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Back in Black



 
 
Back in Black is the 7th studio album
Studio album

A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"....
 by Australian hard rock
Hard rock

Hard rock is a sub-genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock and is considerably harder than conventional rock music....
 band AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
, released on 25 July 1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott
Bon Scott

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was an Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980....
, who had died at the age of 33 on 19 February 1980. The band considered disbanding following Scott's death, but they ultimately decided to continue and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is an England singer and songwriter who, since 1980 in music, has been the lead singer for the Australian Rock band AC/DC.In 1972, Brian Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie ....
 as their new lead singer and lyricist.






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Encyclopedia


Back in Black is the 7th studio album
Studio album

A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"....
 by Australian hard rock
Hard rock

Hard rock is a sub-genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock and is considerably harder than conventional rock music....
 band AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock music rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by brothers Malcolm Young and Angus Young. Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal music, they have always classified their music as "rock and roll"....
, released on 25 July 1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott
Bon Scott

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was an Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980....
, who had died at the age of 33 on 19 February 1980. The band considered disbanding following Scott's death, but they ultimately decided to continue and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson is an England singer and songwriter who, since 1980 in music, has been the lead singer for the Australian Rock band AC/DC.In 1972, Brian Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie ....
 as their new lead singer and lyricist. Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Robert Lange

Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt" Lange. He is one of the most successful producers in rock history....
, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell
Highway to Hell (album)

Highway to Hell is the sixth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in July 1979. It is also AC/DC's fifth international studio album....
, was again brought in to produce.

The album was remastered and re-released first in late 1994, then again in the Bonfire
Bonfire (album)

Bonfire is a 5 disc box set* by the Australian band AC/DC, released in 1997, and remastered with a release in Digipak format in 2003. It was created as a tribute to the band's earlier singer Bon Scott and included the two disc soundtrack to the movie Let There be Rock, some early unreleased tracks, a live recording from the Atlantic R...
 box set in 1997, and as part of the AC/DC Remasters Series in 2003. In addition, a Dualdisc
DualDisc

DualDisc is a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and now under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America ....
 version was released in 2004, featuring the album in enhanced LPCM
LPCM

Linear pulse code modulation is a method of encoding audio information digitally. The term also refers collectively to formats using this method of encoding....
 Stereo format and the video documentary The Story of Back in Black.

According to MTV
MTV

MTV is an United States cable television network based in Media of New York City. Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJ ....
, it sold an estimated 42 million copies by 2003, making it second only to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
's Thriller
Thriller (album)

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall ....
 as the best-selling album of all-time
List of best-selling albums worldwide

This is a list of the world's best-selling albums. The criteria are that the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies worldwide....
 as well as the best selling album ever released by a band. On 13 December 2007, the RIAA certified it 22× Multi Platinum
RIAA certification

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and single sold through retail and other ancillary markets....
, recognising sales of 22 million in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
.

Overview

Back in Black contains some of AC/DC's biggest hits, including "Hells Bells
Hells Bells (song)

"Hells Bells" is the first track of the album Back in Black of Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first song on their comeback album after the death of vocalist Bon Scott, introducing his successor Brian Johnson....
", "You Shook Me All Night Long
You Shook Me All Night Long

"You Shook Me All Night Long" is one of AC/DC's signature songs from their most successful album, Back in Black. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who....
", and the title track "Back in Black
Back in Black (song)

"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC , appearing as the first track on side two their 1980 album, Back in Black. Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott....
." 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. 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 42 million copies sold worldwide. In 2006 Back in Black was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America

The Recording Industry Association of America is the trade group that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of a large number of private corporate entities such as record labels and distributors, which the RIAA claims "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recor...
 as the fifth best-selling album in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, 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 #4; their next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You
For Those About to Rock We Salute You

For Those About to Rock is the eighth album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in 1981. The album was a follow-up to their highly successful album Back in Black....
, hit #1 in 1981.

In 1989, it was ranked #26 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J....
 magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's. In 2003, the album was ranked number 73 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J....
 magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003.Related news articles:* The list was based on the votes of 273 rock musicians, critics and industry figures, each of whom submitted a weighted list of 50 albums....
. VH1 named 'Back in Black' as one of the biggest comeback albums of all time and also rated it as #2 in VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.

The song Have a Drink On Me was in the 2006 movie Beerfest
Beerfest

Beerfest is a 2006 in film beer-themed comedy film by the comedy group Broken Lizard. Along with the regular members of Broken Lizard, other actors who appear in the movie include James Roday, Hugh Elliot, Nat Faxon, Will Forte, MC Gainey, Cloris Leachman, Mo'Nique, Eric Christian Olsen, Daniel "Ducky" Poyner, J?rgen Prochnow, Blanchard...
.

American Death Metal Band Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under (band)

Six Feet Under is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1993. The band was originally a side project by Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes with guitarist Allen West of Obituary ....
 covered the album in it's entirity on their album Graveyard Classics 2
Graveyard Classics 2

Graveyard Classics 2 is the second cover album by Six Feet Under . It is an album cover version of AC/DC's 1980 album Back in Black....
.

