The Best AC/DC Albums Ranked: Our 2022 List

In a list of the best AC/DC albums, fans and critics alike would generally include Back in Black, Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap), Let There Be Rock, Highway to Hell and High Voltage. These five albums represent the Australian power blues-rock band at their bawdy, hard-rocking peak, and are classics of the hard rock genre.

On this page we rank these, and every other AC/DC album, to create the definitive guide to the Australian rockers' recorded output over their multi-decade career.

Of course, this is a personal list, and we’d love to hear from you if your opinions differ! Let us know what you think – and how AC/DC’s music has affected you – in the comments section at the bottom of the page…

AC/DC: A Brief Biography

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For almost half a century now, AC/DC, aka “the Thunder from Down Under”, have delivered high-voltage rock and roll to adoring fans the world over. The band’s blues-infused, hard rock sound has garnered millions of dedicated followers, and been the inspiration for countless other acts, including fellow Aussies Airbourne and Black Aces.

Over their long career, AC/DC have survived changing musical trends and even the deaths of key members, all the while continuing to deliver the uncompromising sound beloved of the band's legions of fans.

For the Young family, rock and roll was the family business. Following their elder brother George’s success with The Easybeats, Angus and Malcolm took a shine to the electric guitar.

The genesis of AC/DC was in Burwood, then deep in Sydney’s working-class western suburbs. Angus, clad in school uniform, delivered lightning-fast Chuck Berry licks while stalking the stage in a rock-powered frenzy. Malcolm wrote the riffs and, as rhythm guitarist, was the engine that powered AC/DC’s relentless groove.

During the first stage of AC/DC’s career, the band’s singer was Bon Scott, a self-described “dirty old man” from Fremantle, who penned bawdy lyrics delivered with a wink and a nod.

Following the charismatic Scott’s tragic alcohol-induced death in 1980, Newcastle-born Brian Johnson stepped up as the larger-than-life "hypermasculine" replacement. Johnson, resplendent in blue tank top and scally cap, took the archetype of rock frontman to new levels, screeching and hollering above AC/DC’s slabs of power-chord-fuelled rock.

Providing depth to AC/DC's sound was a rock-solid rhythm section. Dedicated fans will tell you that AC/DC’s greatest drummer was Phil Rudd, who always played a little behind the deceptively deep pocket of his 4/4 beat. On bass, early on, was fellow Aussie Mark Evans, who was replaced in the late 1970s by mainstay bassist Cliff Williams.

Today, with Malcolm sadly departed, Angus’ cousin Stevie Young has stepped up to play rhythm guitar in Malcolm’s stead.

Here, we’ve assembled a fan’s guide to Australia’s greatest rock and roll export. If you’re looking to get started with AC/DC, look no further than this painstakingly-assembled guide to their greatest albums...

Best AC/DC Albums Ranked

1. Back in Black

ACDC Back in Black album cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Year of release: 1980
Producer: Mutt Lange

Track Listing

"Hells Bells" 5:10
"Shoot to Thrill" 5:17
"What Do You Do for Money Honey" 3:33
"Given the Dog a Bone" 3:30
"Let Me Put My Love Into You" 4:16
"Back in Black" 4:15
"You Shook Me All Night Long" 3:30
"Have a Drink on Me" 3:57
"Shake a Leg" 4:06
"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" 4:15

Back in Black, which is dedicated to original lead singer Bon Scott, isn’t just AC/DC’s biggest album; it’s the second-best selling album in music history, losing out only to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

The album opens with the sound of thunder and Angus Young’s unmistakeable vibrato. Enter Brian Johnson, letting you know straight up what you’re in for. “I’m rolling thunder, I’m pouring rain,” he howls. “I’m coming on like a hurricane.”

And the hurricane of AC/DC delivers in spades on this powerhouse record.

This is AC/DC at their prowling, partying finest.

Back in Black captures one of the greatest lead guitar tones of all time, with Angus Young’s earth-shaking vibrato and impeccable phrasing inspiring legions of dedicated headbangers.

Key to the cutting, rhythmic power of AC/DC’s riffs is the Gibson SG, played straight into a Marshall amplifier with the poweramp turned all the way up and minimal preamp fizz.

It’s a bitingly clear guitar sound, and at high volume all the nuances and dynamics of Angus and Malcolm’s guitar playing can be heard.

