AC/DC's 'Back in Black' cracks all-time top 5

CNN ^ | 6/8/05 | CNN

[freedom44]

NEW YORK (Billboard) -- AC/DC's 1980 breakthrough "Back in Black" has been certified for U.S. shipments of 21 million copies, tying it for fifth place with Billy Joel's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II" on the Recording Industry Assn. of America's all-time best-sellers list.

The Australian hard rock group's first album with lead singer Brian Johnson, who replaced Bon Scott following his alcohol-related death, "Back in Black" was originally released by Atco and was reissued in 2003 by Epic along with the rest of the band's catalog.

Joel's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II" reached 21 million in 2000. The leader of the list remains "Eagles/Their Greatest Hits" (Asylum), last certified in 2002 at 28 million. In second is Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (Epic), which reached 27 million in an April RIAA accounting, followed by Pink Floyd's "The Wall" (23 million/1999; Capitol) and "Led Zeppelin IV" (22 million/1999; Atlantic).

[CFC__VRWC]

I understand the band revamped their stage show during the 1990s and got less pretentious but I never went back to see them. In general, I do like their music however.

Someone posted a MSM review of a U2 show on the current tour a couple of weeks back, and the reviewer was pretty merciless. He described just what you did on the Rattle & Hum tour - lots of pretentious leftist bloviating and very little passion in the music. I think the review was from one of the Chicago papers - I was quite surprised by the panning the show got.

[streetpreacher]

I love to watch Angus in his little school boy outfit rock out. He bared his ass to us that night!

Sheesh! He was probably 60 ten years ago.

[SteveMcKing]

A reviewer of Back In Black on Amazon.com summed it up perfectly in one sentence... On this album, AC/DC has captured and perfectly transmitted the idea of MASCULINITY.

Good summary.

Another conservative element to the band - to make this all relevant - it's that they never deviated for a moment. Never recorded a rap duo, never went 'grunge', didn't "evolve" or go mellow by writing weepy ballads.

Start to finish, they were consistent and sure of themselves. The message is to be yourself, and the rest happens naturally.

[Deetes]

What next to the moon !!!!

Well I tied my baby to the railroad track

Cannonball down the line

Giving that woman just a one more chance

To give it to me one more time

Engineer wishing he was home in bed

Dreaming about Casey Jones

Wide-eyed woman heading a mile ahead

Thinking about broken bones

It's her love that I want

It's her love that I need

It's her love got to have

It's her love

Heavenly body flying across the sky

Superman was out of town

Come on honey, gotta change your tune

Cause it's a long way down

Clark Kent looking for a free ride

Thinking about Louise Lane

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's - a suicide

And that'd be a shame

But what's next to the moon?

Long Arm looking for a fingerprint

Trying to find the mystery clue

Hitting me with the third degree,P> Working on a thumb screw

Alright, officer, I confess

Everything's coming back

I didn't mean to hurt that woman of mine

It was a heart attack

What's next to the moon?

Classic !!!!!!

[TheForceOfOne]

I saw AC/DC at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland right after Bon Scott died. We didn't know who Brian Johnson was and the first song they played was "Hells Bells".

Brian Johnson came running onto the stage alone and starting hitting this large gong while we all just kind of sat there wondering if it was a rodie or a band member, then the stage slowly lit up Angus doing the guitar intro and that little guitar dance he does. It was a great show.

[QueenBee3]

"knockin me out with those American thighs...."

a true testament to American girls!

[SteveMcKing]

I like that Brian was an aged 33 when he took over. Makes me think it's not too late to do something with my life!

[Ain Soph Aur]

Well-deserved if highly belated, much like their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

[TheForceOfOne]

When you stop trying to better your life to achieve a sense of fulfillment, you grow old real fast. You're never too old to try and if you fail, so what.

My girlfriend is a real self conscious person when it comes to dancing in public but I tell her that know one cares and if they do so what, enjoy yourself and be happy.

[hercuroc]

i'm the night prowler

i sleep in the day

i'm the night prowler

get out of my way

i'm the night prowler

make a mess of you

[1stFreedom]

I was watching MTV/VH1 some show years ago... They were doing a show on the all time great bar songs, and I was expecting "You shook me all night long" to be in the count down somewhere... But as they got up to #2 I was like, you are kidding me, it didn't even make it.....

But when they announced #1, it was "You shook me all night long" by AC/DC..

Just consider how old these songs are, and how popular they still are today...

[Crimson Elephant]

Far and away its Van Halen.....4 number one albums with a SECOND lead singer....they couldn't pull it off with a third....VHIII only went Gold.

[L.N. Smithee]

lets try "Given The Dog A Bone" while we are having so much fun.

I can't hear that song without thinking about Monica.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

What kind of degenerate listens to Billy Joel.

The faggot.

[L.N. Smithee]

Sorry. I meant Bon.

[itsamelman]

[Tribune7]

I'm surprised the Wall sold more than Dark Side of the Moon.

[torchthemummy]

Thin Lizzy's 1976 album "Jailbreak" is also a kickass record. Best 25 cents I ever spent at a yardsale (then bought the cd).

[Chode]

Down-payment Blues...

[itsamelman]

Rock & Roll Ping....