Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australianhard rock band AC/DC, released on 25 July1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died at the age of 33 on February 19, 1980. The band considered disbanding following Scott's death, but ultimately decided to continue and shortly thereafter hired Brian Johnson as their new lead singer and lyricist. Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell, was again brought in to produce. The album was remastered and re-released first in late 1994, then again in the Bonfire box set in 1997, and as part of the AC/DC Remasters Series in 2003. In addition, a Dualdisc version was released in 2004, featuring the album in enhanced LPCM Stereo format and the video documentary The Story of Back in Black. The album is estimated to have sold 42 million copies internationally, making it the second best selling album of all time. It is also the Highest Selling Album by an Australian Music Act of all time. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=tblTop100&action=
Back in Black contained some of AC/DC's biggest hits, including the title track "Back In Black", "Hells Bells," and "You Shook Me All Night Long". Angus Young has stated that the album's all-black cover was a "sign of mourning" for Scott, as black is the traditional color of mourning. It went on to become AC/DC's most popular album, the second best-selling album of all time, and the biggest selling album by any band, with more than 42 million copies sold worldwide.[2] In 2006 Back in Black was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the fifth best-selling album in the United States, with 22 million copies sold.[3] Despite its massive commercial success, it is not AC/DC's highest charting album, peaking at #4; their next album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, hit #1 in 1982.[4] In 1989, it was ranked #26 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's. In 2003, the album was ranked number 73 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[5]
^ In the original release of the album, the fourth track was titled "Given the Dog a Bone", but in the 1994 remaster and subsecuent releases was listed as "Givin' the Dog a Bone".
