Flick of the Switch
Encyclopedia
Flick of the Switch is the ninth Australian and eighth international studio album by Australian hard rock
band AC/DC
, recorded shortly after their European Tour at the beginning of 1983. The album was originally released in the US on 15 August 1983. The album was self-produced by AC/DC and reached #4 in UK and #15 in the US, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
On the recorded commentary on the album for the Live at Donington DVD, the band states the album was an attempt to make the band raw again, and while they were happy with the result, the album became known as one of their biggest flops, however Malcolm and Angus still consider the album an achievement and still stand by it.
After having problems with rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young
, drummer Phil Rudd
was fired midway through the album's recording sessions, although he had completed his drum parts. Former Procol Harum
drummer B.J. Wilson
was hired to help complete the recording if needed, but his contributions were not used. The drum position was eventually filled by future Dio
drummer Simon Wright. Wright appeared in the videos for "Flick of the Switch
", "Nervous Shakedown
", and "Guns For Hire
". He also toured for the album, and is seen in the pro-shot video recordings from that period. Rudd returned to the band in 1994.
The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, recorded shortly after their European Tour at the beginning of 1983. The album was originally released in the US on 15 August 1983. The album was self-produced by AC/DC and reached #4 in UK and #15 in the US, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
On the recorded commentary on the album for the Live at Donington DVD, the band states the album was an attempt to make the band raw again, and while they were happy with the result, the album became known as one of their biggest flops, however Malcolm and Angus still consider the album an achievement and still stand by it.
After having problems with rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
, drummer Phil Rudd
Phil Rudd
Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
was fired midway through the album's recording sessions, although he had completed his drum parts. Former Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
drummer B.J. Wilson
B.J. Wilson
Barrie James "B.J." Wilson was an English rock drummer.-Career:Born in Edmonton, London, England, Wilson was the drummer for Procol Harum. He did not play on their first hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" , but joined the group soon afterwards...
was hired to help complete the recording if needed, but his contributions were not used. The drum position was eventually filled by future Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
drummer Simon Wright. Wright appeared in the videos for "Flick of the Switch
Flick of the Switch (song)
"Flick of the Switch" is a single by the Australian rock band AC/DC, from the album Flick of the Switch, released in 1983. It was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Brian Johnson....
", "Nervous Shakedown
Nervous Shakedown
"Nervous Shakedown" is the fourth song on the AC/DC album Flick of the Switch, released in 1983. It was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Brian Johnson....
", and "Guns For Hire
Guns for Hire
"Guns for Hire" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, from their album Flick of the Switch, released in 1983. Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson, it was also released as a single with "Landslide" as the b-side....
". He also toured for the album, and is seen in the pro-shot video recordings from that period. Rudd returned to the band in 1994.
The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC remasters series.
Track listing
Personnel
- Brian JohnsonBrian JohnsonBrian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
– lead vocals - Angus YoungAngus YoungAngus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
on "Badlands" - Malcolm YoungMalcolm YoungMalcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Cliff WilliamsCliff WilliamsClifford Williams is an English bassist and backing vocalist, who has been a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC since mid-1977. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Phil RuddPhil RuddPhillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian drummer. He is best known for his membership of rock band AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and again from 1994 to present. After the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans, he became the only Australian-born member of the band...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 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 music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... Albums Chart |
|
| 1983 | US Billboard The 200 Albums Chart | |
| 1983 | UK Albums Chart |
Certification
External links
- Lyrics on AC/DC's official website