AC/DC
LET THERE BE ROCK
“In the beginning…back in 1955…”
While it’s the first album sporting the trademark lightning bolt logo (and the last album with Mark Evans on bass), AC/DC’s 1977 masterpiece LET THERE BE ROCK remains a quintessential chapter in the AC/DC catalog and is without question one of the most blistering albums of their legendary 70’s output.
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CHECK OUT AC/DC ON THE INTERWEBS
Be sure to check out our prior AC/DC Episodes
ACDC High Voltage
ACDC Side 2 Brian Johnson Years
ACDC Dirty Deeds
AC/DC
Featuring the furiously unrestrained lyrical genius of Bon Scott, the limitless kinetic headbanging and scorching guitar pyrotechnics of Angus Young, and the rock-solid rhythm section of Mark Evans, Malcolm Young and Phil Rudd reinforcing the backbeat, LET THERE BE ROCK represents the ferocious next step in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal and contains all of the requisite sleaze and debauchery you’d expect from the lads down under.
Released
21 March 1977 (Australia)
25 July 1977 (international)
Recorded January – February 1977
Studio Albert (Sydney)
Producers
Harry Vanda
George Young
Bon Scott – lead vocals
Angus Young – lead guitar
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mark Evans – bass guitar
Phil Rudd – drums, percussion
Tracks
International Version
Side one
1. "Go Down"
2. "Dog Eat Dog"
3. "Let There Be Rock"6
4. "Bad Boy Boogie"
Side two
5. "Problem Child"
6. "Overdose"
7. "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be"
8. "Whole Lotta Rosie"
Australian Version
Side one
1. "Go Down"
2. "Dog Eat Dog"
3. "Let There Be Rock"
4. "Bad Boy Boogie"
Side two
5. "Overdose"
6. "Crabsody in Blue"
7. "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be"
8. "Whole Lotta Rosie"
It's high time you “put on your jorts…grab a banana” and “strap in for the ride” as you prepare to receive numerous “parking lot” employment opportunities and all the “all-you-can-eat crabs” your junk can withstand.
Pop the cassette in the tape deck of your “8-dawg”, turn it up to angry, and JOIN US as we reflect on the Aussie angst and blazing riffs that culminated in the miracle of music known throughout the world as LET THERE BE ROCK.
GO DOWN
“A one, two, three…”
As a child in the early 80’s hearing AC/DC for the first time, I can say with confidence that I’d never heard anything like this in my life. I didn’t know about Ruby, or where she’d been, and I didn’t even know what “Go Down” meant (although I found that out in my teens one day driving a young lady home). Yeah, it’s more rock and roll than metal (hard rock, the in-between of rock and metal), but it’s certainly much sharper and far more aggressive than anything else from that time. Basically, it’s a request to have someone show some mouth love for the helmet (insert rimshot noise here).
“You’ve got the lips to make a strong man weak
And a heathen pray…”
DOG EAT DOG
Nothing was heavy the way THIS was heavy back in the 70’s. As a child listening to AC/DC for the first time, I didn’t really understand the concept of “dog eat dog”. I just figured it was about cannibalistic dogs.
“It’s a lie, that’s the truth…”
It wasn’t until I got older that I realized what it truly meant. Only the most relentless among us will conquer the mediocre fuckery that plagues our planet. That’s what Bon was trying to tell us.
“Business man when you make a deal
Do you know who you can trust?
Do you sign your life away?
Do you write your name in dust?”
LET THERE BE ROCK
“In the beginning…back in 1955…”
This is easily early thrash, no question about it. Reverend Bon knew the truth, and he told us so.
I wonder if any thrash band has ever done a cover of this? If not, someone certainly should.
“And it came to pass…”
If this doesn’t make you smile or move in some profoundly rhythmical way, then clearly you should seek medical and/or psychiatric assistance because it’s been scientifically proven by headbangers everywhere that this song will help relieve stress and make you feel better with just one listen. If you feel like you’ve ‘gasmed afterwards, then it worked. And you’re welcome.
“And the music was good and the music was loud,
And the singer turned and I said to the crowd…”
BAD BOY BOOGIE
There’s just something about that old style AC/DC nastiness in the guitar tone department that makes everything better. Granted, AC/DC were simply taking the basics of rock and punk and turning it into “Fuck you in 3 chords”, but they did it masterfully. (There are even some subtle shades of Sabbath in there too if you listen closely.)
As a co-frontman, Angus definitely delivers. You can hear it and even feel it in the studio recordings. Also, based on our analysis from deep within our 33rd Floor I.U.B.P. sound labs, the way Angus plays IS the way he plays ALL the time! Period. He just can’t play any other way; it’s gotta be wide open or nothing. Bon’s lyrical delivery is the perfect compliment to Angus’ brand of hyper kinetic rough-edged shred.
