You Shook Me All Night Long

The raw energy of *You Shook Me All Night Long* is felt from the first chord. It's one of those songs that, upon listening, invites you to move, to feel the rhythm in your body. The composition, credited to Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson, has that direct and powerful structure that characterizes AC/DC. The rhythmic foundation, with its G–C–D progression, is the engine driving the song, while the guitar solo, renowned for its skill, ranks at number 80 in Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos". The lyrics, which have sparked debate over their authorship, are said to have roots in writings by Bon Scott from 1976, with references to "American thighs" in the context of conquering markets, and to "working double time on the seduction line".

This song marked an important milestone for AC/DC as it was the first single featuring Brian Johnson as the lead vocalist, following the passing of Bon Scott in February 1980. It was recorded between April and May 1980 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and released as part of the album *Back in Black*. The album, produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, became an overwhelming success, reaching number one in sales and propelling the band into the United States. *You Shook Me All Night Long* climbed to position 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980. The song has been a staple in the band's live performances and has had several live versions, appearing in releases such as the 1986 maxi-single, the *Live* album, the *Private Parts* soundtrack, and the *Backtracks* box set, as well as the *Live at River Plate* album. Its impact extends to accolades like position 10 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s" list and number 1 on the same network's "Top 10 AC/DC Songs".