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Rating: Dreary bell tolls and the riff of a sulfurous Gibson SG that merges with it introduce us to the legend: it's "Hells Bells," it's BACK IN BLACK! Now on vocals is Bryan Johnson, but behind the strings are still the Young brothers, crafting an essential masterpiece, a fundamental masterpiece in the history of hard rock. Produced by John Lange (who also handled the production of the previous HIGHWAY TO HELL), BACK IN BLACK is THE Album of Ac-Dc, over 20 million copies sold, marking the compositional peak of Our group, earning them a rightful place in the empyrean of the greats of rock. Ten excellent, unforgettable pearls that merge into a majestic complex that only has a minimal cover: the Ac-Dc logo and the album title on an essential black background. After the opening "Hells Bells," a track constantly featured in concerts (as are almost all others from BIB), a chord progression takes us to the second track: "Shoot To Thrill," pumped-up, one of the best by Ac-Dc: from the intro, to the driving rhythm, to the interlude, to the vocals. But there's no time to think, Phil's drums and Cliff's bass accompany us into the delightful "What Do You Do For Money Honey" (the title already tells you what it's about), which is quickly replaced by the driving "Given The Dog A Bone." With "Let Me Put My Love Into You," we're at the turning point: it starts slow, first guitar and drums, then everyone else joins in a crescendo for the chorus. The sixth track takes your breath away from the start with Angus's massive riff introducing us to "Back In Black," a stratospheric tribute to the late singer Bon Scott: three chords repeated endlessly, Brian's screeching voice, Phil's drum groove hammering your brain and shaking your heart for a legendary piece. "You Shook Me All Night Long" arrives, and it's a party: first Angus, then Phil, then Bryan, Malcolm, and Cliff; all the instruments chase each other in an incredible rhythm that makes "You Shook..." the most famous Ac-Dc song alongside "Back In Black." The scorching "Have A Drink On Me" and "Shake A Leg" don't match up to the previous two, but they still manage to excite you. "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" closes, starting with a plucked riff by Angus, quickly joined by Bryan (not before lighting a cigarette), to frame an authentic Ac-Dc anthem.
Rock is not noise pollution; perhaps R&R is just R&R (as Jagger and Richards said), for sure, with BACK IN BLACK, Ac-Dc delivers the work that will see them as protagonists throughout the eighties (and will allow them to live on royalties for life!). What has made BIB a true cornerstone of hard'n'heavy, beyond its famous riffs and deadly solos, is the fact that it comes after a discography of undisputed value: think of works like LET THERE BE ROCK (1977), POWERAGE ('78), and HIGHWAY TO HELL ('79). Moreover, the band had the extraordinary ability to react to the loss of a charismatic frontman like Bon Scott (who died in 1980, the year BIB was released). Like them or not, BACK IN BLACK remains an indisputable, irreplaceable album. An album that any lover of the genre must listen to (and love) sooner or later.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Shoot to Thrill (05:17)
All you women who want a man of the street
But you don't know which way you wanna turn
Just keep a coming and put your hand out to me
Cause I'm the one who's gonna make you burn
I'm gonna take you down
Down, down, down
So don't you fool around
I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills, yeah
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will, yeah
I'm like evil, I get under your skin
Just like a bomb that's ready to blow
Cause I'm illegal, I got everything
That all you women might need to know
I'm gonna take you down
Yeah, down, down, down
So don't you fool around
I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women with too many pills
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
Cause I shoot to thrill and I'm ready to kill
I can't get enough, I can't get my fill
I shoot to thrill, play to kill
Yeah, pull the trigger
Pull it, pull it, pull it, pull the trigger
Oh
Shoot to thrill, play to kill
Too many women, with too many pills
I said, shoot to thrill, play to kill
I got my gun at the ready, gonna fire at will
Cause I shoot to thrill, and I'm ready to kill
And I can't get enough, and I can't get my thrill
Cause I shoot to thrill, play it again
Yeah
Shoot you down
Yeah
I'm gonna get you to the bottom and shoot you
I'm gonna shoot you
Oh hoo yeah yeah yeah
I'm gonna shoot you down yeah yeah
I'm gonna get you down
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down
Shoot you, shoot you, shoot you down
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ooooooh
I'm gonna shoot to thrill
Play to kill, shoot to thrill
03 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:34)
You're workin in bars, ridin in cars
Never gonna give it for free
Your apartment with a view
On the finest avenue
Lookin at your beat on the street
You're always pushin, shovin
Satisfied with nothing
You bitch you must be gettin old
So stop your love on the road
All your diggin for gold
You make me wonder
Yes I wonder
I wonder
Honey, what do you do for money
Honey, what do you do for money
How do ya get your kicks?
