AC/DC Let There Be Rock - Classic Album Reviews from Now Spinning Magazine

AC/DC: Let There Be Rock: 1977
Technically this is one of my Classic Album Reviews this time looking at Let There Be Rock by AC/DC.
However, what I have tried to do is go back to the very first time I heard the album and share my personal reaction and memories of the time with you.
This includes a story of what happened when Whole Lotta Rosie came on the car stereo on the way home from the pub with my mates!
Air guitars are optional :)
Phil Aston
Now Spinning Magazine
www.nowspinning.co.uk
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#AC/DC

[@alibobsmarland9572]

One of my top five albums of all time. Fantastic raw sound. And the first band I ever saw live on the Powerage tour back in 78. Loved all the Bon albums.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil :)

[@michaeltrikeriotis2728]

What a great review, Phil! You absolutely nailed it spot on. First time I’m watching you. I’m hooked after this classic. Thanks

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Michael, thank you for watching and welcome to my channel, great to have you here. My favourite AC/DC album is actually Powerage but I felt I had to start with this one as it was the first album I heard from them. So pleased you enjoyed it - Phil :)

[@moonbananababy6870]

I had this album for Christmas way back, think i was about 13 loved it then love it now, i put on side 2 first with out realising still remember that on Christmas morning, the memories of certain albums

[@stratpack9591]

Brilliant story and review Phil.👍 I love the Mutt Lange albums too but the early albums with that raw production just can't be beat for energy.💥

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, Thank you for watching. So pleased you liked it - Phil

[@SJHUE]

Great review! I caught this album some years later and loved it but wish as you did I`d discovered it when it first came out. `Overdose` has an incredible riff! Brilliant story about your mates and `Whole Lotta Rosie`! Nice one!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Sjhue, thank you for watching. I really enjoyed making this one. Powerage is actually my favourite AC/DC album and I will cover that next. Phil :)

[@WolvesInferno]

Really really enjoyed your review of this classic album, and I also loved your story of when you first heard this back in 1977. This AC/DC album is also one of my favorites. It's a 10/10 along with a few other albums for me. I also have the rare 2003 Epic Box with the albums/EPs from Jail Break to AC/DC Live. I was born a few years after this album came out.

[@LauraKnotek]

Great review, Phil. You hit the nail on the head regarding how much fun this album is.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Laura, thank you, I enjoyed making this one slot and was able to put myself back in the time when I first heard it. Music is like a time machine sometimes! Phil

[@millersriffrock2238]

Absolutely brilliant review, you nailed the excitement and rawness of this album exactly how I remember it, nothing sounds as good as this, especially if you want in your face raw guitar at volume, still play this album regularly and it still gets me, rock and roll at it's best 🤘⚡🤘

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi and welcome! Absolutely fabulous to meet someone who uses the word riffage in their name tag :) Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment and I am so pleased you liked the review. Phil :)

[@pgreed100]

Hi Phil, there are faint echoes of Kossoff in the solo on 'You Shook Me All Night Long'. Another great review. Immediately played 'Whole Lotta Rosie' to once again recapture the excitement you felt back in the late 70s.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Paul, thank you for watching. The Paul Kossoff connection is tenuous but I am pleased it is not just me! Hope you enjoy your trip back to 1977 - Phil :)

[@kcbry]

. In Has.. I Oh Greetings Phil, my name is Bryan I am from the Kansas City area in the states. I have been watching your videos for the last H couple months. I became with. Your channel by watching Pete Pardo and Martin Popoff on SEA of tranquility which I am a member. I just scribed to your channel tonight. I enjoy your reviews and the carbon appreciation we both have classic rock and roll. I bought let there be rock also as a teenager but a few years after you did though. I got all of my AC/DC in 1981 when I was 16. Let there be rock has power and energy like I have never heard before. On a personal note I am in a nursing home. I have MS and I can't use my arms or legs. I use my computer with verbal commands. So at least I can operate my iTunes by speaking to it and all of my music is on a 3 TB hard drive. I used to have a ton of physical albums and CDs that I had to sell them because obviously I can't use them anymore. Thanks for your reviews PHIL. Take care and keep rocking!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Bryan. thank you for your comment and for your kind offer to support me by being a KZbin member. I really appreciate this and you are helping me to do more videos. I am sorry to hear about your condition but I will do my best provide more content you enjoy. Take care and again thank you - Phil You can also contact me via the Now Spinning Magazine website.

[@richardsandals785]

Good review mate. You will, hopefully, get a lot more views on this most worthy review. So much of what you outline resonates with me (especially as a kid growing up in the 70s back in Tasmania).