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2. Highway to Hell

ACDC Highway to Hell — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Year of Release: 1979
Producer: Mutt Lange

Highway to Hell Track Listing

"Highway to Hell" 3:29
"Girls Got Rhythm" 3:24
"Walk All Over You" 5:10
"Touch Too Much" 4:28
"Beating Around the Bush" 3:55
"Shot Down in Flames" 3:23
"Get It Hot" 2:35
"If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" 4:38
"Love Hungry Man" 4:18
"Night Prowler" 6:13

Highway to Hell marked AC/DC’s commercial breakthrough in the US, and was the launchpad that sent the band into superstardom.

The album opens with one of the greatest chord riffs in rock and roll history. Who else but AC/DC could pen a riff consisting simply of an A chord played three times, which to this day almost any rock fan can recognise?

The making of Highway to Hell was a gruelling process, with brutal, fifteen-hour recording sessions taking place for more than two months. Malcolm Young’s meticulous songwriting, and Mutt Lange’s pursuit of a simplified yet aggressive approach, helped forge this rock masterpiece.

Scott was a fine lyricist, and Highway to Hell finds him at his bawdy best. Whether celebrating the joys of life on the road in the album’s title track, or depicting women with Renaissance art references in “Touch Too Much” (“the face of an angel, smiling with sin/the body of Venus with arms”), Scott's humor and charm are on full display in this, his finest work. As usual, the Young brothers deliver inspired riffs and licks with power and flair.

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3. Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)

ACDC Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Year released: 1976
Producers: Harry Vanda & George Young

Track Listing

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" 3:52
"Love at First Feel" 3:13
"Big Balls" 2:38
"Rocker" 2:52
"Problem Child" 5:47
"There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'" 3:18
"Ain't No Fun (Waiting 'Round to Be a Millionaire)" 6:58
"Ride On" 5:54
"Squealer" 5:15

Dirty Deeds was recorded at AC/DC’s spiritual home of Alberts Studios in Sydney, Australia. Production was led by elder Young brother George and his Easybeats songwriting partner Harry Vanda. The resulting album has a little more of the boogie and jangle that AC/DC delivered to Australian pubs on their way up than their later releases.

The album consists of prototypical AC/DC fare, with Bon Scott’s lyrical odes to unbridled carnal pleasures and the attraction of a life of crime, delivered over Malcom’s sledgehammer riffs.

At this point, the band were still finding their feet, and perhaps as a result the record contains one of the band’s slowest, most mournful tracks in “Ride On”, a blues number lamenting the damage of drinking.

Sadly, Bon Scott failed to take his own advice, and died of of alcohol-related causes only a few short years later.

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4. High Voltage

ACDC High Voltage Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Year of release: 1976
Producers: Vanda & Young

Track Listing

"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" 5:02
"Rock 'n' Roll Singer" 5:04
"The Jack" 5:53
"Live Wire" 5:50
"T.N.T." 3:35
"Can I Sit Next to You Girl" (A. Young, M. Young) 4:12
"Little Lover" 5:40
"She's Got Balls" 4:52
"High Voltage" 4:04

The international release of High Voltage contains choice cuts from AC/DC’s previous Australian releases, T.N.T. and an earlier album named High Voltage. The result is effectively the band’s highlight reel circa 1976, a relentless barrage of pub-ready rock classics. AC/DC were, by then, touring Australia and Europe restlessly, converting crowds everywhere with their electrifying brand of rock and roll.

Album opener “Long Way to the Top” is classic AC/DC, with a nod to their proud Scottish heritage with the inclusion of a bagpipe solo. Hearing Angus Young’s Gibson SG duet with bagpipes is a genuine treat for the ears.

With “The Jack”, Bon Scott laments his acquisition of an STD on tour, and on “High Voltage” Malcolm and Angus deliver a weaving, doubled-up guitar masterclass for the ages.

The album’s title track actually came from Young's idea to write a riff based on the band’s name – guitar players will notice that the chords go from A to C to D and back to C again.

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5. Let There Be Rock

ACDC Let There Be Rock Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 1977
Producers: Vanda & Young

Track Listing

"Go Down" 5:31
"Dog Eat Dog" 3:35
"Let There Be Rock" 6:06
"Bad Boy Boogie" 4:27
"Problem Child" 5:25
"Overdose" 6:09
"Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" 4:14
"Whole Lotta Rosie" 5:24

From the title track, laden with Bon Scott’s trademark Biblical references, to concert staples “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” and “Whole Lotta Rosie”, this album finds AC/DC in fine form throughout.

Let There Be Rock marks the final appearance of original bassist Mark Evans, and as usual his bass playing is a masterclass in subtle, yet driving groove.

