AC/DC “Flick of the Switch “ -Overlooked Gems

[@larrynolletti4594]

Absolutely love Flick of the Switch....!!!!!!

[@vikingbrace]

You’re not alone😎 Thanks for watching 👍

[@larrynolletti4594]

@@vikingbrace yes....the first 3 Brian Johnson albums are phenomenal....but after that there was a definite lull....a blatant attempt to commercialize or." 80" ize their sound....totally out of character.....not until Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip did they return to their legendary signature sound start to finish on an album.....

[@vikingbrace]

@@larrynolletti4594 Glad to hear you mention Stiff Upper Lip, I think that’s a pretty good album.

[@yaminub]

Flick of the Switch is Brian's Let There Be Rock, to me. Both under-appreciated fantastic albums.

[@ericwyatt3646]

I agree. Very raw, different sound.

[@tombelanovic7686]

Exactly.

[@bengtkarlsson9747]

Bedlam in Belgium is my favorite on this album. Espesially since i learned that it's based on a true story... Gun's For Hire - what a riff and Nervous Shahedown - what a trial ;-)

[@vikingbrace]

Oh hell yeah! I don’t remember if I mentioned Bedlam, but I just Love the chorus in that song. So heavy! Thanks for watching!

[@dathorndike4908]

Down In A Hole- great deep track

[@jbracingnewsreviews3381]

I agree flick of the switch is my favorite AC/DC record every song is great 👍

[@vikingbrace]

It’s a great one! Thanks for watching.

[@conailrutherford6688]

Adore Flick and Fly.... so raw... Nervous Shakedown! Best album cover for me too. Stunning albums, no frills... just rock n roll baby.

[@vikingbrace]

Perfect review right there! Thanks for watching 👍

[@jeffbell7233]

Flick has been my favorite since the day it released, it's in my car cd player 95% of the time. Been rotating Power Up. Best speed songs that I like are Flick, Landslide, Guns, Bedlam and Brain. I really dig Rising Power cranked up to 10!

[@vikingbrace]

Definitely crank Rising Power! Whole album actually! Thanks for watching 🎸

[@vikingbrace]

@stallspeedtu250 I totally agree with what you said about Fly on the Wall. Really good songs but bad production. Flick of The Switch is a bad ass album that DOES deserve to be cranked! Power Up too👍

[@officialwillieg2001]

My favourite album in the Brian Johnson era

[@vikingbrace]

It’s definitely a classic. They really need to quit ignoring this album. Thanks!

[@t.rexsymonds7969]

Great call, nervous shakedown is one of my all time favs! RIP Mal & Bon AC/DC IS THE BEST BAND EVER!

[@vikingbrace]

It’s great to see this album getting so much respect from AC/DC fans. Thanks for watching!

[@gregcaz1124]

I bought this album in '83 and have always loved it. I've been telling people for YEARS what a total banger it is. For such a no-frills band this might just be their most no-frills album of them all, even down to the packaging.

[@vikingbrace]

Yep, I agree. I actually really like the sound of this record because of what you just pointed out.

[@TonyCRoe]

I have been a fan of AC/DC since 1980 and this is still one of my favourite albums of theirs. For years I had a cassette tape of this on one side and Powerage on the other. Both are masterpieces. Your comments about this album are spot on. Great review and such accurate comments about this real gem.

[@vikingbrace]

Thank you very much for the nice comments. Yep, it’s been a favorite of mine for years too. I’ve had cassette, album, and cd lol

[@geraldwaldrop5131]

Flick of the switch is my favorite !!

[@vikingbrace]

When I made this video I KNEW there had to be people like me who love this album even though the band ignores it! Thanks for watching 👍

[@tonytrevino3204]

You hit the nail on the head. Flick of the switch is a true AC/DC fan album. I love this album and you are right about it being a overlooked.

[@vikingbrace]

Definitely needs some more love on their set list. Thanks for watching!

[@bonwrentaylor2743]

Been a life long (almost) fan of /DC, and as much as I love the 'traditionally popular' albums (we all know which one's), two of my absolute favourite albums are Flick of the Switch and Fly on the Wall --- simply coz they're awesome !!

[@vikingbrace]

That’s because you’re a REAL fan! Many people only know those “hit” albums and don’t want to hear anything else. But people like us know they have other great rocking albums! Thanks for watching 👍

[@ZoSoUsAm]

My favorite AC/DC album, good Rock & Roll instead of the Anthem's, every song is perfect!!!

