My written notes for my album review of AC/DC 1980 classic album, Back In Back. Watch my video review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DivZixXVBV4

1. Back In Black by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Released July 25th 1980, it
is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the
band.
Album Background
•
This album is the first AC/DC album without lead singer Bon Scott, who
died on February 19th 1980 at the age of 33, and was dedicated to him.
•
After Bon•s death the band considered disbanding, but with some
encouragement from Scott's parents, and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson
as their new lead singer.
•
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on
Highway to Hell, was again brought in to produce.
•
As of June 2011, the album has sold an estimated 50 million copies
worldwide, tying it for second highest-selling album of all time, the highestselling album by a band (together with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon),
•
In December of 2007, Back In Black went 22x multi-platinum, selling 22
million copies in the US making it the sixth-highest-selling album in the US.
(The first being Michael Jackson•s Thriller)
•
The band was inducted in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003.
•
Bands inspired by this album include Guns N Roses and Buckcherry.
Track by Track Review:
1.
Hells Bells • This song opens up this iconic album with a bang. This song
starts out with a low haunting bell toll intro that slowly builds up to create a
spooky guitar led instrumental opening that continues throughout the track and
seem to set a dark tone upon the album. The lyrics on this track are very well
done, as both the pre-chorus solo vocals, (done by Brian)and the group chorus
vocals of ("Hells Bells, My temperature is hot, Hells Bells•) seem to match the
songs intimidating and darker feel that seems to signal music word that AC/DC is
back, better and heavier musically than ever.
2.
Shoot To Thrill • This song start opens with a catchy, long guitar riff
laced instrumental that travels through the entire song providing a very upbeat
feel that leads right into the high energy chorus that sees the band sticking to
their Bon Scott era roots. With all that being said, I feel that this song lost
momentum, overall, by this I mean that the lyrics and vocals, while filled with
catchy hooks seems very flat and somewhat emotionless, almost as if the band ran
out of gas after the iconic opener
At this point in the album we see the bands musical style change from darker
more depressed song to more upbeat, faster paced sex-oriented songs.
3.
What Do You Do for Money Honey • This song opens with an upbeat •charged•
drum and guitar pairing that leads a guitar laced one line sexual-oriented
chorus that claims the song title. The breakdown restates some of the lines in
the chorus while it leads perfectly into a guitar-solo and duel vocals that
repeat until the song ends.
4.
Givin The Dog A Bone • The song starts out with a somewhat distorted
guitar riff and rough vocal style that we don•t otherwise see on this album, as
the other vocals seem rather polished.
5.
Let Me Put My Love Into You • This song starts out with a dark feeling
guitar riff opening, which seems to be hinting that this could be one of the
more explosive and heavier songs on the album, but that never really happens.
Instead the song becomes a rather tame track that is built around an extremely
catchy guitar riff and amazing ending solo as well as some of the darkest and
most sexualized lyrics on the album.
Back in Black • The song is one of AC/DC•s best known songs. It starts off with
a delayed guitar riff that travels through the song and really sets the tone for
this iconic song. The song skips the pre-chorus lyrics as the song seems to flow
directly in the chorus, which is highlighted by a pairing of Brian•s raspy vocal
style and an amazing shredding guitar riffs capped off by a solo that carries
the song to a close.
You Shook Me All Night Long • This song is my favorite on the album; it opens
with a series of short and reapitive guitar riffs that really sets the tone for
this hard rock song. The vocals on this song are not as chorus-oriented as the
rest of the album; instead they are simple sex-laced vocals that seem to be
molded around the quick, catchy guitar riffs and leads of Angus Young. The song
closes with a mind-blowing shredding guitar solo that I believe captures the
bands vision/goal of overcoming some low expectations and inventing their sound.

2. 6.
Have A Drink On Me – This song starts out with a blues rock inspired
sounding guitar opening that leads into some catchy pre-chorus and chorus vocals
that after a few listens have grown on me. My favorite part of this song would
be the guitar riffs that are used during the main chorus, as when paired with
the vocals seems to capture the rough, aggressive feel of the song.
7.
Shake A Leg – This song is a pure rock n roll song that reminds me of Led
Zeppelin or Rush. From the start this song is a fast-paced guitar-based rocker
that seems get stronger and better as it progresses; this is done with some
distorted punk rock inspired riffs and impressive vocals by Brian Johnson.
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution – This song closes the album out on a
dramatic note. From the start this song has a heavy rock feel that is due to the
rough vocals, and heavy drum and guitar pairing. The song seems to get better as
it progresses with the iconic heavy chorus of –Rock And Roll Ain't Noise
Pollution/Rock And Roll Ain't Going To Die/ Rock And Roll Will Survive– and
awesome guitar solo.
Favorite Songs:
1.
Let Me Put My Love Into You
2.
Hells Bells
3.
Shake A Leg
4.
You Shook Me All Night Long
5.
Back In Black
6.
Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
My Thoughts:
This album is definitely a remarkable album. The fact that the band was able to
recover, reform and deliver such a good album after such a drastic loss is
amazing.
This album, it seems to go back to basics both the vocals and overall music;
It–s filled with simple guitar-driven songs that contain the short riffs that
seem to be a signature of any AC/DC album. The band in general sounds louder and
more determined to get this album right and prove to the world that they can
make it to the top again.
At the same time, Brian Johnson seems to reinvent and reenergize the band with
his raspy, howling Led Zeppelin/Robert Plant, Deep Purple inspired vocal style,
as well as obvious sex-laced lyrics.
Losing a leader like Bon Scott affected both AC/DC and rock n roll. They not
only lost fans but also lost a guy who did seem suited more for the band at the
time, with his humorous calm yet aggressive tone. With that being said as I
think that Brian Johnson was the right person to move the band into the 1980–s
and beyond, because as I said before he brought this new energy to the band that
helped them compete with the 80–s hair and glam metal scene.
Upcoming reviews include:
1.
Lorde
2.
Avenged Sevenfold
3.
Queen of the Stone Age
4.
Blue October
5.
Dr Dog
6.
The Strokes
7.
Luke Bryan
8.
Tan Vampires
9.
The 1975
10.
Tom Odell
11.
Imagine Dragons
12.
Halestorm
13.
Alter Bridge
14.
Jet Gladstone
15.
Eric Church
16.
Tom Petty
17.
Sound City Soundtrack
18.
Guns N Roses
19.
Jimmy Eat World
20.
Theory of A Deadman
21.
Moon Taxi
22.
Grouplove

3. 23.
Sleeping With Silence
24.
Blink-182
25.
Blake Shelton
26.
Black veil Brides
27.
Darius Rucker
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7404/AC-DC-Back-In-Black/