“I wouldn’t tell you no story
Tell you no lie
I was born to love till the day I die…”
PROBLEM CHILD
“Cop this…”
Perhaps one of the best AC/DC songs of the entire Bon era catalog, let alone their ENTIRE catalog!!!
The only real difference between this version and the DDDDC version is the extended outro which lasts less than a minute. Only AC/DC is awesome enough to have the same song appear on 2 studio albums back-to-back (chronologically speaking…in Australia anyway…).
“Just watch your step…”
Bon seemed like the kinda guy who would always tell you exactly how it is with absolutely zero bullshit to water it down.
“Even my mother hates me…”
Perhaps the “problem children” of the world are the ones that will help set everything right again and make the world a more productive, more hospitable place where we can all live in peace and do whatever the fuck we fucking want without being restricted by elitist trash plagued with an insatiable appetite for avarice and an irrationally impossible need for complete totalitarian control.
“What I need I like, what I don’t I fight
And I don’t like you
Say bye-bye while you’re still alive
Your time is through…”
OVERDOSE
A lot of you in the metal community may already recognize this one, as you most certainly should. Exodus did an amazing cover of this song on their Fabulous Disaster album and they absolutely crushed it.
Not exactly sure how many people have actually “overdosed” on a person, but it’s certainly possible. Surely there are a few folks out there who are like the weed of people and are completely non-toxic and highly beneficial to you; someone with whom you could NEVER overdose.
“I was happy as a man can be
Too far gone to save
Died of love and plenty of
Just write on my grave…”
HELL AIN’T A BAD PLACE TO BE
If you haven’t already, definitely go check out the 1979 “Let There Be Rock” concert video from their show in Paris. Fun fact: this is the part of that show that includes Angus’ striptease.
Somehow this song has a very Brian Johnson, “Back in Black” era vibe and feel to it. Given that this is the first album with the “classic” AC/DC lightning bolt logo, it makes sense that it would have that kind of feel.
“Out for satisfaction
Any piece of action
That ain’t the way it should be…”
WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE
Upon further research, it turns out Rosie was over 6ft tall! And those measurements: “42-39-56…” you can’t even GOOGLE that to see what it looks like!!!
Apparently 19 stone is 200+ pounds (look up the definition for “stone”. Those across the pond already know but everyone elsewhere and in America should look to the Googleverse to confirm. One stone =14lbs btw).
When I first heard this as a kid, I had ZERO idea what or even “who” Rosie was (or is). All I knew is that it was the most aggressive rock and roll I’d ever heard in my life. (NOTE: the first time I heard AC/DC was as a child, and probably this album. The first time I heard Metallica was in 8th grade. It was “Whiplash” by the way, and I had the same reaction to hearing that as I did to hearing THIS!).
Where you at, Rosie? Come by the house…I’ve got some cold Zimas and an entire charcuterie smorgasbord of smoked meats, cheeses, and relaxers. (And also, some “seafood ointment” if needed.)
“She ain’t exactly pretty
She ain’t exactly small
42-39-56
You could say she’s got it all!”
Show Notes:
(00:01): “You keep it right there…” / #fartmistress / “Peanut butter or cinnamon?” / #strangerinthetub #thisepisodesclinkyoftheepisode #SkrewballPeanutButterWhiskey ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** WARNING #listenerdiscretionisadvised / “We are training for #TheChronicles” / #RussellsReflections and a #HalloweenPartyStory / “Like #Gettysburg or #Arlington?” / #massivefartnoise / “Hangovers are hard in your #middleages” #stopfortherightreason / #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode and #alcoholetiquette / “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” #sourceneeded #eternalhappiness / Always choose wine, more mileage out of your buzz and less abdominal gas. #imgoingwinebar / (But for the purpose of this episode…) #wickedweedbrewing #PerniciousIPA #sophomoricASMR / “I can’t not see it…” #sevenpointthreepercentABV #highergravity / #RussellsReflectionsASMR (NOTE: this was recorded #prehalloween, hence the #horrortalk) #greatthememusicASMR ***#shoutout to the #DevilTownPodcast for this segment of #RussellsReflections #thatswhywerenumbertwo *** #SatansBumpkins and #fielddressing (not what some of us thought it meant…) / “Don’t blame me…” / #ChristianTestamentPodcastASMR / ***NOTE: Go check out our Sabbat “Dreamweaver” episode!!!*** / “That’s the reason why…” / #itsgonnahappen