[@vikingbrace]

Strong opinion right there! I love it!🤘🏻

[@brucegitow731]

No doubt, this is a great album. Great hard rock songs and Brian Johnson sounds terrific.

[@vikingbrace]

Indeed 👍 Thanks for watching!

[@MrMojoRisin]

Great review. Their most underrated album. Rocks from start to finish with killer songs.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks! Seems to me they should play some of these in concert.

[@mortimerbustos4487]

I just played a few tracks off this one yesterday. Wow! It stands pretty tall. I like the mix too. I was lucky enough to see them on this tour with Fastway opening in St.Louis.

[@vikingbrace]

Oh wow! Fastway opening up for AC/DC on their Flick of the Switch tour?! That’s what I call a dream double bill. That had to be great and I’m guessing loud as hell. Thanks for sharing that!

[@mortimerbustos4487]

@@vikingbrace the cannons literally distorted my vision. I couldn’t hear a thing for two weeks.

[@ericwyatt3646]

I completely agree with everything you have said. We are probably about the same age or so and probably have a similar perspective. If we think about it sooooo many great metal and hard rock albums came out one after the other between 82-84, and peoples pockets were pretty tapped out for shows by mid '84. I literally within a year and a half saw AC/DC 2 times, Ozzy, Dio 2 times, Black Sabbath for Born Again, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and in the Bay Area used to go to a lot of punk shows like Dead Kennedys and MDC, it was relentless. I agree that this album just kind of got lost along the way.

[@vikingbrace]

That’s a pretty cool list of concerts you saw in that period. I would have loved to have seen Dio in that time period. Don’t know why I didn’t 😞

[@jcrockandmetalreviews]

Good review. It's definitely underrated. The title track is my favorite.

[@vikingbrace]

It’s a classic AC/DC song. Thanks for watching.

[@dathorndike4908]

Even the cover art of the album is bare bones. The cover art looks hand drawn. A great expression of the sound of the album within.

[@vikingbrace]

Yep. I agree. I used to hate the album cover but now I like it for the reason you just said.

[@hauminthang9222]

I've been listening to Flick of the Switch since I 2019 and it was fire.

[@vikingbrace]

It still kicks ass! Thanks for commenting

[@randomspew6142]

Elliot Easton's work on this album is genius!

[@hillbilly_herpetology]

Never listened to this album but I'm listening to flick of the switch now.

[@vikingbrace]

It’s a kick ass record.

[@Thundarr995]

I think Flick,Fly on The Wall and Blow up your Video are all over looked gems. Listening to them 35+ years ago, maybe yeah. They were a little on the ho hum side for alot of people. Probably because there was simply a massive amount of other rock bands out there at the time. I remember seeing the Heat seeker video for the first time, I was 12yo, On MTV. Grandpa gave me $5 to wash his car. Uncle gave me $10 to wash his car. Then I rode my bike up to the now defunct Pay N Save. That was the first album I ever bought, Blow Up Your Video,been a AC/DC fan ever since. I wore that cassette out long ago, but I still have it on CD.

[@vikingbrace]

These are the kind of stories I love to hear. All of us who really love music have these type of memories. It’s part of the reason a physical format still matters. Thanks for watching and sharing your story of your first ac/dc album (cassette 🤘🏻)

[@johnconway8199]

This was the first acdc cassette I bought, $3 used from co op records. It amazes me that flick of the switch isn't a concert staple this has got to be my top 5 acdc. You've pretty much stated what I've felt about the album. Thank you for the review.

[@vikingbrace]

A “used cassette “, I love it! Lol I’ve bought a few of those myself. Hell, I still do occasionally. I would gladly sacrifice a few staples that AC/DC always play in concert to put in a couple from this album.

[@Andy-m6j]

Fast growing on me to being my favourite album by them in all honesty. It’s just got banger after banger on it. Slams from start to finish. Good review mate.

[@vikingbrace]

Thank you sir👍

[@stevemorrison8632]

Great album! Awesome review. Love AC/DC for over 40 years! Just subscribed. Have a great day, Steve.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks for watching Steve. Keep rocking!

[@RonRuminski]

Completely agree. One of my favorites and I love all of the songs. I fell into it after fly on the wall was released. Still don’t know how I missed the release. Thanks for the video.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked the video. I’m finding out that there seems to be a lot of love for this album. It’s just pure rock!

