AC/DC have been rocking the world for nearly 40 years. Imagine that! Hailing from the land down under (Australia, not Hell), they continue to impress their fans by sticking true to their guns and not venturing into uncharted musical territory. Their signature hard rock sound has been front and center from day one. Like the old adage says ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’. Here are the 10 best AC/DC songs ever…so far.
10) Show Business. This lesser-known gem found on the 1974 Jailbreak album is what AC/DC does best, blues rock. This song is like Eric Clapton and BB King got together and had a steroid baby. Simple, sweet, and pure adrenaline. It’s a must hear for the casual AC/DC fan who haven’t discovered all of their songs yet. This song will hook you and reel you in. And isn’t that Malcolm on lead? Is there anything he can’t do?
9) For Those About To Rock (We Salute You). This anthem of all things right with the world is a crowd favorite that never fils to please. This is basically an AC/DC thank you note to the fans of real music. You’re welcome.
8) Night Prowler. From the legendary Highway To Hell album, Night Prowler is a song that sums up the AC/DC mystique. Take one part scary prowler add in one part sexual beast and there you have AC/DC. This song is hauntingly mad. It must be what conservatives’ nightmares are all about.
7) Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution. Was there even one single note of imperfection on the Back In Black album? I’m not talking about so-so, decent, average, great, or even awesome, I mean total perfection. I didn’t think so either. This is just another shining example of that perfection.
6) Hell’s Bells. This is the perfect Christmas song. It is a Christmas song, right? It has bells! That intro just blows my mind every time I hear it. Perhaps the best produced song they’ve ever done.
5) Back In Business. Another lesser-known gem, this one is off the Fly On The Wall album. It’s a slightly different sound than most are expecting with AC/DC but not far enough that you’d think they’ve gone crazy. Remember, AC/DC does no wrong. It is the first commandment of rock. This song has a nice driving rhythm and a bar feel that is sort of sleazy, sort of skeezy, sort of fun. Great song.
4) Thunderstruck. Found on 1990’s The Razor’s Edge, Thunderstruck is most famous for that consistent tapping that Angus delivers with the speed and precision of a cruise missile. This may be the second most infamous guitar riff in their repertoire (read on for the first). This just shows you that great bands get greater with age since this song came out nearly 20 years after AC/DC formed.
3) Squealer. Squealer is found on the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album. The opening percussion riff is something of simplistic beauty. The vocals slowly manifest into a full-on shoutfest of grande epicness. The guitar work comes completely out of left field and crashes into the catcher blocking home plate knocking him into the dugout of anti-mediocrity. This song is as close to auditory overload and perfection as it gets.
2) Back In Black. This is AC/DC’s signature song. It is their most well-known. It is more famous, and better, than anything that anybody could ever hope to create. Dare you to find anybody under the age of 60 who doesn’t instantly recognize this song from the opening riff (the most famous riff in music history). What else needs to be said?
1) Ride On. For me this is their pinnacle of achievement. It combines everything that makes AC/DC the best – simple but piercing vocals, guitars turned up to 11; when they need to be, a bluesy rhythm that not even the devil could have given to Robert Johnson in their deal, and a feel that both relaxes and excites you at the same time. Music, thy name is AC/DC.