Listening Post: AC/DC Let There Be Rock

They wrote one of the 10 greatest RAWK songs ever. The pretty much invented the fist pumping, devil horned, head banging arena rock sound. The lead guitarist is the star, in his outrageous schoolboy uniform but the real backbone is the Rhythm Guitarist. Without Malcolm there is no AC/DC. Just a lead singer and a cock of the walk screecher.
I have heard about a dozen or so songs, and, like everyone who grew up in the 70s, Back in Black was your graduation present.
But aside from the big tunes, what do I really know about the Aussie boys?
Let's find out.



AC/DC - Let There Be Rock - 1977 (buy it)

Oh, that fucking title. This is what Spinal Tap was after, wasn't it? It's almost hard to crank this one up without thinking about Tap. But, from the first clang, Nigel Tufnel goes away and Malcolm and Angus have their say.
This is different. It's familiar, it sounds like the AC/DC I expect and am more comfortable with. It's a big sound. Wider. Grander. But, it's also slightly less clear. The bass doesn't pound as much as thump. The drums are set way back except for the high hat and when the rest is really needed. This is the Young/Young/Scott show. It's aggressive and breathless. I'm really surprised the album doesn't kick off with the "Let there be Rock" track because THAT'S a showpiece. The first one, the dirty oral sex song (Bon......!) and the socio-political Dog Eat Dog don't even begin to set the table for what is about to come. The truth is, the album could be 40 minutes of that track and I'm not sure I would tire of it. (How have I never heard this song before???)
After that the boys settle in for some classic rock and I just want to get into a convertible with a blonde with big tits and white sunglasses and drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. I don't even mind the repeat of Problem Child that much It replaces the racier "Crabsody in Blue" (a racy tune about crabs v.d. that the label had removed).
On "Overdose" Bon is finally showing some signs of vulnerability. being hooked on a woman's love is not what I would have expected from the guy talking about how big his balls were just an album before. But, then again, maybe he is overdosed on the oral talents of Ruby, the object of affection from the opener "Go Down".
Oh, yeah. THIS is the record that unleashed "Whole Lotta Rosie". You know AC/DC is the only band I know of that has more female cover bands than any other. One of them was "Girls Got Rhythm", who had a smokin' hot asian chick lead guitarist who who smile as she shredded and a clumsy but super cute bassist who would get tangled in her cables.
The other was "Whole Lotta Rosies". I wish I had seen them. Any band that names themselves after this classic scorcher must blow the doors down.

Grade A
A Side: Whole Lotta Rosie
Blindside: Let There Be Rock (Yeah, I'm probably the only one who doesn't know it, but does it get ANY airplay after 1978?)
Downside: Problem Child (only because it's a repeat place holder)