AC/DC - Back In Black

Released 1980
Track listing

1.	"Hells Bells"	5:10
2.	"Shoot to Thrill"	5:17
3.	"What Do You Do for Money Honey"	3:33
4.	"Given the Dog a Bone"	3:30
5.	"Let Me Put My Love Into You"	4:16

6.	"Back in Black"	4:14
7.	"You Shook Me All Night Long"	3:30
8.	"Have a Drink on Me"	3:57
9.	"Shake a Leg"	4:06
10.	"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"	4:15

This is without doubt the greatest AC/DC album of all time in terms of sales alone. Musically I think its predecessor is better but it is a close run thing. Against the backdrop of the loss of Bon Scott and the arrival of Brian Johnson. The album nearly didn't get made at all. The album opens ominously with Hells Bells which has become a classic of the band's live show. The track is also featured in the soundtrack to the Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive. Next we have Shoot To Thrill which is another classic and has made it into film in Iron Man 2. What Do YOu Do For Money Honey is typical AC/DC fare. Given The Dog A Bone is the weakest track on the album for me. Then we have another cheeky innuendo laden song which would become the trademark of the Brian Johnson era. Let Me Put My Love Into You is yet again classic AC/DC. Then we get a set of the most famous guitar chords in history as we move into the title track. This is a genuine classic track. Then we have another saucy little number. You Shook Me All Night Long is a track about a night spent with a beautiful woman. The video which I saw on television which features the glamour model Corinne Russell was set in and around Huddersfield. We then have another couple of tracks in Have  A Drink On Me and Shake A Leg. To wind down at the end we have an unsung classic. Rock N Roll Ain't Noise Pollution is an anthemic track which certainly states my opinion on the music.

Recommended track - You Shook Me All Night Long

You Shook Me All Night Long

(c) Jonathan Kirton

AC/DC - Highway To Hell

Released 1979

Track listing

1.	"Highway to Hell"	3:29
2.	"Girls Got Rhythm"	3:24
3.	"Walk All Over You"	5:11
4.	"Touch Too Much"	4:28
5.	"Beating Around the Bush"	3:57

6.	"Shot Down in Flames"	3:23
7.	"Get It Hot"	2:35
8.	"If You Want Blood (You've Got It)"	4:38
9.	"Love Hungry Man"	4:18
10.	"Night Prowler"	6:18

This album will undoubtedly go down as a classic rock album. It is the last album of the Bon Scott era and is in my opinion the best of the lot. The track listing is littered with tracks which have become classic AC/DC let alone classic rock/metal tracks. The album opens with the title track. From opening chords it grabs you and you are drawn along on the journey towards 'party time'.  The tempo picks up with the next track. Girls Got Rhythm just makes you want to get up and move. You then change down a gear with Walk All Over You. Then we have what is for me the best track on the album. Touch Too Much. It has a bluesy feel and the lyrics help convey the scene. "It was one of those nights when you turn out the lights and everything comes into view". This song oozes sex. It is then followed by the weakest track on the album. Beating Around The Bush is not a particularly great song. But then you get another classic with Shot Down In Flames. They keep the temperature theme going with Get It Hot. Then along comes another classic. If You Want Blood (You've Got It). This is a high octane track. We then move into Love Hungry Man. But the album finishes off with a track which caused controversy in America (but what doesn't). If this had been Mick Jagger and Keith Richards singing people would have said that this was fantastic. The song does have a feel of Midnight Rambler by The Rolling Stones.

This is a well put together album and is rightly a classic and don't shout it too loudly is arguably as good as the album that followed it and which is the 3rd bestselling album in history. How good could this line up have become is an unanswerable question but this album is a fitting epitaph to a great singer.

Recommended track - Touch Too Much

(c) Jonathan Kirton

AC/DC Powerage

Released 1978
Track listing

1.	"Rock 'n' Roll Damnation"	3:06
2.	"Gimme a Bullet"	3:20
3.	"Down Payment Blues"	5:40
4.	"Gone Shootin'"	5:22
5.	"Riff Raff"	5:14
6.	"Sin City"	4:45
7.	"Up to My Neck in You"	4:12
8.	"What's Next to the Moon"	3:42
9.	"Cold Hearted Man"	3:32
10.	"Kicked in the Teeth"	3:58

This album is caught between a rock and a hard place. Historically it sits between Let There Be Rock and Highway To Hell. arguably the two best albums of the Bon Scott era. It is not a bad album and is typical AC/DC in terms of musical style and content.  Unfortunately it is not as good as its predecessor or its successor. The album gets off to a good start with Rock N Roll Damnation. We then have Gimme A Bullet, Down Payment Blues and Gone Shootin. None of these are bad tracks they just aren't that memorable. Down Payment Blues is a song about people who are struggling in life and is very relevant in today's climate.

