Top 8 AC/DC tracks that rocked the world

AC/DC didn't just show up in the rock world; they stormed in, with loud amps and hot guitars, breaking all the rules except their own. They started out tough in Sydney's bar scene in the early 1970s. The band made a strong sound, not caring about quick trends or financial needs. While some changed their tunes to fit what the radio wanted or to keep up with the times, AC/DC went another way, one that held close to the true, hardcore of rock and roll.

Their way was not hard, but that's where the strength was: loud, tight beats, deep guitar sounds, and a strong, all-out push that made each song feel alive. At the core of this was Malcolm Young, whose guitar work did more than mark time; it made time, setting down beats so sharp and bold they made drum machines look bad.

And then there was Angus Young, moving on stages in a school kid outfit, playing solos with such wild power and sureness that they seemed like storms made into music. Year after year, as types of music came and left, AC/DC stood as the loud, bold same, a group that did not need to change its way to stay seen.

Their longevity isn't just impressive, it’s a testament to the timeless power of staying true to a sound that was never broken to begin with. That firm way had its hard bits, some said the band just did the same thing, over and over. But for AC/DC, doing it again wasn't being lazy; it was making it better. Each new album made their sound sharper, a fresh yes to the bare strength of rock.

Albums like High Voltage, Highway to Hell, and Back in Black didn't rest on new tricks, they won on how well they did it, how clean, and their style. Even when the band's lineup changed and bad things happened, like when the first singer, Bon Scott, died, the band kept making good stuff.

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Here are the top 8 AC/DC songs of all time

Picking just eight key songs from AC/DC's long list is tough. They have made powerful songs for almost fifty years. But these picks shine for their strong sound and for showing who the band really is. From the bold threat of Highway to Hell to the strong force of Back in Black, each track shows a time when AC/DC turned their wild strength into something big.

Thunderstruck hit the 1990s like a big shock, and both Whole Lotta Rosie and Let There Be Rock brought out the band's first wild side with Bon Scott leading. Songs such as You Shook Me All Night Long and Hell's Bells prove they know how to make loud and very catchy rock music. These eight tracks are not just high points of their work; they show the lasting mark of a band that stayed great without following the new styles.

1) You Shook Me All Night Long

When AC/DC put out You Shook Me All Night Long from their Back In Black album in 1980, it didn't feel like a band sad about their old lead, it felt like they were upping their game. They did not go into soft moods; they hit back with a tune that was both bold and loud. Brian Johnson's first show as the main singer wasn't just a passing of the torch; he soaked it in fuel and set the whole place on fire.

AC/DC: Power Up Tour With The Pretty Reckless - Las Vegas, NV - Source: Getty

For the sound, Mutt Lange, just done making Highway to Hell better, did his thing once more. He made the band's strong play sharper without losing any rough parts. What came out was a song that walked with bold pride, joining big hooks with words that were playfully bold.

Johnson's play with words, much shaped by the sunny Bahamas and maybe too much boldness, gave the song its own taste, bold and catchy, too much but hard to forget. Forty years on, the line between want and meaning might still be mixed, but the song's mark is very clear: it’s a rock song that always keeps going strong.

2) Highway To Hell

When AC/DC released Highway to Hell in 1979, from the album Highway to Hell. It was not just an album, it was a bold and raw call to arms, wrapped up as hard rock. Oddly, their world hit came just months before their lead singer, Bon Scott, died too soon, making the main song a lasting cry linked to his name.

The album's sound, led by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, hit a fine mix, clean enough to get on big charts, yet rough enough to keep their down-to-earth style alive. More than a dive into bad, the song stood as a sign for the hard, wild life of bands on tour, always moving, always up against what people think they should be.

Angus Young's riff, sharp, fast, and you never forget it, set off the fire, and Bon's words took it right into rock star fame. There's no fake show here, no thinking too much, just clean, high-power fun. And while some took the bad guy looks as playing with dark magic, AC/DC were just pushing back on all the fear and showing who they are.

Bon's voice, rough and bold, still rings out in those famous words: "Look at me, I'm on my way to the promised land." That song, and the album it starts, didn't just put AC/DC on the map; it made Bon Scott's wild way last for many more to look back on.

3) Back In Black

When AC/DC let out the loud song Back in Black, it was more than just music, it was a big move. Instead of falling into sadness after losing lead singer Bon Scott, the band turned this high-power song into a way to show their strong will and take back their top spot in hard rock.

It starts with Phil Rudd's firm, almost war-like drum beats. From there, the song breaks into a guitar line so well-known, it's now a must-play in music stores all over. The words of the song boast, fight, and charge ahead like a wild, unstoppable train.

That quick guitar sound would soon draw in others as well, most notably the Beastie Boys, who used it in their song Rock Hard without asking. What came next was the song being yanked from stores, as AC/DC did not budge on their no-sampling rule.

As Mike D said later, no bad blood was there, but rules were rules. Yet, it shows a lot that bits of Back in Black found their way into hip-hop, telling us much about the lasting power and mark of the track.

