AC/DC: 25 Essential Songs
The Aussie legendsā rude and raucous best, from āBig Ballsā to āBack in Blackā

In honor of the 40th anniversary of 'Back in Black,' we look back at 25 of AC/DC's greatest songs.
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Bulldozing rock-hard riffs, more double entendres than you can shake a stick at, and one comically snug schoolboy uniform: These are just a few of the ingredients that have made AC/DC one of the most iconic rock & roll bands of the past 45 years. Songs like āHighway to Hellā and āYou Shook Me All Night Longā are classic-rock radio staples, and their 1980 LP, Back in Black, would be the bestselling album of all time if Thriller didnāt exist.
The secret to their success has always been their authenticity. When they exploded out of Sydney in the mid-Seventies, AC/DCās scrappy original frontman Bon Scott sang about the groupās personal holy trinity ā sex, drinking, and rock & roll ā and ever since gravelly voiced Brian Johnson took the reins after Scottās death, theyāve kept right on worshipping at the same altar. āWeāve been accused of making the same album over and over 12 times,ā guitarist Angus Young once said. āThe truth is, weāve made the same album over and over 15 times.ā
The best AC/DC songs overdose on crude, raucous riffs and offensive turns of phrase, whether its Scott bragging about his āBig Ballsā or Young speeding down the āHighway to Hellā spewing out bluesy, high-voltage solos. As a band, theyāre unrelenting and freewheeling; nobody has ever had to wonder if AC/DC were having a good time. So in recognition of Back in Blackās 40th anniversary, we look back at 25 of their greatest songs. For those about to rock, we salute you.
From Rolling Stone US