AC/DC, the #73 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"AC/DC is my favourite band."

"Best Hard Rock band ever."

"One of the top bands in music history."

"Great band."

"AC/DC is electric!"

"One of the best bands in the history of Rock."

"Incredible!"

"They rock better than any other band."

"AC/DC is simply awesome.  They're legends forever."

AC/DC had so many great songs."

Brothers Angus and Malcolm Young started this high-voltage Australian Heavy Metal group in 1973, although they didn't explode onto the scene until seven years later. Drummer Colin Burgess, lead singer Dave Evans and bassist Larry Van Kriedt joined Angus and Malcolm, but in 1974, Bon Scott replaced Evans.

AC/DC became one of the most popular acts in Australia through regular appearances on the television program Countdown between 1974 and 1977.  In 1974, AC/DC released the album High Voltage in Australia, but Mark Evans was now playing bass and Phil Rudd became the drummer.

By 1975, the two Young brothers were the only original members left.  The next year, AC/DC signed a record contract with Atlantic Records.  They began touring throughout Europe, opening for acts such as Aerosmith, Styx, KISS, Blue Öyster Cult and Black Sabbath.

 

To capitalize on this newfound exposure, the group released a compilation of their first two albums as High Voltage, the title of their first Australian release.  It has now sold over three million copies and contains one of the group's most popular songs, "T.N.T."

 

"Live Wire" is another example of their great early work.  

In 1976, AC/DC released the album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap in nearly every country except the biggest Rock music market, the United States.  The title track is one of their career best.

 

 After recording the album Let There Be Rock in 1977, AC/DC fired Evans and hired Cliff Williams to take his place.  Fans have since bought the album to the tune of two million copies.  The title song is a Top Track*. 

 

The band released the 1978 album Powerage, the sales of which also surged to one million after AC/DC became popular.  "Sin City" stands out for the unhinged guitar work of Angus and terrific vocals from Bon Scott.

"Down Payment Blues" likely had relevance to Scott who wrote it.  Before joining AC/DC, he had played in bands for 10 years and still hadn't enjoyed big success.

 

We also want to feature "Riff Raff" from the album.  

The group then embarked on recording their next album, and the move that needs to be understood as setting them up for stardom was to bring in producer Robert "Mutt" Lange.  

The group also released their first live album, If You Want Blood You've Got It, which is now a million-seller.

 

The album Highway to Hell in 1979 was the first to make it into the Top 100 on the Album chart, peaking at #17.  The album became the breakthrough for the group, and consistent sales in the decades since have pushed the album to seven million.  Although 13 consecutive singles had failed to spark worldwide interest, the group tried again with "Girls Got Rhythm".  It didn't chart either, but is a worthy track.

 

The title song became one of the group's biggest career hits at #47.

 

 We want to also feature three other songs which are all Top Tracks* for the Rock Era.  "Walk All Over You".

 

A song about the dangers of excess, which AC/DC was all too familiar with--"Touch Too Much".

 

Another of the band's best songs is "Get It Hot".

We hope you will join us for Part Two, which appears below!