4) Thunderstruck

When AC/DC let out Thunderstruck in 1990, it was not just any song, it was a loud blast that shut down all doubts about the band's long run. It starts with Angus Young's now-famed fast taps and flicks on a lone B string, the tune does not just start; it blows up. Angus still goes over that start every day, a sign of its hard play and his aim to nail it each time.

Photo of AC DC and AC/DC - Source: Getty

The guitar part gets you first, but the strong drum hits from Chris Slade and the wild cheer-like singing lift it up more. Brian Johnson's loud singing hits high, loud notes, backing the tough, bold style that's been AC/DC's mark since their start.

Even though many link the song to a time when Angus's plane may have been hit by lightning, the true power of it comes from how it blends a classic vibe with big-stage sharpness.

Thunderstruck, from The Razor's Edge, didn't just show that the band still had their spark; it pushed them back to the top of rock, mixing tales, roughness, and strong music into a song that still rocks stadiums at their core.

5) Let There Be Rock

In 1977, AC/DC set the hard rock stage on fire with their hit Let There Be Rock, a song that pays respect and shows the true heart and start of rock music. Many bands at the end of the '70s did not keep up with music changes, but AC/DC held on to a wild, raw, and strong force.

When they made the song, Angus Young's amp caught fire for real. This showed how fierce the song was. Lead singer Bon Scott was like a strong, cool church leader, singing with high heat. He wore a priest's gear in a church for the video, making the song feel even more like a loud, strong talk.

This song did not just honor the past of rock, from blues base to classic impacts, it pushed hard rock into the main scene like few others. With their music as a strong, bold act, AC/DC not just stood out from others at the time but also shaped what makes the genre last and draw folks in.

6) Whole Lotta Rosie

Marking a big point in rock's past, Whole Lotta Rosie has long been seen as a strong sign of hard rock's raw power and its way of telling stories. Called the 'Top Metal Song' in the first ever issue of Kerrang! magazine forty years ago, a mag that had Angus Young on its front, the song's mark is still clear even as music types change over time.

Born from a true meeting between Bon Scott and a woman from Tasmania who broke the usual looks, the song is a loud cheer for living life full and the pure joy of being bold. First put out in the 1977 album Let There Be Rock, the song made AC/DC well-known across the world, setting them up well beyond their home in Australia.

But, it's the live take on If You Want Blood You've Got It that lots see as the true version, not just for the strong riffs but also for the loud cheers of a Glasgow crowd, marking the song's big fame.

More than just loud sounds, Whole Lotta Rosie has a deep story. It tells of Bon Scott's wild times with a big and bold fan, made real by Angus Young's clear memory of Rosie's strong mark and life force.

7) If You Want Blood (You Got It)

When a big idea hits, it needs to be pushed all the way, and that's just what AC/DC did with If You Want Blood (You Got It), the eighth song from their famous Highway To Hell album from 1979. This song is not just an extra; it stands as a strong sign of the band's pure, wild heart mixed with a smoother, crowd-liking side that would shoot them into rock star fame.

The name of the song is said to have come from a short talk between Bon Scott and a film team during the 1978 Day On The Green fest in Oakland, where the band had a hard early set. When asked what show they might give, Bon had a sharp response, filled with strong images: "Think of when Christians faced lions. That's us. If they seek blood, we'll give it."

First used as the name of a 1978 live set, this line turned into a song on Highway To Hell, showing the group's bold, raw power. In this track, Bon's voice is fierce, full of sharp spite, fighting unclear foes with a bold guitar tune that the band played again a year later in Shoot To Thrill.

Trying to sing the song without Bon, like when Brian Johnson did in 2003 at Hammersmith, showed how much the song is Bon's own. It stands as a key part of his mark, still touching fans and critics today.

8) Shoot to Thrill

Brian Johnson had big shoes to fill in AC/DC after Bon Scott, but his bold take in Shoot to Thrill proved he was up to the task. This song from Back In Black shows off the band's skill in mixing rough force with a catchy beat. The sharp guitar riff, made by Angus Young, fits well with the strong, steady beat set by bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd.

This blend pushes the song ahead with great force. Johnson's voice gives a sharp bite, singing a tune that's fierce yet sticks in your head, ending in a wild guitar solo that amps up the song's strong vibe. Even though Shoot to Thrill wasn't put out as a single, its mark is clear, it still holds a strong place in AC/DC's live acts and fans' song lists.

Unlike some of their big hits, this track has a mix of risk and high feeling. It makes it a great sound rush that grabs the true feel of rock 'n' roll's love for thrill.

AC/DC's song list is a strong mix of old hard rock. It puts raw power, catchy riffs, and strong singing together. From their start with Bon Scott to the time with Brian Johnson, they made hit songs that stand out in rock music. Their sound stays the same, and their live shows are full of energy. They have become legends, shaping the music for many and keeping their spot in rock history.