On the album’s closing track, Bon Scott pens an ode to generously-proportioned women, punctuated by one of Angus and Malcolm’s greatest stop-start riffs. "Whole Lotta Rosie" remains a concert staple to this day.

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6. Powerage

ACDC Powerage Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 1978
Producers: Vanda & Young

Track Listing

“Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" 3:37
"Down Payment Blues" 6:04
"Gimme a Bullet" 3:21
"Riff Raff" 5:12
"Sin City" 4:45
"What's Next to the Moon" 3:32
"Gone Shootin'" 5:06
"Up to My Neck in You" 4:13
"Kicked in the Teeth" 3:54

Recorded at Alberts Studios, fans consider this album the forgotten middle-child of Bon-era AC/DC. It marks the first appearance of long-serving bassist Cliff Williams, and spawned a concert staple in “Sin City”.

Powerage is a fierce, hard-rocking album, with the likes of “Riff Raff” and “Kicked in the Teeth” showcasing Bon Scott’s masterful lyricism.

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7. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

ACDC For Those About to Rock We Salute You Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 1981
Producer: Mutt Lange

Track Listing

"For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" 5:43
"Put the Finger on You" 3:25
"Let's Get It Up" 3:53
"Inject the Venom" 3:31
"Snowballed" 3:23
"Evil Walks" 4:23
"C.O.D." 3:19
"Breaking the Rules" 4:23
"Night of the Long Knives" 3:25
"Spellbound" 4:28

For Those About To Rock, the 1981 follow-up to Back in Black, was AC/DC’s first US number one. The album found AC/DC enjoying their unprecedented success by delivering more of what the fans loved.

Notably, the album yielded one of the greatest concert-closers of all time in the title track. AC/DC play the song live to this day, accentuating the track’s crescendo with a volley of cannon fire.

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8. The Razor's Edge

ACDC The Razors Edge Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 1990
Producer: Bruce Fairbairn

Track Listing

"Thunderstruck" 4:52
"Fire Your Guns" 2:53
"Moneytalks" 3:48
"The Razors Edge" 4:22
"Mistress for Christmas" 3:59
"Rock Your Heart Out" 4:06
"Are You Ready" 4:10
"Got You by the Balls" 4:30
"Shot of Love" 3:56
"Let's Make It" 3:32
"Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck" 3:13
"If You Dare" 3:08

The end of the 1980s found AC/DC recording in Dublin, Ireland, with Bruce Fairbairn, the result being The Razors Edge.

Just as they did with Back in Black a decade earlier, AC/DC entered the 1990s bigger than ever with one of their greatest songs in “Thunderstruck”.

Do yourself a favor and find the live version of the track from their performance at the Monsters of Rock festival, and understand why AC/DC are the greatest rock and roll band of all time.

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9. Rock or Bust

ACDC Rock or Bust Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 2014
Producer: Brendan O’Brien

Track Listing

"Rock or Bust" 3:03
"Play Ball" 2:47
"Rock the Blues Away" 3:24
"Miss Adventure" 2:57
"Dogs of War" 3:35
"Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder" 3:22
"Hard Times" 2:44
"Baptism by Fire" 3:30
"Rock the House" 2:42
"Sweet Candy" 3:09
"Emission Control" 3:41

Rock or Bust, with a running time of around 35 minutes, is AC/DC's shortest album, and the band's first without Malcolm Young (the rhythm guitarist retired due to ill health earlier in 2014, before the album's release).

The rhythm guitarist did, however, write every single song on the album before he left.

The result was classic AC/DC, with the clever wordplay of “Miss Adventure” and timeless themes of sex, rock and roll (and thunder) on full display.

Original drummer Phil Rudd appeared on this record, but not the subsequent tour, because he was arrested for attempting to procure murder. Dirty deeds done dirt cheap, indeed.

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10. Power Up

ACDC Power Up Album Cover — Click here or on the album cover to view on Amazon

Released: 2020
Producer: Brendan O’Brien

Track Listing

"Realize" 3:37
"Rejection" 4:06
"Shot in the Dark" 3:06
"Through the Mists of Time" 3:32
"Kick You When You're Down" 3:10
"Witch's Spell" 3:42
"Demon Fire" 3:30
"Wild Reputation" 2:54
"No Man's Land" 3:39
"Systems Down" 3:12
"Money Shot" 3:05
"Code Red" 3:31

Power Up, AC/DC’s first album since Malcolm Young’s death, was released in tribute to their late guitarist. It featured the return of Razors Edge-era drummer Chris Slade, and sees the band deciding to pay tribute to their fallen comrade by living it up in true AC/DC style.

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