Writers: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Brian Johnson
Producer: Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Recorded: April-May 1980 at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas
Released: July 21, 1980
| Players: | Brian Johnson—vocals Angus Young–guitar Malcolm Young–guitar Cliff Williams–bass Phil Rudd–drums |
| Album: | Back In Black (Atco, 1980) |
The title track from AC/DC's most successful album, “Back In Black” peaked at Number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Like many of the songs on the album, “Back In Black” pays tribute to former AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, who died in London on February 19, 1980, after passing out and choking on his own vomit.
The band's future suddenly seemed uncertain, but AC/DC quickly rallied and just two months after Scott's death hired Brian Johnson from the band Geordie.
On August 23, 1980, Back In Black entered the album chart.
Although there were misgivings about how Johnson would be received, Back In Black peaked at Number Four on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide.
Johnson's high-end sandpaper shrieking, plus the band's newfound ability to stock an album full of tightly constructed rockers (and as many fist-wavers), helped push AC/DC to even greater levels of popularity.
AC/DC capitalized on Back In Black's success by re-releasing some of its earlier LPs, including the popular Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, which hit Number Three on the Billboard200 in 1981–one notch higher than Back In Black.
Back In Black also opened many international doors for AC/DC, allowing it to make its first tour of Japan, among other locales.