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Richard, thank you for watching and for your encouraging comment. It feels slow but the channel is beginning to get a bit of traction now. I love doing these videos and finding out that rock fans and they way we discovered these classic albums is pretty mush the same world-wide. Phil :)

[@moodlefyful]

Excellent & entertaining show!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching. I am going to do more of these classic album reviews. I really enjoyed doing this one so I am very happy that others have enjoyed it as well. Phil :)

[@x51p]

There is a big difference between Dirty Deeds and Let There Be Rock. Dirty Deeds was a more lighter album. On LTBR, AC/DC really found their style. I remember watching Pete Townshend on a documentary about Marshall Amps. He said when AC/DC found their 'sound', it was perfect. They didn't need to change it from then on.

[@ironjawtx]

Just subscribed based on the passionate way you just summed up this masterpiece!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you - Phil :)

[@jasonmcloughlin5373]

Great review. A classic album.

[@jegarajramoo3873]

One interesting piece of rock music history: Ac/DC actually played at CBGB club in New York in 1977, the birth place of punk! And those who attended that gig thoroughly enjoyed that performance. I recall that even Tom Petty and heartbreakers were initially lumped together with the punk movement. This is because many new and exciting back to roots bands were performing at this time. Even Ian Dury and the blockheads were called punk, although they played an wonderful amalgam of jazz and funk. The years between 1976 and 1980 saw revolutionary changes in rock music.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jegaraj, thank you for sharing. You are so right. AC/DC were seen as Punk in the UK for a while and I also thought Ian Dury was part of the same movement due to the timing of the music appearing and the music press. Dr Feelgood also came under this even though they had been going for quite a while as a R&B Blues Band. Phil

[@kiwidude1250]

My older sister had the Dirty Deeds album so i loved ACDC but when i heard this album i had the same reaction as you..so great the power that music has 🤘🏻

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Kiwi, thank you for watching and finding this video. I must get around to doing the follow up looking at Powerage. Phil :)

[@RAFFxyz]

Greaaaaat ! Just subscribed, i'm a Ronald belford Scott fan from Italy, good video man❤️🎸

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching and I am so pleased you enjoy this video, it was great fun to make. I am going to cover Powerage in my next one in this series. Phil :)

[@johnmartinsmart]

Just finished watching this and as a previous comment said this review is spot on

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏 good to see this video is being found again! Phil :)

[@StevieBluenoseScott]

This takes me back to the Tommy Vance Friday Rock Show aired a live ACDC concert on my ghetto blaster which i taped . At night in my bedroom when i was a kid and hearing Let there Be Rock for the first time - mind blowing.

[@hookipaboy3412]

Mahalo Phil for another fantastic review!Great stories about your life in 77 and your breakdown of Let There Be Rock by AC/DC which I discovered in 79 thanks to my best friend Elroy Yamashiro who had all their music on cassette tape and when I heard Highway To Hell,I was blown away by the raw power of it all and you’re a great guitar 🎸 player my friend Aloha🤙🏽

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching and great to hear from you as usual! Thank you also for sharing your story it is wonderful to hear how similar our musical memories are regardless of where we are in the world. Your comment about my guitar playing is also very much appreciated! Have a great day - Phil :)

[@KevinStephens64]

Another brilliant video Phil, when I play AC/DC on my phone ( whilst shopping mind you ) I can’t help myself from doing air guitar 🎸.. Status Quo are another band that you really have a job not to rock out to, fantastic review.. All the best keep rocking on .

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Kevin, thank you very much and I am pleased you enjoyed the video. I must do a Status Quo review soon! Phil

[@LuchaLibertaria]

What a great review! It really makes you blast your speakers w AC/DC after watching this! I like how u added social and cultural context to this review, makes your channel stand out from similar channels. Keep up the good work, Phil! 👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Lucha, thank you for watching. I did really enjoy making this one. Phil :)

[@Baz63]

We also created cassette tapes for journeys to country pubs and the guys would groan as every cassette tape i made ended with Whiskey River by Budgie. Great days.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Barrie, great to here someone else did that. That pain point when you could not find a track that would not cut off at the end of the tape!