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

Fantastic video Gary!!! I remember when that album came out, remember back in the day radio stations would play an album in its entirety?? Well I remember that one night we're at midnight they were going to play the new album by AC/DC brand new just released that day and it's entirety.. and honestly I was disappointed at the time. But like you said look at their last three albums prior to that. 🎸🎸

[@vikingbrace]

Hey there Rod! This just hits the spot sometimes when I’m in the mood for it. I like the production on it. Raw. Thanks for going back and watching this one. I might have to dig this one out again. ✌🏻

[@LairoftheAlchemist]

I agree with all your points...this is a great overlooked album.

[@scottseppers8]

Totally agree with your assessment. Definitely one of my favorite albums, love the raw sound and videos for the album. Put up a lot of reps listening to title song flick of the switch over the years!

[@theflipside-vinylcommunity]

You are the king of amazing T-shirts’

[@vikingbrace]

I have a closet full of just rock and comic book themed t-shirts lol! I might have a problem 🤔

[@theflipside-vinylcommunity]

@@vikingbrace that is a problem I fully endorse

[@adamsBASSCOVERS]

YES. IT. IS.

[@fireball8767]

My first acdc album in 1984 good album people say ac/dc weren't as big in the 1980es?? From 1980 to 1990 they were hardly ever out of the top 5 once in the uk album charts in those 10 years so I would say even thee albums that didn't get to number 1 still did prity good in there own right to all stay around the top 5 zone

[@vikingbrace]

Good point. They were always being played. Thanks for the comments!

[@thor6580]

My top 4 AC/DC albums are "Highway to Hell"/"Powerage" for the Bon Scott era, and "Flick of the Switch"/"Blow Up Your Video" for the Brian Johnson era.

[@vikingbrace]

I would probably go with the Bon Scott choices you had . Probably my other favorite of Brian era along with Flick world be Back in Black. Predictable right😂 Thanks for watching 👍

[@pinanti]

Great ! I'm living in Belgium , ha,ha underrated album

[@vikingbrace]

😂 Bedlam there?

[@pinanti]

@@vikingbrace Of course ! It is a hellhole here.. Julius Caesar : " Off all the Gauls , the Belgians are the bravest "

[@CarlosGuzman-vi9xw]

I’d like to add dirty deeds done dirt cheap was also released right before flick of the switch, in the United States, that is. Dirty Deeds was released worldwide but skipped over in the US as the band was still belatedly promoting High Voltage in ‘76. DDDDC was released after FTATR to feed heightened American 🇺🇸 interest in the recently-deceased Bon Scott.

[@gregcaz1124]

DDDDC was actually released in the US in February '81 to cash in on the huge success of Black In Black. Malcolm and Angus were really upset at the time because they wanted Atlantic to wait until *after* FTATR.

[@Djarra]

I have this with the alternate ‘finished’ cover art that was done in the UK around the time of ‘Who Made Who’

[@vikingbrace]

Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that 🤘🏻👍

[@Djarra]

@@vikingbrace I think they were for the UK only, although you do see it as a t-shirt more.

[@francescotomasin8714]

A smart review of this record,i still love it

[@vikingbrace]

Thank you! I appreciate that. Yep, always a favorite 👍

[@homebrewznz3482]

Great album to put on when pumping iron

[@vikingbrace]

I would imagine so. Maybe this album could inspire me to do that 🤷🏻‍♂️😊

[@homebrewznz3482]

@@vikingbrace Rising Power, great to start off a hard session of squats

[@vikingbrace]

@@homebrewznz3482 in theory that sounds like a great idea 😁

[@AGoat1971]

The four great AC/DC albums are Highway to Hell, Powerage, Back in Black and Flick of the Switch

[@vikingbrace]

Love all four of those albums! Thanks for comments 😎

[@georgealanlpsandcds9311]

Very good analysis of "Flick of the Switch" - It takes a lot of listening time and experience for videos like this - thumbs up!

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching!

[@marshalladams9301]

Love the review! My thoughts are much the same. Before I listened, people suggested this album was a dud. I couldn’t disagree more. Nervous shakedown is in my top 3 Brian Johnson era tracks.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks! It’s always one of my go to albums for AC/DC.