Track listing

  • All songs written by Angus Young
    Angus Young

    Angus McKinnon Young is a Scotland-born Australian musician and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the hard rock band AC/DC. Known for wild, energetic performances and schoolboy-uniform stage outfits, Young was ranked 96th on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"....
    , Malcolm Young
    Malcolm Young

    Malcolm Mitchell Young is a Scotland-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and co-songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC....
    , and Brian Johnson
    Brian Johnson

    Brian Johnson is an England singer and songwriter who, since 1980 in music, has been the lead singer for the Australian Rock band AC/DC.In 1972, Brian Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie ....
    .
  1. "Hells Bells
    Hells Bells (song)

    "Hells Bells" is the first track of the album Back in Black of Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first song on their comeback album after the death of vocalist Bon Scott, introducing his successor Brian Johnson....
    " – 5:13
  2. "Shoot to Thrill
    Shoot to Thrill

    "Shoot to Thrill" is the second song on the album Back in Black by hard rock band AC/DC. This song can also be found as the second track on Live and in the first disk of Live: 2 CD Collector's Edition....
    " – 5:18
  3. "What Do You Do for Money Honey" – 3:36
  4. "Givin' the Dog a Bone" – 3:32
  5. "Let Me Put My Love into You" – 4:15
  6. "Back in Black
    Back in Black (song)

    "Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC , appearing as the first track on side two their 1980 album, Back in Black. Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott....
    " – 4:16
  7. "You Shook Me All Night Long
    You Shook Me All Night Long

    "You Shook Me All Night Long" is one of AC/DC's signature songs from their most successful album, Back in Black. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who....
    " – 3:30
  8. "Have a Drink on Me" – 3:59
  9. "Shake a Leg" – 4:06
  10. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" – 4:26


It should be noted that "Givin' the Dog a Bone" was originally spelled "Given the Dog a Bone."

Personnel

  • Angus Young
    Angus Young

    Angus McKinnon Young is a Scotland-born Australian musician and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the hard rock band AC/DC. Known for wild, energetic performances and schoolboy-uniform stage outfits, Young was ranked 96th on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"....
     — lead guitar
    Lead guitar

    Lead guitar refers to the use of a guitar to perform melody lines, fill , and guitar solos within a song structure.In rock music, heavy metal music, blues, jazz and fusion bands and some pop music contexts as well as others, the lead guitar lines are usually supported by a second guitarist who plays rhythm guitar, which consists of accompan...
  • Brian Johnson
    Brian Johnson

    Brian Johnson is an England singer and songwriter who, since 1980 in music, has been the lead singer for the Australian Rock band AC/DC.In 1972, Brian Johnson formed the glam rock band Geordie ....
     — lead vocals
  • Malcolm Young
    Malcolm Young

    Malcolm Mitchell Young is a Scotland-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and co-songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC....
     — rhythm guitar
    Rhythm guitar

    Rhythm guitar is the use of a guitar to provide rhythmic chord al accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a musical ensemble. In ensembles or "bands" playing within the country music, blues music, rock music or Heavy metal music genres , a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the melodic lines and solos play...
    , backing vocals
    Backing vocalist

    A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. In some cases, a backing singer may sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry....
  • Phil Rudd
    Phil Rudd

    Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drum kit, best known for his membership in Australian Rock music band AC/DC. He held the position from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present....
     — drums
    Drum kit

    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
    , percussion
    Percussion instrument

    A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound by being hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration....
  • Cliff Williams
    Cliff Williams

    Cliff Williams is an England bassist, best known for his membership in the Australian hard rock band AC/DC since June 1977 . He moved with his family to Liverpool when he was nine, where he spent the first two working years of his life as an engineer before joining his first band, Home ....
     — bass guitar
    Bass guitar

    The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
    , backing vocals

Production

  • Robert John "Mutt" Lange
    Robert Lange

    Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt" Lange. He is one of the most successful producers in rock history....
     — Producer
  • Benji Armbrister — Assistant Engineer
  • Bob Defrin — Art Direction
  • Robert Ellis — Photography
  • Bob Ludwig
    Bob Ludwig

    Bob Ludwig is an United States Audio mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. Ludwig's craftsmanship is appreciated widely within the music profession, as testified by his extensive credits and demand for his work....
     — Mastering (original LP)
  • Barry Diament — Mastering (original CD releases)
  • Ted Jensen — Remastering (EMI/Atco reissue)
  • George Marino — Remastering (Epic reissue)
  • Tony Platt
    Tony Platt

    Tony Platt is a music producer/engineer best known for his work with a diverse mix of artists including AC/DC, Bob Marley, Iron Maiden, Buddy Guy, Foreigner , Sparks , Jazz Jamaica All Stars and Mot?rhead....
     — Engineer
  • Brad Samuelsohn — Mixing
  • Jack Newber — Assistant Engineer


Chart performance


Albums

Year Chart Position
1980 UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart

The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website ; the full Top 200 is published exclusively in ChartsPlus....
 
#1
Billboard Pop Albums
Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling Albums and extended play in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine....
 
#4
Ö3 Austria Top 40 #2
Norwegian Album Charts #11
RIANZ
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand

The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and musician in New Zealand....
 Album Top 50
#1
1981 Australian Kent Music Report
Kent Music Report

The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by a music enthusiast, David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998....
 Albums Chart
#1
1990 The Billboard 200 #4
2008 Billboard Top Pop Catalog
Top Pop Catalog Albums

Top Pop Catalog Albums is a weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine which ranks the best selling catalog titles, regardless of genre....
 
#1
2008 Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums #4


Singles

YearSingleChart Position
1980 "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" UK Singles Chart #15
"You Shook Me All Night Long" Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard Single popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on airplay and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the airplay tracking-week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday....
 
#35
"You Shook Me All Night Long" UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The chart week runs from Sunday to Saturday, with the chart being printed in Music Week magazine , ChartsPlus , and published online on various sites ....
 
#38
1981 "Back in Black" Billboard Hot 100 #37
"Hells Bells" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks

Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock stations, which are counted in the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart....
 
#52
"Back in Black" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #51
"Shoot To Thrill" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #60


External links

  • on AC/DC's official website.