AC/DC: “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” (1982)

[Kronomyth 9.2]
Seven-Inch Salute.

For my money, this has one of the coolest intros in all of the AC/DC canon. The opening always reminds me of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” in the way the drums change the song’s dynamic by playing a completely different rhythm than the guitar. Say what you will about producer Mutt Lange, he had a knack for getting the maximum effect from the band’s minimalist approach. Depending on which side of the Atlantic you were on, you got a live version of “Let There Be Rock” or “T.N.T.” from their 1981 tour on the flip side. I haven’t heard the live version of “Let There Be Rock” (in either its edited or full-length versions), but the live version of “T.N.T.” didn’t blow me away. Brian Johnson’s voice is harsh even on a good day, and I prefer bonnie old AC/DC on stage. Of minor interest, the US promotional single featured an edited version of the song, but the album version appeared on the official US single.

Original 7-inch single (European version)
A1. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Brian Johnson)
B1. Let There Be Rock (recorded live – Dec. 1981) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Bon Scott)

Original 7-inch single (US version)
A1. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Brian Johnson) (5:42)
B1. T.N.T. (live version) (3:57)

Original 7-inch promo single (US version)
A1. For Those About To Rock (long version) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Brian Johnson) (5:42)
B1. For Those About To Rock (edited version) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Brian Johnson) (3:50)

Original 12-inch single version
A1. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Brian Johnson)
B1. Let There Be Rock (full-length live version) (Angus Young/Malcom Young/Bon Scott) (11:30)

The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single and three-track 12-inch single in June 1982 in the UK (Atlantic, K 11721/T), the US (Atlantic, 4029), Germany (Atlantic, ATLK 20276) and the Netherlands (Atlantic, ATL 11721) with picture sleeve; reached #15 on the UK charts (charted on July 3, 1982 for 6 weeks). Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1982 in the US (Atlantic, 4029) and Canada (Atlantic, PRO 4029) feat. A long and edited versions.

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