Album List Page One

AC/DC: Let There Be Rock (1977, Atco)
Number two gives you the feeling of a band that has its identity set. This was the second album featuring Mark Evans on bass. He left shortly thereafter to be replaced by one of my musical heros, Cliff Williams. This album includes several AC/DC live-show icons such as "Let There Be Rock" and "Whole Lotta Rosie".

AC/DC: High Voltage (1976, Atco)
The first song you hear has bagpipes! Dropkick Murphys covered "Its a Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll)" for exactly that reason. Other highlights include "She's Got Balls", allegedly a song for Bon Scott's wife (apparently she was not amused), "The Jack", an ode to a 'card game' (actually about VD-listen carefully), and the live show staples "T.N.T." and "High Voltage". The band's penchant for double entendre lyrics was first demonstrated to U.S. audiences here and the title track tells you all you need to know about the band. Angus, in modern interviews is famous for saying that they've made the same album over and over again.

AC/DC: Powerage (1978, Atlantic)
Powerage or Power-age? Keeping in mind that glam and disco were in full swing at this time (even KISS gave a nod to disco, ever hear "I Was Made For Lovin' You"?) the title can be taken either way. Careful listeners will hear me noodle the opening riff to "Sin City" almost every time I pick up my bass. One of the darker-themed albums in the catalog, the blues influence behind the Young brothers can clearly be heard.

AC/DC: If You Want Blood (You Got It) (1978, Atlantic)
The title comes from a witty reparte between Angus (speared on the cover) and a reporter prior to The Day On The Green festival in '77 or '78. Interestingly enough, the title track doesn't show itself here, instead ending up on 1979's "Highway To Hell". This was a treat for the fans of the new band, their first live album. Recorded in Glasgow, Scotland, it captures the essense of the earlier years before the band had streets named after them and sold out 100,000 seat arenas worldwide.

AC/DC: Back In Black (1980, Atlantic)
Okay, you've heard this one. Actually, you've probably heard several. This was singer Brian Johnson's first album with the band and is the most popular/successful. "Back In Black" is listed with the RIAA as 12th on the U.S. bestsellers list with 63.0 million copies sold and stands seventh on the RIAA top 100 list, ahead of The Beatles. This is generally considered by band and fans alike the tribute to Bon Scott and as such, many of the songs have catapulted to pop culture icon status. Even people who would never listen to hard rock know "Back in Black", "Hells Bells", and "You Shook Me All Night Long".

AC/DC: Highway To Hell (1979, Atlantic)
Sadly this was singer Bon Scott's last album. He died on 19 Feburary, 1980 due to an alcohol overdose, while the band was mid-tour. This is also the album that jacked-up idiots like Tipper Gore and Jerry Falwell like to cite when telling the world that hard rock is the devil's music. Supposedly the song "Night Prowler", a personal fav and one of the darkest they've done to date, was the motivation for Richard Ramierz, the famous (or infamous) Night Stalker Rapist.

AC/DC: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976,1981 Atlantic)
This was an oversight. That's the most charitable way to look at it. The album features Bon Scott on vocals and Mark Evans on the bass, and must have been a suprise for the fans. One of the first albums Jason exposed me to, this was recorded and released in Australia in 1976 with different artwork but never given the go in the U.S. After the immense response to "Back In Black" and "Highway To Hell", the label finally got wise and cut it. The track listings are somewhat different between the Aussie and U.S. versions but the sound is the same. This album includes odes to crime ("Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"), sex ("Love At First Feel"), the industry ("Rocker"), teen rebellion (my theme song, "Problem Child"), the blues ("Ride On"), dirty sex ("Squealer"), and waiting for what you want ("Ain't No Fun (Waitin' Round To Be A Millionaire"). This definitely has something for everyone.

AC/DC: For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (1981, Atlantic)
The band's current release for 1981 was a take on the Roman Gladiatorial greeting, "For those about to die, we salute you". The title track, of course, is the band's legendary closing anthem that has literally shook the earth. The live show includes a real 21-gun salute during the final stage of the song ensuring that you never forget the show or the band. Unfortunately, though the album includes some interesting and engaging guitar work, some genuinely funny lyrics (nobody does double entendre better...), and some seriously hard hard rock, only the one song ever got the attention it deserved.

AC/DC: Flick Of The Switch (1983, Atlantic)
This was the last album for Phil Rudd, he would be replaced by Simon Wright in time for the next release. However, Phil made sure he went out with a bang. The album is generally considered to be a lesser work from the brothers Young but "Flick" stands up well under a fan's scrutiny. The title track and "Guns For Hire" stand out as two of the most recognizable intro riffs in the band's catalog and are very memorable, as is the band's tribute to a bad night in Belgium ("Bedlam in Belgium").

AC/DC: '74 Jailbreak (1984, Atlantic)
Never let it be said that record companies don't give it up for their consumers from time to time. This disc includes just five songs that at 24 minutes and 6 seconds, may be the most powerful coffee break you'll ever listen to. "Jailbreak" itself is a concert feature, usually being tied with a long Angus solo or the striptease, or both. The album features, once again, Bon Scott on vocals. These are a collection of old material that had been released on foreign copies of albums or never released at all. Notice that some of the recordings on "'74 Jailbreak" date to 1975, before the first releases..

