Music: [Classic_Rock_Forever] Best Albums of the 80's Series

1980

AC / DC - BACK IN BLACK

Released on 25 July 1980, Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who died on 19 February 1980 at the age of 33, and was dedicated to him. The band considered disbanding following Scott's death, but they ultimately decided to continue and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson as their new lead singer and lyricist. Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell, was again brought in to produce. The recordings were made at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and Electric Lady Studios in New York, where the album was also mixed. It was not easy for the band, as their equipment was initially held up by customs, and the island was overcome with tropical storms that wreaked havoc on the studio's electricity. Johnson's reported having trouble adjusting to the environment, and even referenced the bad weather on the opening lines of "Hells Bells" ("I'm a rolling thunder, pourin' rain. I'm comin' down like a hurricane. My lightning's flashing across the sky. You're only young but you're gonna die.").

After the success of their previous album, Highway to Hell, Bon Scott and company began developing a new album. Some of the songwriting had been completed when Scott died unexpectedly from alcohol poisoning. When Brian Johnson became lead singer, the group decided to finish the songwriting they had started under Scott, with the Young brothers writing the music and lyrics written by Johnson. It contains some of AC/DC's biggest hits, including "Hells Bells", "Shoot to Thrill", "You Shook Me All Night Long", and the title track "Back in Black". The final song on the album, "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, the highest placing of any song on the album.

According to Angus Young the album's all-black cover was a "sign of mourning" for Scott, as black is the traditional Western colour of mourning. Atlantic Records disagreed with the cover, but accepted if the band put a grey outline around the AC/DC logo. It is AC/DC's best selling album, the second best-selling album of all time, and the biggest selling album by any band, with more than 49 million copies sold worldwide. In 2006 Back in Black was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the fifth best-selling album in the United States, with 22 million copies sold. Despite its massive commercial success, it is not AC/DC's highest charting album in the U.S, peaking at number 4; their next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, hit number 1 in 1981, as did the band's 2008 album Black Ice. However, it hit number 1 on the UK charts.

Critical response to the album was overwhelmingly positive; it is present on many "best of" lists. Commercial response was even more positive. Selling over 22 million copies in the United States and 49 million copies worldwide, it is the highest selling album by any band and the highest selling hard rock album of all time. Michael Jackson's Thriller is the only album that has sold more copies.

Track listing

All songs written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson.