Flick of the Switch (1983)

[Speed King]

5.00 star(s) Rating: 5.00/5 1 Vote

Title: Flick of the Switch
Artist: AC/DC
Genre: Hard Rock
Released: 1983

Tracks:
1 - Rising Power - 3:44
2 - This House Is on Fire - 3:24
3 - Flick of the Switch - 3:14
4 - Nervous Shakedown - 4:28
5 - Landslide - 3:58
6 - Guns for Hire - 3:25
7 - Deep in the Hole - 3:20
8 - Bedlam in Belgium - 3:53
9 - Badlands - 3:39
10 - Brain Shake - 4:00

Overview:

Flick of the Switch is the ninth Australian and eighth international studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, recorded shortly after their European Tour at the beginning of 1983. The album was originally released in the US on 15 August 1983. The album was self-produced by AC/DC and reached #4 in UK and #15 in the US, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
On the recorded commentary on the album for the Live at Donington DVD, the band members state that the album was an attempt to make the band raw again, and were happy with the result.
After having problems with Malcolm as well as drugs and alcohol, drummer Phil Rudd was fired midway through the album's recording sessions, although he had completed his drum parts. Former Procol Harum drummer B.J. Wilson was hired to help complete the recording if needed, but his contributions were not used. The drum position was eventually filled by future Dio drummer Simon Wright after more than 700 auditions were held in the U.S. and UK. Simon Kirke of Free and Bad Company fame, and Paul Thompson of Roxy Music were two of the drummers auditioned. Wright appeared in the videos for "Flick of the Switch", "Nervous Shakedown", and "Guns For Hire". He also toured for the album, and is seen in the pro-shot video recordings from that period. Rudd returned to the band in 1994.
The album was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.

 

[Riff_Raff]

Criminally underrated album and in my top 5 favourite AC/DC albums. I personally enjoy this album more than For Those About To Rock because it came back to a more raw, stripped back type of tone and not so overly polished like the Lange produced predecessor. Critics may have panned this album but I will always defend this record because it's got some awesome rockers on it with a much heavier sound behind it.

If I had to pick a few favourites I'd go the speedy Landslide, the slide guitar driven Badlands and Brain Shake. It's got the slow burner type of songs like Deep in the Hole and Rising Power but I also have grown to enjoy This House is on Fire especially the live versions.

I think more people need to give this album a chance because establishment based critics tend to pan any album that isn't selling on the level of Back in Black which they also did for albums like Fly on The Wall and Blow Up Your Video.

My pick for most underrated track - Badlands with the slide guitar.