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Album: AC/DC – Highway to Hell

Found at: Audio-Reader For Your Ears Only sale, $1

Label: Atlantic

I doubt a dollar has ever rocked this hard.

Every year I manage to luck my way into a few surprise finds that turn out excellent at the For Your Ears Only Sale. It’s not every year that I score an undisputed classic for only a buck.

That was the case a few years back when I found this one among the boxes on the rock table. AC/DC’s sixth – and many would argue best – studio album, it’s also the last with original singer Bon Scott, coming out a few months before he drank himself to death. It’s also the first of the band’s records produced by John Robert “Mutt” Lange, later of “married to Shania Twain” fame. The boys from down under were never ones to waste time or foist gimmicks upon their fans, and that is evident on this one as they jump straight into the fist-pounding rock with the title track. It’s become something of an anthem, but the tune still sounds fresh, jumping right off the disc with Bon’s infectious yowls leading the way. The Young brothers put down a riff thicker than a kangaroo’s coat and don’t look back ‘til the very last note.

Perhaps the album’s best track, and arguably my favorite of all their tunes, “Girl’s Got Rhythm,” follows. Angus puts down an even hotter riff than the first track while Bon tells us how he’s been around the world and seen a million girls. Given his reputation, that’s probably not a huge exaggeration. However, in all his travels and rock star sinning, he’s never met a girl like this one; she’s got not just any rhythm, but back seat rhythm. AC/DC did probably a better job than any band in history of replacing a member post-death when they brought in Brian Johnson. But his lyrics, while perfectly serviceable, tend to be a bit cheaper and not quite as clever as Scott’s, even when he was singing about something as simple as this.

“Walk All Over You” and “Touch Too Much” follow, the latter another scorcher. “Beating Around the Bush,” something these guys never cottoned to, closes out side one.

The second side is a bit weaker, but that’s hardly a knock. It really hits stride with “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).” Angus rips through another searing solo while Malcolm and bassist Cliff Williams do a more than adequate job of putting down backing vocals. They’re even better on the following track “Love Hungry Man.” Phil “no fills, no frills” Rudd is a workman on the drums throughout the album. He shows up, does exactly what needs to be done and doesn’t complicate the proceedings by getting fancy.

There are plenty of AC/DC detractors out there. Those that would say having a drummer that doesn’t play fills is a liability. More commonly I hear people complain that all their songs sound the same. I’ll concede that point to a degree. They don’t all sound the same, even though they are quite similar. But who cares? These guys put together a formula that works. If you don’t like their good-time riffing and fist pounding rock anthems, then maybe rock and roll just isn’t your thing. I for one am glad I’ve never heard an AC/DC concept album or collection of acoustic covers.

Sure some of the albums aren’t as strong as “Highway to Hell,” but that’s bound to happen when a band records for 30-plus years. Say what you want about “Black Ice” or latter-day AC/DC, but “Highway to Hell” is unimpeachable for my dollar.

AC/DC - Highway to Hell by MikeKrings