The 10 songs that AC/DC’s Brian Johnson named as his favorites
AC/DC has been turning the music world upside down with every album it has released in the last 50 years. Every album was a success. One of the indispensable parts of this success is the lead singer of the band. Brian Johnson named his favorite songs.
AC/DC, one of the best rock and roll bands on all continents, began their journey in Australia. Brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young, originally from Scotland, formed AC/DC in 1973 under the leadership of their older brother George Young.
Dave Evans is AC/DC’s first frontman. He left the band after a short time and was replaced by Bon Scott, the band’s second frontman.
Bon Scott was a rock star who lived the culture of sex, drugs and rock and roll. He was known for his fondness for women and alcohol, but this did not affect his performance on stage, on the contrary, Scott played a major role in the success of AC/DC. Unfortunately, Scott died of alcohol poisoning on February 19, 1980, when he was only 33 years old.
When did Brian Johnson join AC/DC?
Brian Johnson was born on October 5, 1947 in Dunston, Newcastle. He joined AC/DC in 1980 and replaced Bonn Scott, the band’s second frontman.
Before joining AC/DC, Brian Johnson was one of the the founding members of the glam rock band Geordie. After a few hit singles, including UK Top 10 All Because of You, the band split up in 1978.
Brian Johnson’s favorite songs
In the show “Tracks Of My Years” Brian Johnson has named his favorite songs that have had a significant impact on his life.
Here are Brian Johnson’s favorite songs:
- Tutti Frutti by Little Richard
- Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
- Paranoid by Black Sabbath
- The Rolling Stones‘ Jumpin‘ Jack Flash
- Rock And Roll by Led Zeppelin
- Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley
- Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh
- Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
- In Dreams by Roy Orbison
- Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina Turner
1. Tutti Frutti by Little Richard
The first song he named was Tutti Frutti by Little Richard. Brian Johnson first heard the song when he was a little boy on television. Little Richard had an appearance on BBC.
Johnson said on the TV show Tracks Of My Years:
“And there it was, the song. I was very nervous. It was probably one of the most important songs I’ve ever heard. It was great. (…) I just wanted to go outside and sing the song really loud.”
Little Richard’s biggest hit was born out of anger. How? During recording sessions in September 1955, the artist was upset that the energy of his live performances couldn’t quite be captured on tape, so he sat down angrily at the piano. “Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom,” he shouts, furiously pounding the keys. Producer Robert Blackwell wants to record the piece immediately.
Clik the play button and listen to Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti while reading the rest of the article!
2. Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Born to Be Wild was one of the eleven tracks for the band’s first LP under the title Steppenwolf, produced by Gabriel Mekler. It was made in September 1967 with a recording time of four days. To record the song, a restaurant was converted into a recording studio on an eight-track tape recorder was used.
The song was easy to play and many fans liked it. That’s why Jonhson decided to learn the song and perform it on stage.
3. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Paranoid by Black Sabbath was released in 1970. Between 1967 and the 70s, there was an explosion of all kinds of new bands and styles in rock music. Glam rock, for example, was born in this explosion. If you are interested in glam rock, you should definitely check out our article best glam rock bands of the 70s.
While The Beatles ventured from the more staid beat to psychedelic concept albums, The Who worked with more and more elaborate instrumentation and song forms. King Crimson went in a similar direction, creating what would later be called progressive rock. Led Zeppelin wrote heavier hard rock songs. Paranoid by Balck Sabbath has similar characteristics.
4. The Rolling Stones‘ Jumpin‘ Jack Flash
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones. It was released as a single in 1968 and later included on their album “Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)”.
The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the primary songwriting duo of the Rolling Stones. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is considered one of the band’s signature songs and has remained a staple of their live performances. The lyrics of the song are about a person named Jack Flash, who is described as a “jumpin’ jack” and is facing various challenges and obstacles in life.
5. Rock And Roll by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin a British classic rock band. The group was formed in 1968 by Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (keyboards/bass) and John Bonham. Led Zeppelin are considered one of the iconic rock groups of the 1970s. After Bonham’s death in 1980, Led Zeppelin disbanded.
Rock And Roll by Led Zeppelin was released as the second track from their fourth studio album, “Led Zeppelin IV,” in 1971. The song was written by all four members of Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham.
“Rock and Roll” is a high-energy rock anthem that shows the band’s signature sound and style. It is te perfect rock song for people who love heavy guitar riffs, and powerful vocals.
6. Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley
The next song on our list of Brina Johnson’s favorite songs is “Jailhouse Rock”. It is an unforgetable classic rock and roll song by Elvis Presley. “Jailhouse Rock” was released in 1957.
Jailhouse Rock was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two renowned songwriters of the era. The lyrics of “Jailhouse Rock” tell the story of a prisoner who becomes a sensation with his dancing skills while incarcerated. The song quickly became a chart-topping hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Let us remember this hit that was #1 on the US pop charts for seven weeks:
7. Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh (Joseph Fidler) was born on November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas. He is an American rock guitarist. He has been a member of the Eagles since 1976.
In 1971, Walsh launched a solo career. His first solo works, 1972’s Barnstorm and its 1973 follow-up The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get solidified his status as a rock musician.
Rocky Mountain Way is one of Brian Johnson’s favorite songs. It is a well-known rock song by American musician Joe Walsh. Rocky Mountain Way was released as a single in 1973 and later included on Joe Walsh’s album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.
The song was written by Joe Walsh, along with his bandmates Joe Vitale, Kenny Passarelli, and Rocke Grace.
Rocky Mountain Way icludes a distinctive guitar riff that serves as the song’s signature hook. The lyrics of the song describe the experience of living in the Rocky Mountains and the sense of freedom and independence it brings.
8. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
In 1977, Dire Straits was formed by two brothers Mark and David Knopfler.
Already in the founding year Knopfler sent a demo to the BBC with the hope that the songs would be played on the radio. There was good news for the band. The songs were played on the radio after a short time. Shortly after came the first record deal.
“Sultans of Swing” is a classic rock song by the band Dire Straits. It was released as the debut single by Dire Straits in 1978 and later included on their self-titled debut album, “Dire Straits.”
The song was written by the band’s frontman and lead guitarist, Mark Knopfler. “Sultans of Swing” is characterized by its infectious guitar riff, and a blend of rock, blues, and jazz influences. The lyrics of the song depict a group of musicians playing in a jazz band and their struggles to find success in the music industry.
9. In Dreams by Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison (Roy Kelton Orbison) was born on April 23, 1936. He was an American singer and songwriter. Ballads and his operatic voice were his strong points. These qualities earned him the nickname “Caruso of Rock”. His biggest hit was “Oh, Pretty Woman.” This song surde written by Orbison and Bill Dees . Other world hits included “Only The Lonely” (1960). “Running Scared” and “Crying.”
“In Dreams” is a classic pop ballad by American singer-songwriter Roy Orbison. It was Released in 1963.
“In Dreams” was written by Roy Orbison himself and produced by Fred Foster. The song became a hit for Orbison, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
10. Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina Turner
Tina Turner wanted to be an actress or a singer when she was a child, and she wanted to get away from the dreary everyday life in her hometown of Nutbush in the south of the USA. However, she later realized that she would remain forever connected to this place.
The first song she ever wrote and composed is about her memories of life in this place.
When Tina Turner released the song in 1973, together with her then husband Ike, the two had already been successful as a duo for 13 years. The song is one of the most famous songs of the two.
