Highway to Hell

The band tried their luck with Eddie Kramer, known for his work with Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, but the collaboration at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, didn't work out. The sessions became tense, with unfriendly comments and disagreements over the songs to be recorded. Desperate to move forward, the Youngs decided to take a day off and secretly recorded six tracks in a single day. They sent that demo to Robert John "Mutt" Lange, a South African producer who had already worked with bands like The Boomtown Rats. Lange's response was positive, and he joined the project. The recording of Highway to Hell took place between February 1979 at Criteria Studios and March-April at Roundhouse Studios in London, England. This album would be the last to feature the vocals of Bon Scott, who passed away in February 1980.

The songs on Highway to Hell, all written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, capture that raw, direct energy that characterizes AC/DC. Tracks like "Highway to Hell", with its unmistakable riff, or "Girls Got Rhythm", demonstrate the band's power. "Mutt" Lange's production brought a sonic clarity that enhanced the punch of the guitars and Scott's vocals, without sacrificing the group's essence. The album was released by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records, and its impact was significant, reaching notable positions on charts like the Billboard Music Charts. In Australia, the cover featured a variation with flames and a guitar neck, while in East Germany, a more sober design was chosen. This work was also reissued in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.