The success of Back In Black was a real anomoly in the music industry. When a band loses its lead member, it usually guarantees the destruction of the band, or at least its gradual fading into obscurity.

When AC/DC lost vocalist Bon Scott to heavy drinking, few would've figured that the Australian hard rockers were going to come back at anywhere near their original power. But then the brothers Angus teamed up with new singer (er, screamer) Brian Johnson, and released the hard rock masterpiece Back In Black. Not only was it a tribute to their fallen leader, it announced their status as rock giants. To this day, Back In Black remains one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 20 million copies sold.

This is traditional AC/DC--in other words 3-chord, simplistic, raw, raunchy, anthemic and about as subtle as a ballpeen hammer to the temple. And I love it! This album rocks hard, with barroom standards such as Have A Drink On Me, You Shook Me All Night Long, the title track, and Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution. My favorite on this album is probably the ominous Hells Bells, though everything else is at a similarly high standard.

AC/DC have never made an album like this since. If you're new to AC/DC, buy this first. Then go after Bon Scott's albums--TNT, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, and the perennial classic of 1979 Highway To Hell. Also check out the underrated followup to Back In Black, Flick Of The Switch.