November 23, 1981 - For Those About To Rock and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

 16 days since my last release and 16 months after "Back In Black" AC/DC released their eighth album "For Those About To Rock" on November 23, 1981, of which I have only the title track. This was their follow-up to their last hugely successful album and it was actually their first #1 album that they would receive. Once again, I think these guys are mostly overrated but I do have the title track which turned out to be another classic rock anthem. "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" sums up everything AC/DC are about as Angus Young starts the song with some nice slow guitar and Malcolm Young plays an even slower rhythm guitar. Brian Johnson comes in with a big "ooooo yeah yeah!" before they move into the slow and simple verse. The guitar isn't anything flashy but it's an epic slow riff and Johnson's high vocals sound pretty good. The chorus is just the name of the song sung over and over, which I'm sure makes for a great feel during live shows, but it's a largely unentertaining chorus. They play another short verse, followed by a longer chorus before it's time Angus's first guitar solo. He plays a solid solo but I don't think it's anything special and it leads right into another verse. Johnson's last line of the verse is "for the 21 gun salute" and for the rest of the song whenever Johnson says "fire!" we hear a blast from a cannon that adds to the epicness of the song. They have fun with it in the chorus and it carries over into another solo as Angus plays some pretty good guitar with the cannons going off in the background. Johnson screams his head off near the end and after a final "we salute you" they end it with a rock and roll flourish with the cannons firing and bring this cool song to a close. I liked this song for sure, I just don't think it was spectacular or amazing. What it is is my final release of 1981, and so begins the year-end wrap-up! Only six new studio albums this year is a big drop from recent years, but there has been a big drop in quality music since this new decade began. I will therefore only do a top 3 this year, but there was still some excellent music for sure!

Favourite song of the year: Rush win the title of song of the year once again in my opinion, this year with another amazing instrumental, "YYZ". The studio version is jaw-dropping by itself, but the live version off "Exit... Stage Left" is even better with the drum solo in the middle. 

Top 3 Albums of the Year

1. Moving Pictures by Rush
2. Killers by Iron Maiden
3. Diary Of A Madman by Ozzy Osbourne

Rush top the list once again and continue to be the best band around lately, but these guys Iron Maiden keep improving and I think will be on these lists all decade long!

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