AC/DC Discography, The Bon Scott Years: Favorite Song On Each CD

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA QUESTION:  AC/DC is from Australia but what nationality are Angus & Malcolm Young?   Yesterday's Answer:   University of Miami

1976  "LIVE WIRE"  from HIGH VOLTAGE

When the U.S. version of High Voltage was released, it was actually a compilation of the first two Australian AC-DC albums, High Voltage and T.N.T.  You have probably the greatest hard rock debut album of all-time.   Here's the first 5 songs:   1.  It's A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock & Roll,    2.  Rock & Roll Singer,    3.   The Jack     4.  Live Wire and   5.  T.N.T.   - five of classic rock's biggest hits on their first album!   "Live Wire" is not only my favorite song on this CD, it's one of my favorite AC-DC songs of all time, complete with an Angus solo and Cowbell!

1976 "JAILBREAK"  from DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP

The band's third best selling album of all-time behind Back In Black and Highway To Hell.   The band added their first ballad, the blues workout, "Ride On", and some cheeky songs like "There Will Be Some Rocking" and "Big Balls".   You can't help but sing along with Bon on the title track!  Classic Rock Magazine named Bon Scott the #1 all-time frontman over Freddy Mercury, Roger Daltrey, even Robert Plant!  This video for "Jailbreak" was supposedly shot in Bon's garage and their first attempt at a video, Angus is amazing in it, enjoy!

1977 - "LET THERE BE ROCK" from LET THERE BE ROCK

This was a key album for the band.   They released their first concert film with this title and the band introduced their signature logo with the lightning bolt on this record.   My favorite song is the title track which was on a previous blog, here's the link:  Let There Be Rock



1978 - "DOWN PAYMENT BLUES" from POWERAGE

AC/DC got a new producer, Mutt Lange (ex-husband of Shania Twain), who also produced their two biggest albums, Back In Black and Highway To Hell.  Powerage didn't have any hits on it but it's a favorite of many rock critics.  Artists like Keith Richards list it as their Favorite AC/DC album.   The slow blues guitar jam at the end of Down Payment Blues is priceless.  Love that lyric, "got myself a Cadillac but can't afford the gasoline".

1979 - "IF YOU WANT BLOOD YOU GOT IT" from HIGHWAY TO HELL

The first 15 seconds of Highway To Hell are as good as ANY rock record of all-time.   Their multi-platinum album was sadly the last for Bon Scott.   His death is still somewhat of a mystery, alcohol poisoning?  choking on exhaust fumes?  It was labeled as "death by misadventure".   The classic album created controversy when serial killer, Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, credited their song "Night Prowler" as his theme song.   When he drew Satanic pentagrams at the trial, the band was caught up in the crossfire.   AC/DC is not evil and Satanic, "Highway To Hell" is about living too hard and fast, anyone who's listened to the band knows who they are.   They're simply five guys from Australia who grew up loving hard rock, blues, impressing girls, and partying.   This video captures the band at their peak with Bon Scott.

  

Schwarznegger and Ferrigno in a Metal Video? AC/DC, Sevendust, Quiet Riot, and Hardline

 "LET THERE BE ROCK"   AC/DC

From their debut CD, Angus Young and Bon Scott at their best!   The greatest heavy metal band ever out of Australia, you can tell it's an AC-DC from the first 5 seconds.   Distinctive guitar riffs, creative sexual innuendos, and a throbbing drumbeat describe pretty much every AC/DC song but they're the best at it.   Incidentally after Bon Scott's death, Brian Johnson has carried on the legacy.  He lives in Florida and occasionally shows up at local bars like Cuso's on Indian Rocks Beach!

"GOING BACK TO CALI"    SEVENDUST

Living Colour, Thin Lizzy, Testament, Sepultura, Sevendust, what do they have in common?    All 5 of these are metal bands led by black lead singers.  Lajon Witherspoon reinvents the old school hip hop classic by LL Cool J, Sevendust's intensity makes this a hardcore jam fit to get any mosh pit started.   If you love the LL original, you'll likely smile at this metal cover.

"WINNERS TAKE ALL"   QUIET RIOT

Kevin DuBrow and Randy Rhoads started Quiet Riot in the 70's.   During the 80's they hit it big with 2 Slade covers, "Cum On Feel The Noise" and "Mama Weer All Crazy Now".  MTV loved "Metal Health" and it was featured in Footloose.   Here is my favorite power ballad by the band.  The video captures the early days of bodybuilding and features young Lou Ferrigno, Lee Haney, and 7 time Mr Olympia winner, Arnold Schwarznegger.  

"HOT CHERIE"   HARDLINE 

A song that slipped through the cracks in the early 90's, "Hot Cherie" has kind of a harder Journey type feel it.    Which is ironic when you discover that Neil Schon from Journey was originally a founding member.   The song isn't groundbreaking but it's got a great hook!