Throwback Thursday: "Highway to Hell", by AC/DC

By 1979 Australian hard rock kings AC/DC had come to make quite a big name for themselves in the world of music. They had scored multiple hits and built up quite the reputation. Still, they had yet to REALLY break through into the mainstream commercial market. That's when producer John "Mutt" Lange came into the picture. With his knowledge of studio production and AC/DC's ability to rock put together they made the hallmark classic that is Highway to Hell.

Since Lange's background was in pop, people were afraid that he would take away the band's balls, making them sound over-produced and poppy. This could not be any further from what happened. Highway to Hell sounds better produced than its predecessors, but only in ways that give it more punch and clarity. It essentially brought the sound of AC/DC live into a studio setting, making it the band's best selling record until its successor Back in Black.

"Touch Too Much" in my opinion one of the absolute best tracks on the album. It never became a heavily played radio classic, but maybe that is part of what makes it so special. It has this this popping guitar riff that makes it sound unlike anything else by AC/DC, yet at the same time it still sounds entirely like them. The chorus is HUGE and the vocal harmonies are astronomical. It definitely helped set the blue print for 80's metal.

"Highway to Hell". What can I say about it that hasn't been said about it already? It's a classic and a song that people who don't even know AC/DC that well can sing all of the words to from memory. That intro riff is iconic and will forever immortalize the band for all of the ages yet to come. It might be over played, but as I've said about other songs in the past it is over played for a reason and it certainly deserves it.

Highway to Hell really was the climax of the Bon Scott era of AC/DC. It's just a shame that he died not long after the wrap-up of the tour for it in 1980. They probably could have done some great stuff yet. That said, Back in Black took them to a whole other level yet. Regardless, this album is crucial for any fan of AC/DC or rock n' roll in general to have. If you don't have it already, stop wasting your time here and go buy it right now.

Highway to Hell, by AC/DC receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Highway to Hell
2. Girls Got Rhythm
3. Walk All Over You
4. Touch Too Much
5. Beating Around the Bush
6. Shot Down in Flames
7. Get It Hot
8. If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
9. Love Hungry Man
10. Night Prowler

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Highway-Hell-AC-DC/dp/B00O6L3AFQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519370127&sr=8-2&keywords=Highway+to+Hell