1651 - AC/DC Let Me Put My Love Into You 1980

Back in Black was recorded over seven weeks in the Bahamas in spring 1980. The area was hit by tropical storms at the time, making the sessions difficult at times. Johnson penned the album's lyrics and melodies, while guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young composed the music. Once more, Johnson uses weaponry as a metaphor for his junk, and when he gets to that "don't you struggle/ don't you fight" bit just before the chorus, a worrisome aggressiveness creeps in. But he does ask permission -- "Let me put my love into you, babe" -- and Angus woos with his sweet, pleading guitar solo. Johnson’s meaning is hard to misinterpret when he screams, “I got reputations/ Blown to pieces/ With my artillery,” his voice soaring like flaming shrapnel over the exploding drums. The unapologetic onslaught fell perfectly into step with the band’s previously established reputation as hardcore musical miscreants. Violent and vulgar, it’s a fitting tribute to hellish archangel Scott.

1646 - AC/DC Riff Raff 1978

Australian rockers AC/DC were teetering on the brink of worldwide stardom when they released Powerage on May 25, 1978, and though the album didn’t quite get them there, it marked an important period of transition for the band and remains a favorite of many fans who feel it is an underrated classic. Powerage marked the studio debut of bassist Cliff Williams, who replaced Mark Evans, though Evans later said that some of his performances are on the album. It’s the last studio album of the classic Bon Scott era to be produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, and it features the unusually treble-heavy sound that marked much of that period of AC/DC’s career. Composed by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, “Riff Raff” features the signature marriage of straight-ahead Angus Young guitar riffing and Bon Scott vocal pyrotechnics that made the band’s early work so compelling.

1587 - AC/DC Thunderstruck 1990

By 1990, AC/DC were beginning to seem like yesterday's news. It had been 10 long years since Back in Black, and although they remained a popular live act, they had a hard time scoring new hits. That all changed with "Thunderstruck," an enormous song that sounds like a vicious thunderstorm. It helped new LP The Razors Edge sell millions of records, and it's been a highlight of their stage show ever since. 

1440 - AC/DC Overdose 1977

AC/DC's third album isn’t quite as popular as later works Highway to Hell or Back in Black, and yet, it is one of the best AC/DC albums, containing some of their classiest classics and most overpowering music. The band's most lyrically cliched, but also very catchy, song, 'Overdose" contains a menacing pace and great solos.

1393 - AC/DC T.N.T. 1975

"T.N.T." is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Seven of the album's nine songs were written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott. "T.N.T." marked a change in direction from AC/DC's debut album, "High Voltage", which was released in February 1975. Whereas "High Voltage" featured some experimentation with the styles of its songs and had a variety of personnel filling multiple roles, T.N.T. saw the band fully embrace the formula for which they would become famous: hard-edged, rhythm and blues-based rock and roll. They also simplified their personnel system, and would use it from then on out, which was Angus Young strictly playing lead guitar, Malcolm Young strictly playing rhythm guitar, and the drummer and bassist being the only ones to play drums and bass guitar on the albums. T.N.T. contains some of the band's best-known songs, including the title track.

1270 - AC/DC Sin City 1978

"Powerage" is the first AC/DC album to be released nearly simultaneously in both Australian and international markets, and the first to use just one cover image for both. Powerage was also a first in the sense that it debuted bassist Cliff Williams. A classic, Sin City, a story–esque lyric from Bon about looking for that one chance to make it big. Mal’s superb slashing rhythmic chords power this monster along, Phil’s sounds like he’s smashing glass with his crashes, and Ang produces a solo that takes you right to the edge before that dark breakdown in the middle of the song before Bon ramps up the atmosphere for the final charge and Ang loses it totally. Even if Bon hasn’t got a “hope in hell” he’s still going in even if he is destined to be another loser.

1153 - AC/DC You shook me all Night long 1980

"You Shook Me All Night Long" is one of AC/DC's signature songs from their most successful album, "Back in Black".
In the song, the lead singer Brian Johnson relates the story of a night with a beautiful woman. Johnson came up with the line "She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean" when he realized that cars and women were very much alike - they go fast, let you down, but then make you happy again when you see the new model. Johnson told USA Weekend that this song is for him the highlight of the band's catalog because: "It was the first song I wrote with the guys, and it has a special groovy beat that won't let you go. It has such a special place in my heart, and I still love to sing it onstage. To me, it might be one of the best rock songs ever written - if I do say so myself".

917 - AC/DC Hell ain´t such a Bad Place to be 1977

"Let There Be Rock" was the last AC/DC recording to feature bassist Mark Evans, who previously played on "T.N.T" (1975) and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (1976). Bon Scott's perverse howl and Young's straight for the throat guitar lines are present in this "Hell ain´t such a bad place to be", a mighty fist-waver.

