ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 230 AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK (1980)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Artist: AC/DC

Genre: Rock

Country Of Origin: Australia

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: Yes (2003)

Album: Back In Black

Producer: Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Release Date: July 25, 1980

Running Time: 42:11

RJ's Top 5 Songs: 1. Shoot To Thrill...2. Have A Drink On Me...3. Hells Bells...4. Back In Black...5. What Do You Do For Money Honey 

 

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it). 

Last week's AOTW was a sixties classic.  This week we have an eighties classic.  It's Back In Black by AC/DC.  Since AC/DC has been in the news a good bit recently, I thought I'd go there.  I actually feel like I've posted this album before, but it must have been on a previous site.  Everybody knows that Back In Black was the first album AC/DC released after the death of Bon Scott.  So we will just touch on a few tidbits first:

• Back In Black was a number four album in the U.S. (number one in Australia).
• It is certified 2 X Diamond by the RIAA (actually 22 X Platinum). 
• You Shook Me All Night Long and Back In Black were both Top Forty singles.  
• Hells Bells didn't chart in the U.S.
• Let Me Put My Love Into You was number six on the PMRC's Filthy Fifteen list in 1985.
• Back in Black is also praised for its sound quality. In the years after its release, studios in Nashville, Tennessee (nicknamed "Music City") would use it to check the acoustics of a room, while Motorhead would use it to tune their sound system.
• The music was written by Angus and Malcom Young.  The lyrics were written by Brian Johnson.

Look, this album is one of the greatest of all time.  It's one of the highest selling.  It's one of the most recognizable. I'm positive I've heard every song on the radio.  Not a bad track here.  So, what do you think of it?  Do You own it?  

Side One:

1. Hell's Bells

2. Shoot To Thrill

3. What Do You Do For Money Honey

4. Given The Dog A Bone

5. Let Me Put My Love Into You

Side Two:

6. Back In Black

7. You Shook Me All Night Long

8. Have A Drink On Me

9. Shake A Leg

10. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

[RJhog (Admin)]

Having watched this matchup today, Scott takes the win with the brackets.

[Scott]

YES!  Now we can get back to the business of listening to ACDC!

[Gordon Williams]

Definitely one of the greatest rock records of all time. Don't know that I'd give it the number one spot, but definitely top 10, probably even top 5. Maybe even top two....you get the picture.

I agree, I do feel certain I've heard every single song, all 10, on the radio. That's something very unique and special right there.

The VH debut definitely influenced guitar players more, but BIB is about the songs, man. Ten for ten is a smash. Of course, we could say VH was 12 for 12 in great songs on that one.

[Jon]

Isn't this an enjoyable listen even though you've heard it a bazillion times? Not a bad track on the whole dang thing, but my favorite track has always been "Given The Dog A Bone", but is it "Given" or "Givin"? I'm confused even though my CD says "Given".

I have nothing left to say.

[Scott]

Mine says  "Givin".  My current ripped version of BIB came out of the BonFire box set though.

[Jon]

Yeah, and track listings on amazon, allmusic and others have it as "Givin". I'm going to get the 2003 remastered digibook and see what it says on that.

[RJhog (Admin)]

If you think about the lyrics, it should be given..."I've just...given the dog a bone".

[Jon]

It's "I'M just......"

This is the back cover of the 2003 remaster:

What appears to be the latest vinyl copy has it listed as "givin" also. What a mystery!

[RJhog (Admin)]

from songlyrics.com

She take you down easy
Going down to her knees
Going down to the devil
Down down to ninety degrees
She's blowing me crazy
Till my ammunition is dry

She's using her head again
She's using her head
She's using her head again

I'm just givin' the dog a bone

She's no Mona Lisa
She's no Playboy star
But she'll send you to heaven
Then explode you to Mars

She's using her head again
She's using her head
She's using her head again

I'm just givin' the dog a bone

She got the power of union
She only hits when it's hot
And if she likes what you're doing
She'll give you alot
(Given everything she got)

I've just given the dog a bone

[RJhog (Admin)]

Plus, my iTunes says "Given".  I think everybody thinks he is saying I'm...I think he's saying I've.

[Jon]

azlyrics has......

She take you down easy
Going down to her knees
Going down to the devil
Down down at ninety degrees
She blowing me crazy
'til my ammunition is dry
She's using her head again
She's using her head
She's using her head again
I'm justa giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

She's no Mona Lisa
No she's no playboy star
But she'll send you to heaven
Then explode you to Mars
She's using her head again
She's using her head
She's using her head again
I'm justa giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

She's got the power of union
She only hits when it's hot
And if she likes what you're doing
She'll give you the lot give it everything I got
Just giving the dog a bone

Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone

I'm justa giving the dog a bone
Giving the dog a bone, giving the dog a bone
I'm justa giving the dog a bone

[Scott]

You know theres nothing bad to say here.  Every song is well loved and well played still to this day.  As RJ said in his notes, every song still gets radio airtime.  I think that speaks volumes as to why this is Hard Rocks greatest album.  My opinion only...

But is it the best ACDC album?  No...  That award goes to Powerage - again my opinion only.

Is it the best Brian Johnson sung ACDC album?  I could never win an argument but if I had to choose one it would definitely be Back In Black but I would miss all the others ...