AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’: Every Song Ranked from Great to Greatest
There are big albums, there are monster albums and then there’s AC/DC’s Back In Black, which in terms of grandness is like Godzilla on HGH. The landmark album turns 43…
There are big albums, there are monster albums and then there’s AC/DC’s Back In Black, which in terms of grandness is like Godzilla on HGH.
The landmark album turns 43 today (July 25,) but frankly, it feels weird attaching a number to a work like this. Why? Because it’s timeless. It’s never lost its sense of cool, nor has it really aged or become “dated.”
In the decades since its release, it’s evolved from being an album to essentially being a rock and roll starter kit. Know a young kid just getting into rock music? Give them a copy of Back In Black. Need to set the vibe for a party? Put on Back In Black. Want to curate the soundtrack of a badass? No need to hem and haw over a playlist, because there’s Back In Black! AC/DC did the curating for you! (Well, perhaps producer Mutt Lange helped a little.)
No album collection is really complete without Back In Black, and truth be told, there are likely very few collections without it. When you move 25 million copies in the United States alone and 50 million copies worldwide, more often than not you’ll find this LP tucked away somewhere in a collection, preferably at the beginning of a record collection, if only for alphabetical reasons. (Unless you have some sort of wacky way you organize your albums besides alphabetically. If so, “at” me, because I’d love to know what it is.)
There’s also no better tribute album in rock history. When Bon Scott suddenly passed away in February 1980, few could’ve expected that five months later AC/DC would not just recruit another incredible vocalist in Brian Johnson but also become one of the biggest bands in the world. The show went on, but not before paying respect to Scott. It only seems fitting for a massive personality to receive an equally massive ode.
So, how does a mere mortal honor such a tribute? By painstakingly ranking all ten tracks on this album, which is not an easy task since each track is a winner without an ounce of filler. Enjoy!
10. “Shake a Leg”
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesWILKES-BARRE, PA - OCTOBER 28: Singer Brian Johnson(L) and Angus Young of AC/DC perform during their "Black Ice" Tour Opener on October 28, 2008 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
9. “Givin’ the Dog a Bone”
Karl Walter/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 17: Musician Angus Young of AC/DC performs onstage during day 1 of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 2) at The Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2015 in Indio, California. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)
8. “Let Me Put My Love into You”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Singer Brian Johnson (L) and musician Angus Young of AC/DC perform at Dodger Stadium on September 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
7. “What Do You Do For Money Honey”
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Singer Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs onstage during The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
6. “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution”
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesWILKES-BARRE, PA - OCTOBER 28: Singer Brian Johnson(L) and Angus Young of AC/DC perform during their "Black Ice" Tour Opener on October 28, 2008 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
5. “Have a Drink On Me”
Chris Jackson/WireImage/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: (L-R) Cliff Williams, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC arrive at HMV Hammersmith for the World Premiere of "AC/DC Live at River Plate" Presented by DeLeón Tequila on May 6, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/WireImage for Columbia)
4. “You Shook Me All Night Long”
Karl Walter/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 17: Musicians Brian Johnson of AC/DC performs onstage during day 1 of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 2) at The Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2015 in Indio, California. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella)
3. “Shoot to Thrill”
Newsmakers/Getty Images378457 14: Band members Angus Young, left, and brother Malcolm Young of the Australian rock band AC-DC pose September 15, 2000 at the Rock Walk handprint ceremony at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, Ca. (Photo /Newsmakers)
2. “Back In Black”
Jeffrey A. Camarati/Getty ImagesGREENSBORO, NC - AUGUST 27: Angus Young performs with AC/DC during the Rock Or Bust Tour at the Greensboro Coliseum on August 27, 2016 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jeffrey A. Camarati/Getty Images)
1. “Hells Bells”
Newsmakers/Getty Images378457 11: Band members from left: Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Cliff Williams of the Australian rock band AC-DC pose September 15, 2000 at the Rock Walk handprint ceremony at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, Ca. (Photo /Newsmakers)
