Simon Rushworth
AC/DC Week continues right here on rushonrock with a look at the band’s best albums – according to us! Yes, the Aussies with a hard rocking back catalogue to die for have made some undeniably great records over the years – as well as one or two duds.
But if you’re looking to dive straight into the cream of the DC crop then don’t look any further than the five records we’ve selected for your listening pleasure. Enjoy.
Back In Black (Albert Productions) 1980
With Mutt Lange on production duties and new boy Brian Johnson behind the mic, AC/DC die-hards felt a great deal of apprehension prior to their favourite band’s latest release. All of those fears were quashed as soon as the band’s new Geordie frontman launched into Hells Bells and Mutt worked his magic to make Angus Young sound like Eddie van Halen.
There’s not a bad track on here although Shake A Leg and Have A Drink On Me don’t quite cut the mustard alongside classics such as the title track, You Shook Me All Night Long and Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.
Johnson even attempts to do a David Coverdale impression on the Whitesnake-esque Let Me Put My Love Into You – and just about succeeds!
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Albert Productions) 1976
A magic sleeve conceals a treasure trove of Bon Scott-infused beauties on one of the band’s best early era albums. If the title track titilates and teases then this is one record which whips the listener into a rock frenzy come the closing bars of schoolboy favourite Squealer.
Playing music meant to put a smile on the face of their fans, AC/DC have never pretended to be anything other than blunt. This album laughs in the face of prudish parents and the back-to-back toilet humour of Love At First Feel and Big Balls is so simple it’s brilliant.
Highlights are Problem Child and the mesmerising Ride On – download these first and you’ll crave the rest of the record soon after.
For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Albert Productions) 1981
Not the ball breaking explosion that was Back In Black but another assured record from the self-styled kings of hard rock and roll. The title track and opener is an absolute killer and it’s little wonder it’s still beloved of serious guitar bands everywhere.
Inject The Venom and Let’s Get It Up might leave little to the imagination but they’re perfect representations of AC/DC’s ability to mix the raw with the rowdy. Another Mutt Lange production credit gives this record instant kudos and Johnson comes across as a confident, almost cocky, frontman oozing self belief.
Check out Breaking The Rules and Spellbound if you’re searching for two lost classics.
If You Want Blood You’ve Got It (Albert Productions) 1978
Stacked with AC/DC standards this record rolls along at an unrelenting pace and don’t be surprised if you wake up with the mother of all hangovers after blasting out a slew of killer tracks.
Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be is a good place to start but where next? The Jack, Let There Be Rock and Rocker are all raging bulls of rock aggression. But there’s one song here that every AC/DC fan can’t afford to be without.
Whole Lotta Rosie remains one of the band’s least expected and most requested anthems with it’s bar room boogie vibe and brooding axe work. We love it – so will you.
Black Ice (Sony BMG) 2008
They said the band was way past its sell-by date then along came last year’s rabble rousing return to form and the record which sparked a massive gloabl tour.
Rock N Roll Train propelled AC/DC back into to big league – the lead single from a superb record denting charts and demanding airplay the world over. It even inspired the set for the 08/09 Black Ice tour.
Johnson appears to benefit from the Brendan O’Brien production with the gruff Geordie sounding grizzlier than ever on the likes of Big Jack, Spoilin For A Fight and the fantastic Skies On Fire.
A worthy addition to the AC/DC canon. Will there be a follow-up?