---
title: "The Most Successful Rock Album of All Time: Back in Black - The History of Rock Music (Part 10)"

description: "Back in Black sold twice as many records as Abbey Road. It’s the most successful rock record (and 2nd most successful record period). So let’s dig into why. What’s the magic of this band, this album, and how can it make us love music a little bit more?"

status: complete

date: 2025-07-15

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/The-Most-Successful-Rock-Album-of-All-Time-Back-in-Black---The-History-of-Rock-Music-Part-10-e35455l"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-most-successful-rock-album-of-all-time-back-in/id1567355195?i=1000717297752&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Ak4xvJxvoCTe6XWyhFIUb"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "The history of rock"
  - "Guitar"
  - "Genre"
  - "Music production"
  - "Songwriting"
  - "Back in Black Album"
  - "AC/DC's Impact"
  - "History of Rock Music"
  - "1980s Rock"
  - "Cultural Significance of Rock"
  - "Album Track Highlights"

hostNote: |
  If you know any amount of guitar and try to play the *Back in Black* title track, it's going to sound wrong. That's not because the riff is complicated: it's because the feel is harder to nail than it looks, and feel is the whole record. That's what I'm trying to get at here.
  
  *Back in Black* outsold *Abbey Road* two to one. It's the number one rock album of all time, number two behind only *Thriller* overall: and it's so much a part of the air that the scale of it is easy to miss. I get into the guitar and drum technique specifically, and then into the emotional weight underneath the party sound: this is a tribute to Bon Scott, and that gives the whole record a gravity a pure stadium-rock album wouldn't have.
  
  The episode ends on what I think is the real argument: *Back in Black* is a capstone for blues rock, not a starting point. Understanding what it caps is what lets you hear why it works the way it does.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introduction to Back in Black"
    startSec: 62
    note: "I set up the importance of *Back in Black* as a focus for the episode."
  - label: "The Success of Back in Black"
    startSec: 93
    note: "I discuss how *Back in Black* surpassed *Abbey Road* in sales."
  - label: "The Album's Approachability"
    startSec: 137
    note: "I explain the album's blend of polished sound and rock chaos."
  - label: "AC/DC Guitar Technique"
    startSec: 274
    note: "I provide detailed analysis on the challenges of playing AC/DC songs effectively."
  - label: "Rhythm and Feel of the Album"
    startSec: 451
    note: "I explore the tight rhythm and its significance in rock."
  - label: "A Tribute to Bon Scott"
    startSec: 724
    note: "I talk about how *Back in Black* serves as a celebration of their late lead singer."
  - label: "The Last Track Weighs"
    startSec: 811
    note: "I explain the significance of the track 'Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution' and its role in the album."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "It's the number one most successful rock album of all time, bar none. It is the number two most successful album of all time, only behind Michael Jackson's *Thriller*."
    startSec: 88
    reviewed: true
  - text: "This album was so successful and I think it's easy to forget how successful it was because it's just kind of in the air."
    startSec: 141
    reviewed: true
  - text: "If you know any amount of guitar, try and play the title track *Back in Black*, it's gonna sound wrong."
    startSec: 276
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It's a great record if you're learning drums, but it's really hard to nail."
    startSec: 500
    reviewed: true
  - text: "This record also is a tribute to their late lead singer, Bon Scott."
    startSec: 728
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It creates the perceptual thing that quieter things will sound louder when really just louder things are quieter."
    startSec: 1040
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is the significance of the *Back in Black* album?"
    answer: "*Back in Black* is the most successful rock album of all time, showcasing the enduring appeal of AC/DC's music and its impact on rock history."
  - question: "How did AC/DC pay tribute to Bon Scott in *Back in Black*?"
    answer: "The album serves as a celebration of Bon Scott's life, aiming to capture a joyful spirit in the face of loss."
  - question: "Why is AC/DC's guitar playing important?"
    answer: "AC/DC's guitar techniques, including rhythm and articulation, are critical in creating their signature sound, influencing aspiring musicians."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---