Beating Around the Bush

The song “Beating Around the Bush,” with its raw and direct energy, is a clear example of the sound AC/DC was developing. The song, born from the collaboration between Angus Young, Bon Scott, and Malcolm Young, is built on a powerful, repeating riff, creating a solid foundation for Scott’s distinctive vocals. Clocking in at 3 minutes and 56 seconds, the track stays true to the essence of hard rock—straightforward and with a performance that makes you want to turn up the volume.

This song was recorded at a pivotal moment for the band. It was part of the album *Highway to Hell*, released on July 27, 1979. This album marked the beginning of the band’s collaboration with producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, who would also work on other major projects with the group. Furthermore, *Highway to Hell* would be the last album featuring Bon Scott as lead vocalist, as he passed away on February 19, 1980. By 1978, AC/DC had already toured extensively throughout Australia and Europe, and their powerful, blues-infused sound was taking shape, as reflected in previous albums such as *Let There Be Rock* (1977) and *Powerage* (1978). The recording of *Beating Around the Bush* was engineered by Kevin Dallimore, and the mixing was handled by Tony Platt.