.

Few, if any, of AC/DC’s fans would have any idea that the band’s unmistakable brand of raucous, hardcore rock was delivered to the world via a small Australian family music publishing business, J. Albert & Son. In fact, the lives of most music buffs have been touched in some way by the Alberts, through sheet music, any number of their radio stations, or bands and artists like the Easybeats, John Paul Young, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, the Angels, Rose Tattoo, and, of course, AC/DC. So who is behind this business that has been quietly shaping and influencing musical landscape, culture, entertainment, and media for most of its existence? Here, Jane Albert—a journalist and fifth generation family member—has agreed to tell the family’s story for the first time. She has had unprecedented access to company documents, family diaries, family members, letters, and of course the vibrant gallery of artists who have made Albert’s the success it is today. It’s a story of constant innovations, extreme loyalty, and the struggle—and triumph—of family businesses.