[@elshootermcgavin]

Agree that Flick of the Switch and Fly on the Wall are a pair of albums that often get overlooked by fans. There's definitely some gems, Guns For Hire is fantastic. I've always thought that these two records only sound 'good' when cranked up to head-splitting volume (to my ears, at least) due to Brian's vocals being set more in the background and how the guitars were produced. I find the production on these albums to not translate well to low/moderate volume, especially with earphones/headphones.

[@vikingbrace]

Good points. I do feel that Flick of the Switch has much better sound than Fly on the Wall. I really wish they would do a remix of that album. Good album but bad production. Thanks for the comments!

[@trisonicbrandtech]

Loving the Flick of the Switch love I'm seeing! Such an underrated album, my theory is that the colossal disappointment of FTATR lead to people looking away from this one, which is a damned shame because this album really is the last time AC/DC would ever be so raw and fast. Guns for Hire has all the elements of a typical AC/DC radio hit, yet completely ignored after the 1983-1984 tours. Favorite track is Bedlam in Belgium which is just an awesome banger and great story, with a shout out to Nervous Shakedown for being groovy as hell, Landslide and Brainshake for being great fun, Rising Power for being heavy as hell, and damn the whole album rocks! 9/10 album, if it were mixed slightly more like Back in Black it would've been perfect. Lots to be said about BJ still having his peak voice here too!

[@vikingbrace]

I agree with all these points. I think it was a bit of AC/DC overload for people at the time. The true crime is the band themselves ignoring this great album after it’s initial release even though it seems to be loved by hardcore fans. Thanks for watching and the comments!

[@mebeasensei]

Nice…

[@twangersturntable]

Hey Gary. Great vid man! I absolutely love Flick Of The Switch. It is at times my fave Johnson era album (top 3 for sure...it usually varies based on memories to be honest, and this has most of my best). I don't think the band looks back at that period very favorable due to internal problems and even to the point of Rudd being let go midway through and replaced by Wright on drums after the album was released (though Rudd did complete all the drum tracks that appear on the LP) for the supporting tour which iteslf was marred with tension as Malcolm was also experiencing his own "usage" issues. But as a studio album, I find I spin that one more than any of the other Johnson era albums. Cheers Gary! 🍻 🤘⚡️🤘

[@vikingbrace]

You’re right on all counts. It was a difficult time but it was also the album where the band decided to dump Mutt Lange and self produce. The albums got spotty after this but to me FOTS stands the test of time. Solid as hell. And you make an excellent point about them ignoring this album. Such a shame. Some of these songs should have been concert staples. Thank you for watching and the insight.

[@twangersturntable]

@@vikingbrace Awesome Gary. To me they are still one of the most authentic bands in rock! No pretentiousness...just straight forward stick this in your fuse box and give 'er! I listen to AC/DC to this day because they make me feel alive! High Voltage Rock n Roll! Thanks man! 👍 🤘🤘

[@vikingbrace]

@@twangersturntable That’s a great endorsement of AC/DC right there!

[@drewjeers815]

I was born in 69' I bought FOTS on cassette tape at least once, then on CD, then remastered CD so I obviously need it around occasionally. For me personally FOTS , FOTW, BUYV , and even R'sE were a bit of a dip for AC/DC. And not because they didn't jam. In fact if some other up & coming band did these as first 4 albums in a row I'd say holy shit this band. And I'd love an AC/DC live set of these albums. But in contrast to BIB and what I was really waiting for with BB & SUL these 80's albums for me are the get ready... get set.... . I'm extremely glad they were made tho and part of the catalog. They each have there own personalities and are a time capsule of what this band was up to when they couldn't set still. I do think a producer or different producer could have helped this/these albums as well as better rock & roll drummers. Malcolm once contrasted the difference between rock and rock & roll by imitating the drums and Steve and Chris are neither the R&R drummer described yet there they were. And even tho Phil's tracks were supposedly laid down on FOTS before he bolted, they seemed rather uninspired. I agree with you about the barely present bass also. As a bass player I find the bass parts after FTATR with a lot of interestingness to be desired until BB. I did find a renewed appreciation for all this back burner AC/DC when Brian bailed after I'd seen them in 2015 and for the first time in my life practically it seemed all over. I've not known not looking forward to the next album before. And I looked at these like FOTS and realized I need to appreciate this stuff cuz someday it's gonna be all we have.

[@vikingbrace]

You made good points here, especially about drummers. I really appreciate this thought out response. I agree about how with certain bands we’re more critical of an album because we compare it so much to previous albums. Thanks for watching!