We then have another classic with Riff Raff. This isn't a song about a character from Rocky Horror. The rest of the album kind of merges into one and none of the tracks are particularly memorable.

Recommended track:- Rock N Roll Damnation

(c) Jonathan Kirton

AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

Released 1977

Track listing

1. Go Down
2. Dog Eat Dog
3. Let There Be Rock
4. Bad Boy Boogie
5. Problem Child
6. Overdose
7. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To be
8. Whole Lotta Rosie

This album is a real joy to listen to. From the very first track the class is apparent. Go Down is a belter and gets things off to a rockin start. Dog eat Dog is OK but not a patch on the Adam & The Ants track of the same name.  Then we have the anthemic Let There Be Rock. The thing I like about rock and metal is the fact is that the use of language in the lyrics and the scope of referencing is better. The song refers to the roots of rock n roll - a combination of Schmaltz and the blues. Tchaikovsky even gets a shout in reference to Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven. I have also long held the opinion that classical music has had a great influence on rock music. This song is a classic and there have been several covers but my personal favourite is by Bristol thrash metal outfit, Onslaught, on there album In Search of Sanity. Next up we have Bad Boy Boogie which just keeps the tempo going. Problem Child is featured again for some reason. Overdose is a song about having too much of one person. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be is classic AC/DC. The album ends with another anthem. Whole Lotta Rosie is about a one night stand with a well endowed woman from Tasmania. It has inspired cover versions. Guns N Roses famously used to perform it live. It has also been covered by W.A.S.P and Bullet For My Valentine.

This album is a classic and is a clear precursor to the great albums which were to come.

Track recommendation: Whole Lotta Rosie

AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Released 1976

Track listing

1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
2. Love at First Feel
3. Big Balls
4. Rocker
5. Problem Child
6. There's Gonna Be Some Rockin
7. Ain't No Fun (Waiting Round To Be  A Millionaire)
8. Ride On
9. Squealer

This album probably qualifies as the tricky second album. The style, sound and feel is all there but it isn't quite as good as the first album or subsequent albums. That being said there is enough there for the fans. The opener is a classic. AC/DC never felt afraid to confront the nastier or seamier side of life and this song is a perfect example. Love At First Feel is not a great track but is followed by one of those 'Carry On' moments that AC/DC do so well. Big Balls on the face of the lyrics is about somebody who likes throwing parties but scratch not very far at the surface and you find that double entendre is alive and well. Rocker is a fairly ordinary track and Problem Child is alright . The album continues with There's Gonna Be Some Rockin and Ain't No Fun. Then we have possibly the best track on the album, Ride On. It is a slow, bluesy number and just oozes class. Last up we have Squealer.

Overall the album is not great but shows hints of what is to come. 

Track recommendation: Ride On

Listen with Jonathan: AC/DC - High Voltage (International Release)

Released 1976

Track listing

1.	"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"	5:01
2.	"Rock 'n' Roll Singer"	5:04
3.	"The Jack"	5:52
4.	"Live Wire"	5:50

5.	"T.N.T."	3:34
6.	"Can I Sit Next to You Girl" (A. Young, M. Young)	4:12
7.	"Little Lover"	5:37
8.	"She's Got Balls"	4:51
9.	"High Voltage"	4:03

This album is another debut album. It is actually a combination of two Australian albums, High Voltage and TNT. Most of the tracks come from the latter album. The sound that would define AC/DC is clearly evident. The bluesy, ballsy rock n roll is very much to the fore. Bon Scott's vocals and Angus Young's guitar are outstanding. The album is not perfect but it is strong enough. The opening track is a cracker and is followed up by Rock N Roll Singer and The Jack. The album then becomes something of a rollercoaster. Live Wire is not great but TNT is brilliant. Can I Sit Next To You Girl is a bit if a filler but Little Lover is a bluesy highlight. She's Got Balls is typical of a lot of AC/DC songs but the album finishes off with a classic, High Voltage.

The album features bagpipes which for a rock album is a bit of a novelty. It is well worth a listen and some wannabe stars should listen to the opening number to see what it takes to get anywhere in the music business. Many years later The Four Horsemen would match this number with Nobody Said It Was Easy and Rockin Is My Business.  Choosing a track is difficult one. I am a fan of AC/DC but not a huge one. I could pick any one of half a dozen. If you like rock music this is a good introduction.

Track recommendation: It's A Long Way To The Top