Disco de AC/DC: “Back in Black”

At this point, I really don't need to tell you the story behind "Back in Black." You already know that it's the first AC/DC album since founding member Bon Scott's death and the first featuring replacing singer Brian Johnson. You already know that it's one of the biggest-selling albums around the world. And you already know that it's the Aussie-based group's best album to date. What you may NOT know is that the repackaged and remastered edition is a must-have, even if you already own prior versions on LP, cassette, or CD. Re-released around the time the band received Rock and Roll Hall of Fame status, "Back in Black" appears in a Digipak cover with cool photos of the band, as well as a nice booklet with more pictures and a well written commentary by Rolling Stone veteran editor David Fricke. And the sound quality? I personally listened to the previous CD edition and this version back to back, and not only can you hear the difference but also FEEL the difference. The new version projects with more force and clarity. The previous CD was okay as it was, but Sony really took it to a whole new level. You'll get to hear tracks like "Hells Bells," "Back in Back" and "Shoot to Thrill" like you never heard them before. So this review should end any speculation as to whether you should buy "Back in Black" again. You can never own too many copies of an album like this, and Sony gave it the upgrade it richly deserves.

In February 2003, the American distribution rights to AC/DC's back catalog transferred over to Epic, their new label. Epic then reissued the band's catalog as remastered digipacks containing lavish, expanded booklets with plenty of rare photographs, memorabilia and notes.

Although the digipacks may wear a little too easy, the sound is terrific, clean and muscular, enhancing the raw qualities of the original record. And "Back In Black" certainly deserves this kind of loving treatment; it is AC/DC's best and most popular album by far, having sold well over forty million copies worldwide, which makes it one of the ten best-selling albums ever, regardless of genre.

"Back In Black" is one of rock's all-time classic records. Not a single weak track is included, even the lesser-known album tracks are strong, and it is filled with powerful riffs, huge hooks and tough, bluesy grooves.

And AC/DC doesn't just thrash away or plod along like your average heavy metal band; they literally swing on "Have A Drink On Me", and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young churns out one sturdy riff after another. Just listen to the incredible groove he lays down on songs like "Given The Dog A Bone", "Back In Black", "You Shook Me All Night Long", and the slow, bluesy (and superbly sleazy) "Let Me Put My Love Into You".

Hard rock doesn't get any better than this. In fact, it barely ever gets this good.

When I'm writing a song, I'm trying to capture a single image or emotion and transfer that to the listener. Because I have a limit of only a few minutes and a few words, that concept must be simple. Another rule is that I usually don't want to describe the idea directly; I want to talk around it, to allude to it. The audience has to be able to make some contribution to the act of creation, and using too-literal lyrics defies that. You don't sing, "I had sex with her and I really enjoyed it"; you sing, "The walls were shakin', the earth was quakin', my mind was achin', and we were makin' it, and you...shook me all night long"!

I don't really think about it in such detail. I just rely on an instinct of what will work and what won't. The boys in AC/DC are quite aware of what they are aiming for, and their instincts in this regard are sensational.

On this album, AC/DC has captured and perfectly transmitted the idea of MASCULINITY. It's a man's record full of men's images and urges. Rock 'n' roll is basically a man howling about his desires, and he often desires women, liquor, and guitars that sound like sheets of metal being destroyed by power tools. It's a very simple thing, really.

Normally, live music loses its edge in the recording process, becoming more bland. To combat this, producers try to enrich the sound with effects like reverberation (echoes that create a sense of space), chorus (modulating the pitch to make the instrument or voice sound thicker) and equalization (boosting or cutting certain high or low frequencies). The equipment used to do this changes from year to year, and therefore the more effects are used, the more the recording sounds 'dated.' Reverb machines from the early 70's had a very different sound from those used in the 80's, or 90's, for example.

Back In Black has very simple production, with almost no discernible effects. But it isn't bland. It's savage in the intensity of its tone. How did they do that? (Gibson now produces a model of guitar pickup named after Angus Young. I'll be buying a pair.)

Angus and Malcolm Young have created a lot of the catchiest guitar phrases in the entire body of rock music. Their masterpiece is the collection of gut-wrenching licks on the title song here. These will achieve timelessness because the average guitar player can learn to reproduce them--but never with the Angus touch.

i love the album, but i must strongly disagree with some other reviewers saying that the dvd side sounds better than the cd side, i have good gear (not a home theater in a box)i couldnt tell the difference even in a blind test, and no one i got to listen to it could tell either. the only difference between sides is 16 bit 44.1 khz for cd, and 16 bit 48 khz for dvd.

amazon should really address this issue and get a backbone and post the truth about all sony/bmg dual disc titles. but like everyone else, amazon is probably petrified of sony.

JUST A FOLLOWUP TO MR. STEVEN M GADDIS, THE DVD SIDE OF BACK IN BLACK IS NOT EVEN IN THE SAME BALLPARK AS DVD AUDIO, ITS NOTHING MORE THAN DOLBY DIGITAL STEREO, THATS IT!!...PERIOD, AND I AM SORRY BUT I HAVE LISTENED TO BOTH SIDES ON MERIDIAN GEAR PARTNERED WITH B&W NAUTILUS SPEAKERS, AND THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL, AND THAT MY FRIEND IS THE HARD FACTS, SONY IS PULLING AN OLD FASHIONED BAIT AND SWITCH!!!!

When AC/DC's original lead singer Bon Scott died after the band had reached it's peak with their other masterpiece Highway to Hell many people thought the band was over. Little did they know that the next year AC/DC was going to release a tribute to their deceased singer that would become one of the greatest album ever recorded. It also introduced new lead "screamer" Brian Johnson.

The first song on Back in Black is Hells Bells. It is in my opinion one of their greatest songs. It has kind of an eerie feeling to it. The next song Shoot to Thrill is AC/DC just rockin.' Angus kicks off the song with cool guitar riff (yea it's only 3 chords.) Thats another thing, I'm really sick and tired of people saying how Angus only know 3 chords and that he's a bad guitar player. As a guitar player myself I've always felt that it's not what you it's how you use what you know, and that's not even the case with Angus. He's really an amazing guitar player especially on the earlier AC/DC albums. Ok now that I've addressed that...back to the music. The put it plain and simple this album rocks. There are no power ballads or any rock cliche's. It's pure blues rock. What You Do for the Money Honey, Given the Dog A Bone, Shake A Leg, and Have A Drink On Me are amazing rocking songs. Two of AC/DC biggest songs, Back in Black and You Shook Me All Night Long are also on this album. These songs like the rest of the album are truly amazing. The greatest part about all of this is that 20 years later the songs are still in heavy rotation on many radio stations. For first time listeners this is definately the album to get and as far as AC/DC fans if you don't have Back in Black there's a problem. I also reccommend for first time listeners Highway to Hell, Let There Be Rock, Stiff Upper Lip, High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, and For Those About to Rock.