5 Essential AC/DC Albums

High Voltage was AC/DC’s first internationally released album, compiling tracks from their two regional successes, High Voltage (1975) and T.N.T. (1975). The group’s international debut is an infectious amalgamation of colossal riffs, bravado-driven boogie, and playful lyrics filled with double entendres. This potent formula is now synonymous with the AC/DC sound, and each successive album retained High Voltage’s playful mood and explosive energy.

For 1976’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC leaned further into their sense of danger as the songs celebrate man’s seediest impulses and use raunchy humor to highlight the band’s distaste for authority. Scott’s sleaze and snarl are complemented by the Young brothers’ dual guitar assault, evoking a mood that best fits a series of petty crimes or a back alley brawl.

After extensive touring and the threat of Atlantic Records dropping the band because the A&R reps in the United States weren’t fans of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC responded by taking their riff-heavy rock to a new level. Let There Be Rock is a blistering set of songs that showcases AC/DC’s ability to be a lean, mean, blues rock machine. The band’s thunderous guitars, scratching vocals, and  lyrics ascended to new heights and solidified AC/DC’s status as one of rock’s strongest acts. 

After Let There Be Rock, AC/DC released Powerage in 1978 to mixed reviews – even though notable musicians like Eddie Van Halen, Keith Richards, and Slash have cited it as a major influence. Despite the mixed reception, Atlantic Records predicted that AC/DC was poised to become huge in the United States and pushed the band to part ways with longtime producer George Young – Angus and Malcolm’s brother – and record Highway To Hell with Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The result was a massive-sounding recording and some of the band’s most accomplished performances.

After experiencing a commercial breakthrough with Highway To Hell, the band focused on its follow-up. Unfortunately, they found themselves grieving the loss of their vocalist Bon Scott, who died of acute alcohol poisoning in February 1980. After Scott’s family encouraged the band to continue, AC/DC held auditions and selected Brian Johnson as their new vocalist.

In April 1980, the band was back in the studio, recording their seventh album, Back in Black. The band’s perseverance led to the biggest album of their career and the best-selling rock album in music history. While many consider this material the band’s most accessible, Back In Black features the monstrous riffage, rowdiness, and electrifying boogie that AC/DC will always be known for.