You're ridin on the take and you're always on the make
Squeezin all the blood out of men
They're standin in a queue just to spend the night wth you
It's business as usual again
You're always grabbin, stabbin
Tryin to get it back but girl you must be gettin slow
So stop your love on the road
All your diggin for gold
You make me wonder
Yes I wonder
Yes I wonder
Honey, what do you do for money
Honey, what do you do for money
What do you do for money honey?
How do you get your kicks?
What do you do for money honey?
How do you get your licks?
What you gonna do?
Aw what you gonna do?
06 Back in Black (04:14)
Back in black
I hit the sack
I've been too long, I'm glad to be back
Yes I'm let loose
From the noose
That's kept me hanging around
I keep looking at the sky
'Cause it's gettin' me high
Forget the hearse 'cause I'll never die
I got nine lives
Cat's eyes
Usin' every one of them and running wild
'Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well, I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black
Back in the back
Of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet and my power pack
Yes, I'm in a bang
With a gang
They've got to catch me if they want me to hang
'Cause I'm back on the track
And I'm beatin' the flak
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
'Cause I'm just makin' my way
Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my way
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well, I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well, I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black
Well I'm back (I'm back)
Back (I'm back)
Back (I'm back)
Back (I'm back)
Back (I'm back)
Back
Back in black
Yes, I'm back in black
Outta sight
07 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:29)
She was a fast machine
She kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman that I ever seen
She had the sightless eyes
Telling me no lies
And knockin' me out with those American thighs
Taking more than her share
Had me fighting for air
She told me to come, but I was already there
'Cause the walls started shaking
The earth was quaking
My mind was aching
And we were making it and
You shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long
Working double time
On the seduction line
She was one of a kind, she's just mine all mine
Wanted no applause
Just another course
Made a meal out of me and come back for more
Had to cool me down
To take another round
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
But the walls were shaking
The earth was quaking
My mind was aching
And we were making it and
You shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long
And knocked me out, I said, you shook me all night long
You had me shaking and, you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me
When you took me
You really took me and you shook me all night long
Ah, you shook me all night long
Yeah yeah, you shook me all night long
You really got me and you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me
Yeah, you shook me all night long
08 Have a Drink on Me (03:58)
Oh, whiskey, gin and brandy
With a glass I'm pretty handy
I'm trying to walk a straight line
On sour mash and cheap wine
Yeah, so join me for a drink boys
Oh, we're gonna make a big noise
So don't worry about tomorrow
Take it today
Forget about the check
We'll get hell to pay
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Yeah, have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Come on
I'm dizzy, drunk and fightin'
On tequila white lightnin'
Yes, my glass is getting shorter
On whiskey, ice and water
Yeah, so come on, have a good time
And get blinded out of your mind
So don't worry about tomorrow
Take it today
Forget about the check
We'll get hell to pay
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Yeah, have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Get stoned
Have a drink on me
Oh, have a drink on me, yeah
Oh, have a drink on me
Come on
Oh, gonna roll around
Gonna hit the ground
Take another swig
Have another drink
Gonna drink it dry
Gonna get me high
Come on all the boys
Make a noise
Have a drink on me (have a drink on me)
Have a drink on me (have a drink on me)
Oh, have a drink on me (have a drink on me)
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
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Other reviews
By Elfo1
Back in Black features pure Hard Rock: a blend of meticulously crafted melodies and amphetamine solos that boldly emerge from Angus Young’s Gibson.
This nonetheless remains the best work of the Australian Rock band, and I believe it is one of the best albums Hard Rock has ever had.
By korn
"42 minutes of pure heavy metal, not hard but heavy."
"This CD... is the first heavy metal CD in history, the best-selling album in history, 46 million copies."
By AR (Anonima Recensori)1
This album made them legends of rock, like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
The album opens with the famous bells to remember the old singer, and then immediately delivers a magnificent gem, 'Hells Bells.'
By Filippo Guzzardi
"Back In Black is entirely dedicated to Bon, from the title to the cover, it’s a tribute to him."
"Everything comes from the rhythm: it is the base and the 'feeling' of what we play. We want people to physically feel the energy we release."