(17:37): “Is it #docketthirty?” / #thevoicemailsegment ***GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!!*** #pissingpost and a horrible Robert Plant #TheSongRemainsTheSame impression / “Do it, do it, do it, do it…push, push, push…” / We’ve got #worldwidecoverage. And a pretty huge crowd in and around the #IcelandicTriCountyArea as well as everywhere else. / No jingle this week (and #noshittah for WE’LL PLAY YOUR SHIT-TAH!!!) but if you want us to play your #shittah you can hit us up on #instagram or #facebook or email us at metalnerdery@gmail.com / We’re gonna grab something else from #KingVolumeRecords #HouseOfTheDead #Ordos THE WITCH / “I want the rabbit with the #boobs” / #TheWorshipOfSilence (IT’S NOT BETTER THAN THE) DRUGS / #loadthebowl, fellow #bowlloader/ #proggyspacedoom #grabitinthemiddle / This is for all the #chainsmokingweedsmokers / #iwanttherabbitwiththeboobs #MetalNerderyTechnoMix
(26:00): #TheDocket: “And on the 8th day…” / AC/DC: LET THERE BE ROCK and a trip down #memorylane back to #childhood / “If that’s EVEN imaginable…” #alotofimagination / “Remember #ColumbiaHouse?” / “How did highschoolers actually attend high school HIGH on #psychedelics?”/ Thinking back to our initial #ACDC purchases / “I might like this one better than Highway to Hell” / The AC/DC logo on #LetThereBeRock is the first Bon era album with that classic logo and the logo that stuck / Poorly orchestrated #BlackAlbumReference / “It’s their #MasterOfJustice…or their #JusticeOfPuppets…” / A note regarding this record from the #VanHalen family / #morefoodreferences #steakanalogyASMR #thethrashofrock
(36:57): GO DOWN (“Where you been, Ruby?”) / “Now I understand…” / Problem Child appeared on #bolth #DDDDC and #LTBR / DOG EAT DOG (“Do you know who you can trust?”) / Music heard in childhood prior to hearing AC/DC / “Yeah you did…” / Easily the heaviest thing ever heard in childhood prior to the discovery of metal / The punk energy of AC/DC (#FuckYouInThreeChords) / The dual front man concept of Bon + Angus / Other releases from 1977…
(46:23): #Inthebeginning LET THERE BE ROCK (***Go and watch and enjoy the #musicvideo for this!!!***) #turneduptoangry “He’s missing a tooth too…” / “And the music was good and the music was loud…” / “I’ve never seen Angus play guitar without doing that…” / #AngusYoung is a verb because he’s always #Angusing / Matt’s impression of a #scythe / #RIP to #JerryLeeLewis and some sound advice to headlining #headliners acts regarding how to treat your opening #openers acts #benice #dontbeanasshole
(56:21): BAD BOY BOOGIE (aka the #killercloser of #sideone) #goodoldfashionedgoodness ***Check out the live version from their “Let There Be Rock” #concertvideo filmed in Paris in 1979!!!***/ PROBLEM CHILD (cut or top?) #metalnerderymegamix “It’s actually ‘Cop this’” #STFUASMR #taketwo / #freakingoutASMR / “How about a side 3?” / CRABSODY IN BLUE (it’s the “Ride On” of Let There Be Rock…this is from the Australian version…and it’s also about #crabs and/or #pubiclice) #stdtragedy / OVERDOSE (the mighty #Exodus did a killer cover of this as well) #introASMR #init #yeah #ExodusCrushedThisASMR / “A more pissed off ZZ top…?”
(1:06:40): HELL AIN’T A BAD PLACE TO BE (almost has a #BackInBlack vibe to it) / An update from Damone / #killercloser / “This is the third thrash song ever written?” / Rosie’s dimensions are a lot (42-39-56) / #comfortride (“It was all me in there…”) #pleasureride and #togoboxreprise / NOTE: Delta 88 and Delta 8 are NOT the same thing! / Well, she weighs nineteen stone according to the lyrics, and a stone is 14 pounds, so roughly 266 lbs. Actually, she was also over 6 feet tall!!! #pleasedont #amazonlady / WHOLE LOTTA ROSIE (“That’s like a #sixflagsride”) / #orgasmnoiseASMR #cricketASMR / Track listing changes and an example of songs that don’t “fit” on an album / #killerclosener / There’s the #blackdog … / #ParanormalActivityASMR and #ghostballs / The punk, hard rock, and metal elements embodied within the sound of AC/DC… / “I’ve gotta go home and #washmyballs…for the #parkinglotblowjobs” / #ShroomChroniclesAreComingASMR / #TheNewNORML and #crimesagainstnature / THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!! ***Please visit our 33rd Floor I.U.B.P.S. #GiftShoppe at metalnerdery.com/merch *** #untilthenext #ShelbyASMR #outroreel #hehahuh #washingmyballsASMR
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