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Back in Black

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Untitled
This article is about the album. For the AC/DC song of the same name, see Back in Black (song). For other uses, see Back in Black (disambiguation).

Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 25 July 1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died at the age of 33 on February 19, 1980. The band considered disbanding following Scott's death, but ultimately decided to continue and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson as their new lead singer and lyricist. Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell, was again brought in to produce.

The whole album was cover by the death metal band SIX FEET UNDER in 2004 under the name Graveyard Classics 2

The album was remastered and re-released first in late 1994, then again in the Bonfire box set in 1997, and as part of the AC/DC Remasters Series in 2003. In addition, a Dualdisc version was released in 2004, featuring the album in enhanced LPCM Stereo format and the video documentary The Story of Back in Black.

The album is estimated to have sold 42 million copies internationally, making it the second best selling album of all time. It is also the Highest Selling Album by an Australian Music Act of all time. [2]

It was also certified 22 times platinum in America by the RIAA on 12/13/2007. [3]

Overview

Back in Black contained some of AC/DC's biggest hits, including the title track "Back In Black", "Hells Bells," and "You Shook Me All Night Long". Angus Young has stated that the album's all-black cover was a "sign of mourning" for Scott, as black is the traditional color of mourning. It went on to become AC/DC's most popular 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.[4] In 2006 Back in Black was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the fifth best-selling album in the United States, with 22 million copies sold.[5] Despite its massive commercial success, it is not AC/DC's highest charting album, peaking at #4; their next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, hit #1 in 1982.[6]

In 1989, it was ranked #26 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's. In 2003, the album was ranked number 73 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[7] VH1 named 'Back in Black' as one of the biggest comeback albums of all time (it was a comeback since the lead singer of AC/DC had passed away)

Track listing

  1. "Hells Bells" – 5:12
  2. "Shoot to Thrill" – 5:17
  3. "What Do You Do for Money Honey" – 3:35
  4. "Given the Dog a Bone" – 3:32
  5. "Let Me Put My Love into You" – 4:15
  6. "Back in Black" – 4:15
  7. "You Shook Me All Night Long" – 3:30
  8. "Have a Drink on Me" – 3:59
  9. "Shake a Leg" – 4:06
  10. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" – 4:15

Personnel

Production

  • Robert John "Mutt" Lange — Producer
  • Benji Armbrister — Assistant Engineer
  • Bob Defrin — Art Direction
  • Robert Ellis — Photography
  • Bob Ludwig — Mastering (original LP)
  • Barry Diament — Mastering (original CD releases)
  • Ted Jensen — Remastering (EMI/Atco reissue)
  • George Marino — Remastering (Epic reissue)
  • Tony Platt — Engineer
  • Brad Samuelsohn — Mixing
  • Jack Newber — Assistant Engineer

Chart performance

Albums[9][6][10]

Year Chart Position
1980 UK Albums Chart #1
1980 ARIA Albums Chart #2
1980 Billboard Pop Albums #4
1980 Ö3 Austria Top 40 #6
1980 Norwegian Album Charts #18
1980 RIANZ Album Top 50 #24
1990 The Billboard 200 #126

Singles[11][12]

Year Single Chart Position
1980 "Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" UK Singles Chart #15
1980 "You Shook Me All Night Long" Billboard Hot 100 #35
1981 "Back In Black" Billboard Hot 100 #37
1980 "You Shook Me All Night Long" UK Singles Chart #38
1981 "Hells Bells" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #50
1981 "Back In Black" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #51
1981 "Shoot To Thrill" Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #60

References

Notes

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Back in Black > Overview". All Media Guide. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  2. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=tblTop100&action=
  3. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/riaa/index.jsp
  4. ^ "Record Breakers and Trivia: Albums". Every Hit. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Albums". Recording Industry Association of America. 2006-07-31. Retrieved 2007-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "AC/DC discography". Rock Detector. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  7. ^ "73) Back in Black". Rolling Stone. 2003-11-01. Retrieved 2007-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ In the original release of the album, the fourth track was titled "Given the Dog a Bone", but in the 1994 remaster and subsecuent releases was listed as "Givin' the Dog a Bone".
  9. ^ "Charts & awards - Billboard albums". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  10. ^ "Number 1 Albums - 1980s". Every Hit. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  11. ^ "Charts & awards - Billboard singles". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-01-29.
  12. ^ "Every Hit". Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  • Lyrics on AC/DC's official website.
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