AC/DC: Fly On The Wall (1985, Atlantic)
It's impossible to stay on top forever, even the mighty must fall. If it was going to happen, then this was a good way to do it. None of the songs on "Fly" are liable to be heard on the radio or at a show but they stand up against some of the band's heavy hitters, even when the band themselves may not stand by the album. For highlights, check out "Danger", "Send For The Man" (Jason's favorite), "Fly On The Wall", and "Shake Your Foundations".

AC/DC: Who Made Who (1986, Atlantic)
Hmmm, trivia time. Why is this a departure for the band? Answer: "Who Made Who" is the soundtrack to Stephen King's "Maximum Overdrive". Do yourself a favor, buy the disc, miss the film. "Who Made Who" is also a greatest hits package and includes three new tracks, two of which are also departures: both "D.T." and "Chase The Ace" are instrumentals, the latter being a smoking example of what the Gibson SG can do. It should also be said that this album was done at the request of King, himself a lifelong AC/DC fan.

AC/DC: Blow Up Your Video (1988, Atlantic)
This is where I 'came in' so to speak. Little trip down memory lane: Jason and I met in 8th grade. He got me into AC/DC and guitar rock in general. This is the first 'new' AC/DC I got my hands on. Unfortunately, it isn't my favorite. There are some notables, however. "That's The Way I Wanna Rock 'N Roll" and "This Means War" will always get me moving. This album was Simon Wright's last dance. He was replaced by Chris Slade on the next album. It is also the tour where Malcolm Young took a break to get off booze. His duties were handled by another Young, nephew Stevie, who filled in quite nicely, right down to the look.

AC/DC: The Razor's Edge (1990, Atlantic)
The hits keep on coming. "The Razor's Edge" is far from their best but it is a catchy collection. "Thunderstruck" the first single and first song is immediately recognizable to just about anyone who actually knows more than just "Back In Black". Interestingly enough, there is a story about the 1991 Alpine Valley, WI show that you'd never believe. Jason and I are even now (sort of) but that concert was a sore point for me for a long time. However, I screwed up the 2000 St. Louis concert. Next time we're getting a fucking hotel room.

AC/DC: Live (1992, Atlantic)
Live {Two Disc 'Boxed Set', Special Collecter's Edition}(1992, Atlantic)
Why is it here twice? Have I messed up? No. For some odd reason (maybe an ode to KISS, I don't know), the Thunder From Down Under decided to test the waters, find out who the true fans are. There are two versions of "Live", the only other live collection from the band. One is a standard album length, 14 songs, exactly what you'd expect from a modern AC/DC show. The "Special Collecter's Edition" has 23 tracks on two CDs (or cassettes, I had this one, once) and if you've got a multiple deck CD player, you'll be listening for just over two hours. The tracks were recorded at various stops along the '90-'91 world tour but they were edited so well that you'd never know it wasn't one show. One of the gems here is a small little ditty named "Bonny", played by Angus leading into "Highway To Hell". Listen carefully and on occasion you'll hear me noodling this tune when I'm bored. The fun part of the boxed set was the extras. There was a fold-out poster included and also (and I've still got mine!) one A-note. The band printed thousands of 'dollars' worth of 'money' with Angus' face in the center. These were dropped on the crowd as a prop for "Moneytalks" and each original box included one. Regrettably the remaster does not.

AC/DC: Ballbreaker (1995, ATCO)
I remember the exact day I got this album. My birthday, '95, and there was a copy laying on the pillow in the hotel room my then-girlfriend had gotten for the night. It was mingling with the rose petals....Anyway! Pay attention! Highlight tracks here include "Burning Alive", "Hail Ceasar", and the title "Ballbreaker". If you can successfully listen to any of the three and not get a rush to crank your stereo to 11, you're dead or don't like hard rock. The agression of these three makes it worth your twelve bucks. Oh yeah, PHIL RUDD RETURNS!

AC/DC: Stiff Upper Lip (2000,Epic)
The most recent, this is a special import version (note 'Australian tour edition') that includes some live stuff from the "Ballbreaker" tour in Madrid, a non-album track ("Cyberspace") and some video on enhanced CD. Not my personal favorite but it'll do when I don't have "Ballbreaker", "For Those About To Rock", or "Powerage" handy. "Give it Up", "Satellite Blues", "I Feel Safe In New York City", and "Damned" all got my attention the first fifty times I played this album.

AC/DC: Bonfire (1997,Epic)
Its here! At long last, a boxed set. A real boxed set. "Bonfire" covers the early years, a true tribute from the band to their beloved first lead singer, Bon Scott. The set includes three 'original' compilations and a re-mastered version of "Back in Black", the original tribute album. "Live from the Atlantic Studios" is a nice mix of early AC/DC, the origin of which is in the title. "Let There Be Rock" is the movie soundtrack documenting the Pavillion show in Paris, Bon's last (?). "Volts" is the stereotypical "rarities" disc, with alternate versions of various songs and some oddities that were never released elsewhere. It's pricy but well worth the money.