[@MrCrowie1]

My first taste of ACDC was seeing them on the BBC in 1977 Live at Golders Green. My brother then lent me LET THERE BE ROCK Lp. Been a fan ever since.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - i must do Powerage next! Phil

[@MrCrowie1]

My brother also see them at Tiffany's Gt Yarmouth 1977 and Vauhall holiday park 1978

[@johnmartinsmart]

My favourite album very lucky enough to have seen them with Bon

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@inspectorvol951]

First person I have ever seen or talked to who appreciates Overdose as much as I do. I don’t know what you call it from a music appreciation standpoint, but as the intro builds and you get the base riff going with the drums and it hits a few times and then something is added or taken away from the mix and it just intensified the riff right before Bon starts singing. Best part of the song imho.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching and your supportive comment. Overdose is the quintessential AC/DC track for me. My favourite album is actually Powerage which I will cover in a future video. Phil

[@BROU-bb2uc]

This was the first I heard AC/DC and I never looked back 🤘

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Chief, thank you for watching! That was the same for me - Phil :)

[@BROU-bb2uc]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I was blown away from the start.

[@roberts.4261]

What a great review.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching - so pleased you liked it - Phil

[@stephenbarrow3352]

Great memories of this album Phil. I don't actually own a copy anymore, lost somewhere in time. Do you know there is a book out in March called Denim and Leather, the story of NWOBHM. I have it on pre-order. Looking forward to that. Take care mate.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Stephen, thank you for watching. I am aware of the book Denim and Leather, I am actually in it! I do not know how much I am in it but I was interviewed for it a while ago! Phil

[@aleksl761]

One of my favourite bands and one of my favorite albums by them. I love the roughness of this album. They never repeated that again. Everything was a little more polished after Let There Be Rock. For me, the simplest design is the best design , and LTBR is all about that. I always listened to the release with Problem Child on Dirty Deeds, and Crabsody in Blue on LTBR. I feel awkward when I listen to Problem Child On LTBR. By the way, on the topic of mistakes they did not bother fixing, Problem Child on Dirty Deeds is a longer version, it has reprise coda. Maybe they simply forgot to stop, or maybe they forgot to edit , but they did not bother to fix it. One year later, they fixed it on LTBR. I never consider them as heavy metal, to me it is just pure rock. But enough about AC DC, I want to talk about the reviewer.I listened to (and read) many music critics/reviewers but I never quite experienced anything so close to my heart as your reviews. Nobody delivers it with such a passion and emotion as you do. Involving your own personal memories give it such flavor to your reviews. Absolutely amazing. Believe me or not your review almost made me cry. My wife keeps telling me that I did not grow up at all, “that I am still 18 years old”. I always respond: “Yeah, that is the whole point. That is my way to be 18 years old again”. And thank you for the quote “ music is the healer, music is the doctor” , very well said

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your memories! It is comments like yours that make me want to continue doing this! You have made my day. Thank you so much - Phil

[@flarpymcknicklenutz700]

Good dude.. good reviews.. subbed

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching, welcome aboard and thank you for subscribing! Phil

[@bareknuckles2u]

OMG, I love this video!😃

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching. That makes me very happy! Phil :)

[@backrowbrighton]

Good stuff Phil. I have to admit that my listening association with AC/DC did not start until the release of 'Back in Black' and I did not get into the Bon Scott era albums until around twenty years ago. This album is a landmark release in rock music and it really shook up the music scene.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Peter, thank you for watching. We all arrive at different times when it comes to music. For example 2021 was the year I finally got ELP! Phil :)

[@jackcarraway4707]

This was released in 1977, right around when the punk rock movement was gaining steam and I think AC/DC noticed. Ramones released their debut the previous year and both the Clash and Sex Pistols were about to release their debuts. LTBR has a fuzzier, cheaper feel to it.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jack, thank you for watching and sharing your memories of the time. Phil

[@clivesnowden4348]

Really enjoyed this video, Phil, and hearing about how you first discovered this music. Wasn't there a Sight & Sound in Concert around this time with AC/DC on one half of the programme and John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett on the other? It was the latter who impressed me most and, as a result, the first gig I ever attended was Otway & Barrett at Friars, Aylesbury in May '78. But you're absolutely right, back in '77 AC/DC were, I seem to remember, seen as a bunch of outsiders. Not punk rock exactly, but certainly not classic rock either. The 1970s.... such different times.... : ))

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Clive and thank you for watching and I am so pleased you enjoyed this video. I remember that Sight and Sound In Concert very well and John Otway! Great memories indeed! Phil :)

[@fy1755]

Brilliant album from a fantastic band

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching ! Phil

[@fy1755]

Am a 66 year old rock and metal fan l remember buying this album like it was yesterday it still stands up today for me one of the best rock albums ever made my god these boys could rock long live rock and roll

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - It's rock music that keeps us young at heart if not in body! Phil :)

[@fy1755]

@@NowSpinningMagazine oh yes my friend

[@jean-lucpernel2202]

👍 well done phil !!!!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jean - thank you very much - Phil :)

[@jean-lucpernel2202]

@@NowSpinningMagazine you're welcome my friend, i like your passion !!!

