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For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) [For Those About to Rock 1981]
One of the band’s live closers kicks off our list, it’s powerful guitar and cannons leave you feeling energized! The use of the cannons in the song was inspired by the royal wedding of Charles and Diana when cannons were fired during the ceremony. Angus Young said in an interview with LouderSound.com that, “Someone had the wedding on in the next room … we were playing that part of the song when the cannons were going off, and we paused a second and went ‘hmm… that actually sounds pretty good.’”
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Hells Bells [Back in Black 1980]
With one of the most iconic dongs in music history (get your mind out of the gutter), this hard rock classic shows AC/DC at one of their finest moments. Angus Young’s guitar brings an atypical heaviness to the band’s sound but still holds true to what the band is all about. One of the band’s slower songs, it has become a live staple and the fact that we got to see Brian Johnson swinging a giant bell to signify the beginning of the song added so much to the showmanship of the group.
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Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 1976]
The first Bon Scott era song of our list, it’s the title track from AC/DC’s 1976 album. Dirty Deeds is all about a hitman taking out people for cheap and it kicks ass! It hurts me to not to put Big Balls on here, but what can I do? Dirty Deeds is just so much better with its iconic guitar riff and heavy breathes. Also, it caused controversy for an elderly couple in Illinois when people would call the phone number in the song’s lyrics and asked if they did dirty deeds for cheap. Beautiful rock chaos.
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You Shook Me All Night Long [Back in Black 1980]
Just a fun song about getting lucky. Shook Me is a great party anthem for any hard rock fan that’ll get anybody up to dance. This Brian Johnson-era song brings such great energy and has so much innuendo that gets right in your face, but you still won’t catch all of it.
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T.N.T. [High Voltage 1976]
One of the best buildups in rock history as you wait for the “explosion”
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Highway to Hell [Highway to Hell 1979]
What hasn’t been said about Highway? The song you will blast out of your speakers on any road trip, it’ll scare the hell out of your grandparents, and it features one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time! On the surface, Highway to Hell is just praising Satan and Hell, but it’s really about the grueling schedule the band had to deal with while on tour.
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Thunderstruck [The Razors Edge 1990]
Finally, a Brian Johnson song NOT from Back in Black! Thunderstruck has served as one of the band’s opening songs since it was released. That guitar intro along with the chants of “Thunder!” is iconic! The song, and even the album, helped breath new life into the band after a few failed albums the years prior. So no matter what you think of later day AC/DC, just thank God for Thunderstruck!
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Back in Black [Back in Black 1980]
WHAT!? HOW!? I know, I know. The song that revitalized and saved the band is only number 3 on our list. Now, Back in Black is not a bad song, it’s just overplayed and overused. But rightfully so, it deserves that over exposure. That heavy guitar alongside the drums and add in Brian Johnson’s screeching vocals and it’s a recipe for success! But we aren’t done yet, as we have two more songs to talk about!
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Let There Be Rock [Let There Be Rock 1977]
A quintessential AC/DC song if there ever was one. Bon Scott’s screeching vocals, Angus Young’s fast and wild guitar playing, Malcolm Young’s excellent lyricism, and Phil Rudd’s heavy drums. If you ever want to introduce your friend to AC/DC, this is one of the first songs you should play. But is it the best? No, as we have one more song that takes the top spot!
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It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) [High Voltage 1976]
Our number one song is a beloved classic in the rock community. So beloved and revered that AC/DC doesn’t play it anymore to honor and respect their deceased singer Bon Scott. Filled with the grit the band is known for as well as multiple, surprisingly sick bagpipe sections, Long Way is the greatest AC/DC song ever.
And that’s our list! Did we miss any of your favorites? Tell us in the comments below!
