Top 10 AC/DC Songs Of All Time

Top 10 AC/DC Songs Of All Time

By Mike O’Cull

AC/DC is unquestionably one of the greatest bands of all time and, to millions of fans, the one that perfected the art of blues-based hard rock.

Although the band’s long career can be divided into two eras defined by the presence of the late Bon Scott or his posthumous replacement Brian Johnson on lead vocals, AC/DC has never once veered away from the sound that made them famous. Big riffs, no-frills arrangements, screaming lead guitar, and lyrics advocating all sorts of bad behavior have always been the AC/DC recipe for success and they’ve been wise enough not to tamper with it.

Selecting the top ten AC/DC songs of all time is a labor of love because so much of their material has been permanently installed into the DNA of a few generations of rock fans. There are so many absolutely killer tunes to choose from that tough choices have to be made. We decided to go with five cuts with each singer that never fail to get our blood boiling. Each one is a rough-cut gem in its own way and they’re all at their most effective when played loud.

Here they are in no particular order:

1 – “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”

Speaking of bad behavior, there’s this one. One of AC/DC’s most famous tracks, this number about an affordable hit man ready to dispatch any troublesome people in your life is every bit as menacing today as it was in the 70s. Vocalist Bon Scott had the kind of streetwise, back-alley presence that made you wonder if he really did these things or not and Angus and Malcolm Young’s guitar tones are the gang standing behind him. Not for the faint of heart.
Listen to “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” here!

2 – “Problem Child”

This one always hits like Bon Scott’s personal manifesto. The Young’s immense power chords boldly support Scott’s identity statement as someone who will change your life “with a flick of my knife.” One of the keys to AC/DC’s success is the way they play simple parts with full band unity and that quality is very much on display here. They create an absolutely huge pocket just by getting every instrument moving in the same direction. Of course, Angus Young’s wailing leads add much voltage to “Problem Child” and the bone-dry production makes the whole song sound like an after-school dust-up at the bike rack.
Listen to “Problem Child” here!

3 – “Highway to Hell”

“Highway to Hell” is one of the cornerstones of the AC/DC songbook and one of the mightiest concert anthems of the classic rock era. Simple, straightforward riffs played with full conviction win the day once again and Scott’s leering lead vocals are a sinner’s delight. Angus jams, Malcolm holds the line, and timeless rock music happens. Turn it up!
Listen to “Highway to Hell” here!

4 – “Whole Lotta Rosie”

Built on one of the top guitar riffs ever created, “Whole Lotta Rosie” immortalizes one certain woman who “ain’t exactly pretty, ain’t exactly small” but conducts herself with great enthusiasm. It’s one of AC/DC’s best high-speed blasters and the stop-time breaks make it punch like a heavyweight champ.
Listen to “Whole Lotta Rosie” here!

5 – “T.N.T.”

“T.N.T.” is the ideal soundtrack to a bare-knuckle brawl. Its musical heaviness is in its extreme minimalism, its use of dynamics and space, and the way it uses the same riff in two different directions to form the verse and chorus sections. Bon Scott again vibes like one not to be trifled with, Angus rages, and the car-crash ending is one of the high points of rock and roll history.
Listen to “T.N.T.” here!

6 – “Back In Black”

Losing an ultra-charismatic frontman like Bon Scott would be the end of the line for a lot of bands. AC/DC did the almost-impossible and followed Scott’s death with a rock and roll masterpiece that introduced the world to new lead singer Brian Johnson. Johnson is probably the only person out there who could have credibly filled Scott’s spot and taken full ownership of it without disrespecting his legacy. This title track to that masterpiece shows the band in best-ever form and will be being played as long as there are rock fans left on Earth.
Listen to “Back In Black” here!

7 – “You Shook Me All Night Long”

This was a massive hit and quickly became one of AC/DC’s signature songs. Everything about it is perfect. The intro lick, main riff, drum beat, and lyrics work together in this bawdy description of yet another unforgettable woman (remember Rosie?) to set up one of the great singalong choruses of all time. When we heard this, we knew that Brian Johnson wasn’t merely replacing Bon Scott but was taking AC/DC to new heights of which Scott would have very much approved. It’s #7 in AC/DC Top 10 Best Songs.
Listen to “You Shook Me All Night Long” here!

8 – “Hell’s Bells”

This song opened Back In Black and set the tone for AC/DC’s new era. It was heavier, harder, and more fearless than they’d ever been before and is still unsettling even now. Beneath its concert hall bluster, “Hell’s Bells” connects directly to the occult/scary side of blues music that birthed the Robert Johnson story. Listen closely to make your amps run hot and your blood run cold.
Listen to “Hell’s Bells” here!

9 – “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)”

This was the follow-up to Back In Black and showed the band was fully intending to keep their new heaviness going. The title is a throwback to the days of Roman gladiators and the fact that AC/DC used this song as an excuse to fire off actual cannons in concert immediately elevated it to its legendary status. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
Listen to “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” here!

10 – “Thunderstruck”

“Thunderstruck” is everything an epic hard rock song should be. The dramatic, pull-off-based main lick is an immediate attention-grabber, the groove smacks you like a runaway cement mixer, and the whole thing was designed to shake stadiums to bits. This has also become one of the most-covered AC/DC songs and a quick blast around YouTube will turn up scads of folks playing it on everything from electric guitars to flaming bagpipes. If that’s not a sign of greatness, we don’t know what is.
Listen to “Thunderstruck” here!

What are your Top 10 AC/DC Songs Of All Time? Please place them in the comment section below.