[@StevieBluenoseScott]

After seeing them on TOTP The first single i ever bought was Rock n Roll Damnation/Sin City ,the parent album Powerage is still my Favourite . The song ,from your album, Let There Be Rock is their masterpiece. Love the air guitar story 😆

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@briantatler]

I saw AC/DC at Birmingham Mayfair Suite in 1977, their were about 300 people there and AC/DC were absolutely brilliant, one of my favorite ever gigs.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Brian, thank you for watching and correcting my statistical error on the Mayfair gig. Obviously my mate who told me that back then had not wanted me to feel I had missed out when I asked about it! Thank you for sharing your story about the gig, it must have been fantastic, I am very jealous! Phil :)

[@briantatler]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi Phil, Let The Be Rock is my favorite AC/DC album, every track is a winner. I think the ticket cost me and my friend Duncan £1.75 each. We were so close to Angus at the front of the stage that we had to watch out for flying snot.

[@PhilipJSmithNov1990]

I've got all AC/DC albums Black Ice on CD and a digital box set on iTunes with Rock or Bust Power Up also downlaoded.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Philip, thank you for watching, really please you enjoyed the video. That sounds like a great AC/DC collection you have! - Phil :)

[@PhilipJSmithNov1990]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I haven't got TNT but I have High Voltage (International). High Voltage (International) and TNT have some of the same tracks.

[@stanferraro4130]

Hey Phil, It is cool to hear about your past and what it was like in the U.K. back in '77. I was turning 21 and was a big prog. rock snob (Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, Camel, PFM, Genesis VDGG etc.) so I found "mainstream" rock to be a bit predictable and boring. But over the decades I've learned to love and appreciate bands like AC/DC(and many others). It is great to see younger generation kids that are listening to the classic stuff, "long live R&R", great review , as always, Cheers

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Stan, thank you for watching as I reached my late 20s I fell in love with all the bands you mention in your comment. There are so many albums and bands I want to cover here! Phil :)

[@Baz63]

At last someone else who thinks this was the band's magnum opus. I have often been derided for suggesting that this record stands head and shoulders above the rest of the band's discography (although Powerage was a good follow-up) After Mutt Lange got his hands on Highway To Hell Ac/Dc descended into power pop / rock with the emphasis on pop. Yes there were some excellent tracks thereafter but even Back In Black pales against this mighty album. Managed to see the band a few times with Bon Scott at the Hammy Odeon with Angus on his shoulders arriving at the stage from the back of the stalls. Great times...many thanks yet again Phil. BTW we are the same age so not surprising we have similar tastes in music....maybe?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Barrie, thank you for watching and for sharing your story. I also agree with the Mutt Lange observation, some of the rawness vanished at that point. The start of Overdose would have been very different if Mutt had been involved. Phil

[@iancocks9408]

I don’t agree with you, I think the first two Lange albums are brilliant, and so is let there be rock.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

That’s ok, we all experience music differently and every AC/DC album is special. This video was my personal story to the being a fan of the band. Phil

[@chriswright5016]

Excellent passionate review Phil. I always wonder what the band's trajectory would have been if Bon had lived. They'd started to gain a lot of popularity in America by the time that Highway To Hell was released, but would they have reached the level of fame they have ultimately enjoyed? We will never know of course.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Chris, thank you for watching and your support. As you say we will never know. Let There Be Rock is probably at number 3 in my favourite AC/DC albums list. Powerage is at number 1 and Back In Black at number 2. I found it easier to start with this album as it was the first AC/DC album I bought. Phil

[@bobby666666]

After hearing the live version of Whole Lotta Rosie, the studio version doesn't sound right without the Angus chants. I have spare room and can't hardly get in due to the number of air guitars taking up the space.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Robert, thank you for watching! Yes, the live version is fabulous. Air guitars can take up a lot of space when you add in the air amps and pedals! Phil

[@iancocks9408]

One of their best albums. I love all the bon albums too, the aust versions I grew up with. They really dropped off a bit in quality after back in black to me. When their singles were great but not really whole albums.

[@Nick-qf7vt]

This album has grown on me. Wasn't crazy about it at first (and I still prefer Powerage) but I've come to love it. Still think Go Down isn't a great opener though. To me, AC/DC are the perfect rock band. Not the Beatles, not the Stones, not Zeppelin, these guys. (Stooges, Riot and Motörhead are close behind)

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Nick, thank you for watching. Powerage is my all time favourite AC/DC album but I felt I had to start with the one heard first! Phil :)