Highway to Hell (Dlx)

5 Comments

1. Even if you are not a big fan of AC/DC, who can resist the quintessential heavy and title track – Highway to Hell. It’s one of the best rock songs, especially at elevated volume. The rest of the CD is solid with Love Hungry Man as another reminder of the classic sound of this group. Buy this CD and enjoy!

2. My opinion on AC/DC is that, in the Bon Scott days, they gradually became more and more consistent with each new release. Despite that, I still believe Powerage is their best overall album. This one comes close, though.

   The title song has been played a thousand times on a thousand different classic rock stations around the country, and probably around the world. Not a favorite song of mine to be honest (perhaps due to overexposure, or perhaps I just don’t think it’s that great) and probably the weakest big hit they ever wrote, but who cares? Because starting with the next song, this album just turns incredible.

   “Girls Got Rhythm” has always been one of my favorite songs. An immediately enjoyable guitar riff, STRONG vocal melody, and one of the most spectacular songs in the bands career. Clearly AC/DC was not influenced by the disco movement. I bet they even laughed at the thought of writing a disco song and wrote off the whole movement.

   “Walk All Over You” has one of the most passionate verse melodies in Bon Scott’s short career. Seriously, listen to how much emotion he puts into this song when he’s singing it. He nailed a perfect performance. Moments of his singing almost make me cry, but something tells me getting soft and tearing up is definitely *not* what the band was going for, haha. Oh well, I love it all the time.

   “Touch Too Much” is incredibly melodic. This sounds like the kind of song that should have been a major hit all across the world with a verse melody and chorus that’s *amazingly* memorable. Why wasn’t it? I have no idea. Should have been bigger than the title song even.

   “Beating Around the Bush” features an extremely raw rock and roll style to the way the verse melody is delivered, and I love it. Great guitar solo too.

   By the way, while it’s one my mind- what’s most amazing about this album is that, in my opinion at least, the guitar riffs themselves aren’t the greatest. I can’t think of a single guitar riff that really jumps out to me the same way, to name one example, the one in “Down Payment Blues” does. Powerage and High Voltage smear this album in terms of guitar riffs alone, but despite that, the songwriting feels significantly stronger this time around, and Bon Scott’s vocals are really on the money as well.

   This album *does* show a turning point in the bands career however. They were obviously going in a more commercial direction regardless what would have happened with Bon Scott. That doesn’t take anything away from the music however (at least not on this album).

   “Night Crawler” never used to be one of my favorites, but now that I’m older, wiser and smarter, I can appreciate those slow, creepy vocals, along with the underrated guitar solos.

   Overall, yes. This is one of the best hard rock albums of 1979. A must own.

3. I don’t have the gift for critique that some reviewers do, but I know what I like. This album is a must-have for any fan of classic rock. Nuff said.

4. One of the best rock and roll albums to ever be put out. Bon Scott saved teh best for last, even though he did not know it was his last. Angus young shows his true talent with his raging guitar. There are so many recognizable song on this album that as soon as you hear the start it is easy to know it is AC/DC. I love this album and even if some of the lyrics trail off in directions that most people do not want to hear they stand by themselves as great music.

5. This album should get 20 stars , one of the best hard rock albums ever made. Every track is a winner. Sure this album was a bit more radio friendly than all that came before it but it`s still the same balls to wall stomping AC/DC with clearer background vocals and much better production thanks to Mutt Lange. Back In Black was an incredible album due to what the band had to endure to make it but Highway To Hell is AC/DC finest moment.