Top 10: AC/DC

October 12, 2011 in Man Code, Top 10

OK, is there a better way to start off the month of Rocktober by trying to decide which are the top ten songs by one of the greatest rock bands in history- AC/DC? I think not. The focus this time around is the Brian Johnson era, which began in 1980 after the tragic death of Mr. Bon Scott, and is still going strong. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to see AC/DC with Bon Scott but I have had the honor of attending many shows with Brian Johnson. Being present at an AC/DC show is the closest you will come to having an outer body experience. It’s like attending the greatest New Year’s Eve party ever-every time they perform-or if you don’t like New Year’s parties, then it’s like your team winning a championship- you know that feeling I am talking about. It is a grand event that can bring a tear to your eye because of the unbelievable energy that both the crowd and band exudes while feeding off each other to bring it to a level where very few bands (or acts) can reach. (You know what I am talking about if you have ever been to one of their shows). Brian Johnson is a big part of that energy as of course their “show-stopper”- Angus Young- is, along with the rest of the engine that ignites this legendary band from Australia.

Brian Johnson had huge shoes to fill but right off the bat he set out on his own course, not trying to replicate or become Bon Scott (who could do that?… No one). To this day, he treats the Scott era songs with such loyalty and respect because he is a fan of what the band did before he won the gig as their “new” lead singer (Ok it’s been more than 30 years but you know what I mean). And oh by the way, he sings some of the most revolutionary songs in rock and roll history. He fit the band just like your favorite old pair of blue jeans do-with ease and comfort. The transition was so seamless, it was like he had been in the band from the very beginning and was then asked to start singing lead vocals.

“Back in Black” is arguably the greatest rock album ever recorded and right now I can honestly say that my top ten songs could easily be the ten that appear on this landmark album. From the opening bell on “Hells Bells” to the “funk-i-fied” groove on “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution,” the feverish pace is thing of beauty-this is the “Mona Lisa” or one of “Beethoven’s” masterpieces or “Shakespeare.” This is Brando in the “Godfather.” This album leaves you speechless every time you listen, right? One has to listen from top to bottom- there is no skipping over any song- do not lift the needle off the record for any reason or I will have to call the authorities. And don’t give me any of that-“I don’t like his voice”- crap, stop the nonsense and savor the greatness that has been recorded for your listening pleasure.

There is nothing like an AC/DC show and if you have never attended one, you don’t know what you’re missing.  Now just like with the Bon Scott era, how does one narrow down the choices of songs to ten? This is tough but I am on an island and have been informed that I can only have ten songs by AC/DC with Brian Johnson at the helm-“These Are Them:”

10.     Rock N Roll Train-Ahh the masters of “three chords”- do we really need more? Not when it is the Rock and Roll like this. There is something about hearing the opening riff by Angus that just sets the wheels in motion to make you so pumped up that I immediately have to bang my head up and down and dance around the room in circles. I know I have said this a few times but when Brian starts to dance at the shows it reminds me of that Uncle everyone has, who is the old school tough guy who never danced when they were younger, but at every wedding they attend now they get up there with their fists clenched and do the old “row boat” move where their elbows are bent and they extend it behind their back and come back to their sides. I fall on the floor but I love that they are having fun and that’s what it is all about. AC/DC is pure fun and pure rock and roll.

9.       Shake A Leg –As I said, I could have all the songs from “Back In Black” on this list but if I have to choose, then this next to last song on side two beat out some very “stiff” competition (that reference is to their “Stiff Upper Lip” album- get your mind out of the gutter) from this classic album. I guess if I had to choose the reason why it beat out some of the competition is because of the guitar solo by Angus-it is flat out blazing.

8.       Inject The Venom –I love when AC/DC takes down the pace and have that heavy “blues” effect-which sometimes psyches me up more than some of their other fast paced songs. Brian’s vocals are at an all-time high pitch and there’s no way he can reach that level these days (I think). Love the way he says “pl-eeeeee-zzzz.” Angus is right there to hit you between the eyes (I mean ears) with his heavy riff and once his guitar solo takes off, I am in another stratosphere. The beginning is so powerful and it is accentuated by the “pause” where you hear nothing but you know the riff is coming. “No mercy for the bad if they want it…no mercy for the bad if they plead…no mercy for the bad if they need it…Oohhh no mercy from me…” This is rock and roll at its best.

7.       That’s The Way I Wanna Rock and Roll – How can anyone not like this song? When they play this song live – watch out. There goes Brian with the arm bent at the elbow violently swinging back as he dances around like your uncle does at a wedding. Angus guitar work is a thing of beauty and this is a perfect “stadium” song as everyone loses it as the head-banging is at an all-time breakneck speed. Everyone- “roll, roll, roll…roll, roll, roll…Blow up my video…shut down my radio…told boss man where to go…turned off my brain control..”-c’mon even the lyrics make you lose it. This is so great!!

