Introduction
I am a 90’s a kid and therefore have not been around during the most pivotal years of AC/DC. Even with that I grew up on them, in fact everyone I knew in my age group was listening to AC/DC. This shows how much influence this band has from since its creation all the way to right now. The band started with two brothers with a dream and that dream turned into one of the most influential bands in history. I have listed below all of AC/DC’s albums and a brief description of them.
- High Voltage(1975)
High Voltage was the band’s first studio album, which was exclusively released in Australia. An album of the same name was later released internationally in 1976. It was a combination of AC/DC’s first two albums and sadly the album did not do very well.
- T.N.T.(1975)
T.N.T. was released exclusively in Australia and New Zealand.
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Dirty Deeds was first released in Australia and Europe and then later released in the U.S in 1981. The track listings varied internationally which made collecting different copies fun.
Once it was released in the US, Dirty Deeds made it to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It’s also AC/DC’s third highest selling album in the US.
This album was one of four that I really grow up on in fact if it wasn’t for doing this blog I wouldn’t have realized how many they actually have.
- Let There Be Rock(1977)
Let There Be Rock was the last album that had Mark Evans on bass. While it didn’t top any charts, it was a big album for the band.
The American head didn’t see how AC/DC’s sound would fit in with the soft rock music that was growing in popularity; regardless AC/DC didn’t compromise and put out the album that they wanted to regardless of external factors.
- Powerage (1978)
Powerage was the very first album with Cliff Burton as the new bass player.
- Highway to Hell(1979)
Highway to Hell was AC/DC’s biggest album and it was also the last featuring Bon Scott.
There was also a production change to try and make the band more radio friendly, which naturally of course the band members were not happy about.
Highway to Hell was their first album to break into the top 100 in the US at No. 17.
This album is another one that I was very familiar with growing up and it had some really iconic songs.
- Back In Black (1980)
Dedicated to Bon Scott, this was the first album with Brian Johnson as lead singer. While Scott has already written some lyrics for the album, the band rewrote all the songs.
Back in Black became the 2nd best-selling album of all time with over 50 million copies sold. The album was No. 1 in the UK, No. 4 in the US, and spent over two years on the Billboard 200 chart.
- For Those About To Rock We Salute You(1981)
It was the first album to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Even still, it wasn’t nearly as well received as Back in Black. In the US it sold 4 million copies.
The title song was one of the biggest hits on the album. I remember as a kid everyone would always be chanting that song. That really shows how iconic the song really was even so many years after the release.
- Flick Of The Switch(1983)
When they released the album, it marked the start of the band’s commercial decline.
Even still, AC/DC remained one of the biggest hard rock bands worldwide.
- Fly On The Wall (1985)
Like Flick of the Switch, the album was self-produced. But this time only Malcolm and Angus Young produced … not the whole band. And, also like their last album, the reception was poor.
- Blow Up Your Video(1988)
For Blow Up Your Video, AC/DC returned to producers Harry Vanda and George Young. It was the best AC/DC album since For Those About to Rock We Salute You. The album reached No. 2 on UK charts and No. 12 in the US. It also sold more copies than the last two albums combined.
He also took time off of the Blow Up Your Video tour. His nephew, Stevie Young, took his place at the live shows until he returned due to Malcolm having a drinking problem.
- The Razors Edge(1990)
The Razors Edge was a major comeback for the band. Recorded in Vancouver with producer Bruce Fairbairn, the album reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 Charts and went platinum.
- Ballbreaker (1995)
Ballbreaker is known as being a bit of a merdiocre album nor bad or good.
- Stiff Upper Lip(2000)
The album reached No. 5 in Canada and No. 7 in the US. The title track also sat at No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock charts for 4 weeks.
The album returned to AC/DC’s blues roots and was better received than their previous album.
- Black Ice(2008)
8 years passed before AC/DC put out their next album
Black Ice was the second highest selling album of 2008. It also went multi-platinum in 8 countries and charted No. 1 in 29 countries. The song “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train” made it to No. 1 on US Mainstream.
- Rock Or Bust(2014)
Rock or Bust was the first album without Malcolm Young. His nephew, Stevie Young, who had taken his place during part of the Blow Up Your Video tour, took over rhythm guitar.
It was the shortest studio album ever released by the band but hit No. 1 in 12 countries.
- Power Up(2020)
In 2018, rumors were flying about AC/DC recording a new album with the original Rock or Bust lineup. In 2020 the album was released.
Dedicated to Malcolm, Rock or Bust was the first album since his death in 2017. It reached No. 1 in 27 countries and won the iHeartRadio Rock Album of the Year award. The song “Shot in the Dark” made it to No. 1 on US Mainstream.