635 - AC/DC High Voltage 1976

From their earliest days, lead guitarist Angus Young, a spastic dwarf-like riff-monger who wore nothing but traditional schoolboy attire, led this band of hooligans fromn Sidney, with gleeful perversity and balls-out ambition. The group's intent is perfectly clear from the album "High Voltage"´s opening power chords: to distill rock and mutate the blues down to its barest essentials in a pulverizing whomp. Riding over the top of the battering rhythm section is the all-too-true sneer of vocalist Bon Scott.
In concerts, this song has evolved into sing-a-long with the crowd. In the bridge where the original singer of the song Bon Scott sings 'I said high, I said high', this has been extended where both singers Bon Scott and Brian Johnson repeat the word 'high' in ever increasing loudness and high pitch, to which the crowd responds with "high" louder also. That is followed by a discreet backing rhythm for several minutes whilst Angus Young does some improvisation on the guitar.

428 - AC/DC Back in Black 1980

No one could have expected AC/DC to continue recording into the '80s, let alone create an album such as "Back In Black". The hard playing, no holds barred lifestyle that had defined the band's persona throughout the '70s had ironically claimed its biggest proponent, lead singer Bon Scott. The band had been on the cusp of worldwide popularity following its 1979 album Highway to Hell, but Scott's death nearly served as the final chapter in the AC/DC saga. The band weathered the tragedy and soldiered on, soon replacing Scott with Brian Johnson, and entered the new decade with steely resolve. The result of the band's determined efforts was of course, 1980's "Back in Black".

238 - AC/DC Hells Bells 1980

AC/DC was in disarray when this album came out: The previous lead singer, Bon Scott, had died of alcohol poisoning. Most said the band's best music had been played. Little did they know that the next year AC/DC was going to release a tribute to their deceased singer that would become one of the greatest album ever recorded. It also introduced new lead "screamer" Brian Johnson.The first song is Hells Bells, it has kind of an eerie feeling, a hard rock classic.

203 - AC/DC Walk All Over You 1979

"Highway to Hell" is probably the greatest album in the history of AC/DC. "Highway To Hell" appeared in 1979, at a time when AC/DC (Bon Scott, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams and the Young brothers) were probably one of the five greatest touring rock outfits. They had finally managed to break through in America, and of course they were more popular than ever in Europe. Singer Bon Scott´s distinctive voice, lead guitarist Angus Young´s instantly recognizable riffs and the rest of the band´s strong backup tracks were a blueprint for rock at the time. "Highway To Hell" was the album that would both increase that fame and end it. The intro riff to "Walk All Over You" is soon joined by some unbelievable drums, before developing into a quite lighter, and also quite faster, riff. The song´s minimalistic riffing structure (Bon often sings a capella) makes it insanely catchy, the chorus is a cathartic experience that words just cannot describe. All in all, this is an unfairly overlooked AC/DC gem.

149 - AC/DC Whole Lotta Rosie 1977

AC/DC's second U.S. release took the raw energy from their debut, "High Voltage", up a notch, producing another huge collection of driving, intense songs for serious headbanging, but adding a bit more professionalism into the equation. The songwriting and production are tighter and more focused. "Whole Lotta Rosie" is fast and furious, nasty and sexy, driving and relentless. This has an awesome guitar riff and Bon Scott's best vocal delivery.

107 - AC/DC For Those About to Rock We Salute You 1981

No sooner had Bon Scott met his whiskey-sodden end in 1980 than AC/DC recruited a new singer, Brian Johnson and released "Back in Black", the biggest-selling album of their career. "For Those About to Rock...We Salute You" is a suitably triumphant follow-up. The irresistible anthem starts off with arrestingly moody eighth-note picking from Angus Young before being complemented by the great main riff, and Brian Johnson's orgasmic "yeah yeah!" helps send the song up to the stratosphere. This track still provides a spectacular finale to AC/DC concerts.

70 - AC/DC Let There Be Rock 1977

Back in 1977, fresh faced is exactly what the lads were, determined to break big outside of Australia. Let There Be Rock, their sophomore effort, lives up to its pretentious title in every way imaginable. Thick and chunky riffage between Angus and Malcolm Young fills the songs of "Let there be Rock", the title track lays a down a smoking lead that Motley Crue tried to steal and every rock band since have used as a blueprint to jamming out the next great rocker. Bon Scott was the perfect match to the dirty guitar as his vocals stormed where others might have shirked, refining his horny and throaty howl into a confident scream. He began to incorporate a storyteller feel to his lyrical delivery more than before, fitting over any bottom end fill or grinding guitar perfectly.

26 - AC / DC Its A long way to the top if ya wanna Rock and Roll 1976

AC/DC formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. The band are considered pioneers of heavy metal, alongside bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.Its members, however, have always classified their music as "rock 'n' roll". Membership remained stable until bassist Cliff Williams replaced Mark Evans in 1977. In 1979, the band recorded their highly successful album, Highway to Hell. Lead singer and co-songwriter Bon Scott died on February 19, 1980, after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. The group briefly considered disbanding, but soon ex-Geordie singer Brian Johnson was selected as Scott's replacement. Later that year, the band released their biggest-selling album, Back in Black.
“It’s A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock N’ Roll” shows that these lads are willing to pay the price, and with a beat that makes it impossible to stand still and the best use of bagpipes ever in a rock song (along with a great Angus guitar solo), you know that these guys got the goods to get where they want.