6.      Put The Finger On You – I think this track has one of the best beginnings to a song, highlighted by the phenomenal drumming by Mr. Rudd and of course the diesel team- the Young brothers- as the guitar work makes you move your head at breakneck speed. This is “hard-rock head-banging” at its best and again Brian’s vocals are at a fever pitch. Wow what a sound with a great set of headphones, if this doesn’t move you, then there is no hope, I’m sorry. Great tune.

5.     Shoot To Thrill – Tell me you don’t –“air-drum” whenever you hear this song? C’mon you know you are lying. You can’t help it because it is so addictive, especially towards the end of the song where it is just Angus, Phil and Brian playing and singing. “All you women…who want a man of the street…and don’t know which way you want to turn…” C’mon everybody sing along-“Shoot to thrill…play to kill…too many women…with too many pills…cause I shoot to thrill…” If you have ever seen them perform it live then you know everyone in the seats, excuse me- I meant standing on their feet- is “air-guitaring” to Agnus’s solo. And then once the “bridge” comes in where Brian is basically screaming- “shoot ya…shoot ya…shoot you…Ahhh…Ahhh….Ahhh”- you can feel the raw energy of the crowd lift you up in the air the way the scent of the carrot would pull Bugs Bunny out of his hole and right into the barrel of Elmer Fudd’s rifle. There’s no killing here, just pure hard rock. This is an “event” at their shows- a beautiful spectacle, sight to behold.

4.       Who Made Who – Oh man how psyched do I get when I hear this song. Love the driving beat of the drums and when Angus kicks in with the two notes constantly, wow. But when he starts shuffling the notes like a swarm of bees, well I just lose it- the volume has to go up. There are songs that make you feel good all over and this song definintely does it for me- don’t know what else to say but I love this song. Is it simple? Is it three chords? – Yes but no one does it like AC/DC- never did-never will. These guys are the best.

3.       Hells Bells – Is there a better song that starts off an album in the history of music? I think not. The ringing of the bell signals the end of an era as you bow your head in honor of the late great Bon Scott and once Angus starts his riff, the darkness starts to fade little by little. As Mr. Rudd makes his way in by gently tapping his cymbals, the rays of sun are breaking through and then when he hits his bass drum, the clouds are splitting fast apart and once Brian introduces himself at the 1:29 mark- a new day had dawned and the forecast was again pure rock and roll for decades to come. “I’m a rolling thunder, pouring rain…I’m coming on like a hurricane…”-how great are those lyrics? And that’s exactly what they did- a hurricane of straight up three chord rock and roll that have managed to gain more fans every generation especially once the little ones hear that riff for the first time-it’s like being plugged in. I know I have said this time and time again but everyone in the world at some point needs to see them perform this song live. Better yet you can perform a search on You Tube for what I believe is a performance in Spain-just type in “Hells Bells” by AC/DC- and see what I am talking about. The prop of the huge bell is a sight to behold and when Brian (or Agnus) swings on the rope from side to side as the bell sounds…well…you have to experience it once, even if it is in front of your computer. I bet you can feel the energy through your lap top.

2.      Thunderstruck – Talk about riling up the masses…I think that maybe bees have taken this song as their calling card to get everyone on alert either to work on building a massive nest for the queen or to protect the queen from the ugly human being. Again folks if you see this live, it might just change your life- to see and feel the energy of 40,000 fans screaming-“Thunder…Thunder”- while raising their arms in unison to the beats is something to behold. There is no other way to listen to this song but LOUD! If you listen to just Angus’s part you will be swooped up and taken into another world- you just might be hypnotized the way I get whenever I hear this song. “Yeah it’s alright…we’re doing fine…yeah it’s alright…we’re doing fine…”- the background vocals by Malcolm are phenomenal-listen closely. How can this song not get you pumped up- you need this for your next workout-could work for boxing or running, especially when the drums kick in. This is pure euphoria, I’m sorry-I can never get enough of this song!

1.      For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)-This song is a show stopper, it is usually the epic ending to their shows-cause how does anyone come back to the stage after the “21 gun salute?” The beginning chords are so slick and so identifiable and at their shows it is like when someone steps on a hole in the ground that is housing some bees nest and one by one you see each bee fly out and start to circle the wagons looking for action-do you get the picture. Fans start to become possessed, it’s like 40,000 people have been injected with a lightning bolt of rock and it over takes their system as Brian could easily have all of us under his power. My favorite part of the song is when he accentuates the word- “blue”-right around the 2:09 mark- “like a bomb right out of the bluuu-ewe…” Thank you AC/DC for more than 30 years of great rock and roll- “We Salute You!!!”- no really, we salute you.