For Those About To Rank: Count Down Every AC/DC Song With The Word “Rock” In The Title

It has been said that AC/DC only sings about four things; f**king, rocking, Hell and balls. And while most of their songs are in one way or another about sex, a not insubstantial amount of their catalog deals with rock n’ roll music and the act of rocking itself. Funnily enough, the actual term “rock n’ roll” is also a euphemism for having sex, so I guess in the end they really are all about f**king. Besides the ones about Hell and balls that is, but I digress. The point is, AC/DC are if not the greatest rock band of all time, certainly the most rocking and the one that has sung the most times about rock n’ roll. Like, on almost every album. Hell, three of their albums even have the word “Rock” in their title, including their latest, Rock Or Bust, which is due out next month and contains another three songs about rock and / or rocking. So the time has now come to rank every AC/DC song with the word “rock” in the title, from the most rocking to the not-quite-as-rocking-as-the-preceding-songs-but-still-pretty-goddamn-rocking-next-to-most-things. There’s 18 of them in all, so let’s get rockin.’

Hear AC/DC’s Brian Johnson talk about why the band’s music still rocks his world.

“Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll” (Stiff Upper Lip, 2000)

Truer words have never been said and the same could be said of the band who survived the tragic death of original singer Bon Scott and followed it up with the biggest album of their career.

“Rock ‘N Roll Dream” (Black Ice, 2008)

For such a hard rocking band, AC/DC’s slower, moody numbers are among their best, such as this album track off their 2008 album.

“R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)” (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976)

Though a rarity in the United States, where it was left off the 1981 re-issue of the Dirty Deeds album, this track was a single in the band’s native Australia when originally released in 1976.

“Rocking All The Way” (Black Ice, 2008)

This song is from the band’s final album to feature founding rhythm guitarist and songwriter Malcolm Young, who sadly left the band this year due to ongoing health problems.

“Whiskey On The Rocks” (Ballbreaker, 1995)

OK, not about rock n’ roll or rocking but about putting ice in your whiskey, this song still rocks pretty hard.

“She Likes Rock ‘N Roll” (Black Ice, 2008)

And really, who doesn’t?

“That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll” (Blow Up Your Video, 1988)

If that’s the way AC/DC likes to rock n’ roll, then it goes without saying, that’s the way millions of AC/DC fans like to rock n’ roll too.

“Rock Your Heart Out” (The Razor’s Edge, 1990)

At the time of this album’s release, Rolling Stone magazine said “AC/DC sets a new record for the longest career without a single new idea.” Yeah well, when the idea is this good, who needs new ideas.

“There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’” (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976)

This track, featuring the late great Bon Scott, is a perfect example of why every smoky, basement party is drastically improved with the inclusion of some vintage AC/DC jams.

“Rocker” (TNT, 1975)

Originally released on the Australia-only TNT album and then added to the ’81 US Dirty Deeds reissue, this song was often used to cap sets throughout the 1970s , as seen from this blistering live performance filmed in the U.K.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer” (High Voltage, 1976)

Though he died in 1980, the legacy of Bon Scott, who sang on the band’s first six albums, has forever stayed with the band, whose solemn Back In Black title and cover is a tribute to his tragic death.

“Rock N’ Roll Train” (Black Ice, 2008)

After almost a decade absence, this song showed the band had hardly lost a step when they returned with 2008’s Black Ice.

“Hard As A Rock” (Ballbreaker, 1995)

One of the band’s biggest hits of the 1990s, this song was produced by super producer and avowed AC/DC super fan Rick Rubin and was also featured in the 2012 action film Battleship.

“Let There Be Rock” (Let There Be Rock, 1977)

One of the band’s most implicit homages to the history of rock n’ roll, this song was also the title of the concert film AC/DC: Let There Be Rock, which featured a 1979 performance from the Pavillon de Paris in France.

“Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” (Back In Black, 1980)

The band closed out their landmark 1980 album with this rallying cry for all lovers of loud, in your face rock n’ roll. In other words, AC/DC fans.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation” (Powerage, 1978)

The hard driving track is a hardcore fan favorite and is the first song off the Powerage LP, which is purported to be Keith Richards favorite AC/DC album.

"It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” (High Voltage, 1976)

It all starts here. The band lays out their history and plan for world domination on this classic cut which features a bagpipe solo from singer Bon Scott. Scott performed the solo live for years until his bagpipes were destroyed by fans at one particularly raucous show, which though sad, seems fitting.

“For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” (For Those About To Rock We Salute You, 1981)

Perhaps the ultimate anthem and tribute to rock n’ roll music and its fans, this song is a live AC/DC standard and features actual cannon fire when performed live. Crank this bad boy up and say it….FIRE!