[@davoshaunessy7481]

LOVE THIS ALBUM ITS MY AC/DC white album The canons from salute U literally blew out my tweeter in my B speaker - so fondness was low GET RID OF MUTT GET RID OF MUTT GET RID OF MUTT GET RID OF MUTT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pure BEDLAM !!!!!!!!

[@vikingbrace]

Oh wow! You must have had it cranked!😳

[@FrancisTheBerd]

Landslide is my favourite This album is underrated, when people say that fly in the wall is better than flick of the switch I just can't understand But I still think that firing Mutt langue was a mistake

[@TheDukeOfPannekoeken]

Never liked Flick of the Switch so much but Fly on the wall was awesome and also my first ACDC record

[@vikingbrace]

I like the songs on Fly on the Wall, I’m just not a fan of the production. The album needs remastered big time. Thanks for watching!

[@TheDukeOfPannekoeken]

@@vikingbrace agree!

[@randomspew6142]

Landslide is the best song on the album.

[@embryon1111]

Hey - great review!! I'll 100% disagree with it being comparable to FTATR though. FTATR had some true gems. Flick of the Switch is a hard, heavy, no frills bone cruncher. Very raw.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks! That’s a good description of Flick of the Switch in your comment 👍

[@LairoftheAlchemist]

Glad to see this album getting some love...I did a video on my channel about it called "in Defense Of.." check it out if you have time. For me this is the last 10/10 AC/DC album.

[@vikingbrace]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it. I went and watched your video. We seem to be in total agreement lol. You did a great job. I subscribed 🤘🏻

[@AdamSandaver]

Never knew George Bush Junior was an Acadaca fan, cool...

[@Zephy_Rr]

Guns for Hire was the hit on this album. It is a classic album. The songs are great, the production is better than Fly on the Wall--which is just as good an album, but bad production. I was looking forward to this album when I was 12 years old, and I will always have the "expectation bias" regarding this album. Boiler plate lyrics, but great AC-DC riffs. If you look back to Let There Be Rock or early albums, they changed their style a bit after For Those, and the songs had more power chords. Straight belting from the Newcastle Ripper and no fluff.

[@vikingbrace]

I agree about Fly. I originally had that on cassette and then cd. I recently bought a copy on vinyl hoping it would sound better but it still really suffers from bad production. Such a shame because there are some great songs on there. The production on Flick of the Switch is miles above Fly on the Wall imo. Thanks for watching!

[@sallyganonn1955]

But for a remix, it'd be much much more highly regarded.

[@vikingbrace]

I wonder if that will happen 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@94xjrgodown2]

I think that the record company fucked up. Side 2 should have been Side 1. If Guns for Hire was the first thing people in the mainstream heard it would be have so much more well received initially. No coincidence they opened up with Guns for hire on the Flick of the Switch tour in 1983. Definitely Brian's "Let there Be Rock' album. Next time listen to side 2 first and you will hear what I mean.

[@vikingbrace]

I never thought about it until a couple of people on here have mentioned it now but it really would have been good to open up the album with “Guns For Hire” or maybe the title track. I love “Rising Power “ but it probably isn’t the best opener. I’d be fine switching side two for side one except imo “Deep in the Hole “ wouldn’t be a good choice for being the second track. But I just pretty much think it’s a strong album from top to bottom. I like the “Let There Be Rock” remark.

[@johng.7560]

Best Brian Johnson era album after 'Back in Black'. After Flick they really went down hill fast. Even Razors Edge is not as complete of an album. Bedlam in Belgium and Landslide are best.

[@vikingbrace]

I feel like they still had great songs after this but like you said never had another complete album. But I also feel Bon Scott era usually had some throwaway songs on most albums too. Thanks for watching

[@trencher7]

Flick is a great album. My only complaint is Rising Power isn't the best opener. Guns for Hire would have been better. I would say Flick and even Fly on the Wall are easily as good or better than anything that followed.

[@vikingbrace]

I really like Rising Power but Guns for Hire would be a good opener. I also feel this one is better than any of the albums afterwards.

[@CarlosGuzman-vi9xw]

It was good enough for Iron Man 2, so agreed.

[@CBCDs]

FLICK looks an awful lot like a four letter word... just sayin

[@vikingbrace]

Especially in all capitals letters 😂. True!