Editing Highway to Hell

{{Short description|1979 studio album by AC/DC}}
{{About|the album|the song|Highway to Hell (song)|other uses}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Highway to Hell
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[AC/DC]]
| cover        = Acdc Highway to Hell.JPG
| alt          = 
| released     = {{Start date|1979|07|27|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=BPI certifications for AC/DC}}</ref>
| recorded     = 24 March – 14 April 1979
| studio       = [[Roundhouse Recording Studios|Roundhouse]] (London)
| genre        =
* [[Hard rock]]
* [[blues rock]]<ref name="RS"/>
| length       = 41:38
| label        =
* [[Albert Productions|Albert]]
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| producer     = [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]]
| prev_title   = [[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]
| prev_year    = 1978
| next_title   = [[Back in Black]]
| next_year    = 1980
| misc         = {{Extra album cover
 | header  = Alternative cover art
 | type    = studio
 | cover   = ACDC Highway To Hell AUS.jpg
 | border  =
 | alt     =
 | caption = Original Australian cover
}}
 {{Singles
 | name        = Highway to Hell
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Highway to Hell (song)|Highway to Hell]]
 | single1date = 27 July 1979
 | single2     = [[Girls Got Rhythm]]
 | single2date = 2 November 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-11-03.pdf|title=Music Week|page=37}}</ref>
 | single3     = [[Touch Too Much]]
 | single3date = 25 January 1980 (UK)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-01-19.pdf|title=Music Week|page=18}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''''Highway to Hell''''' is the sixth studio album by Australian [[hard rock]] band [[AC/DC]], released on 27 July 1979, by [[Albert Productions]] and [[Atlantic Records]]. It is the first of three albums produced by [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]], and is the last album featuring lead singer [[Bon Scott]], who died on 19 February 1980.

==Background==
By 1978, AC/DC had released five albums internationally and had toured Australia and Europe extensively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tour History 1973-2016 |url=https://ac-dc.net/archive/acdc_tour_history.php |website=ac-dc.net |access-date=17 Aug 2022 |archive-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624092423/https://ac-dc.net/archive/acdc_tour_history.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1977, they landed in America and, with virtually no radio support, began to amass a live following. The band's most recent album, the live ''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It|If You Want Blood]]'', had reached number 13 in the United Kingdom, and the two albums previous to that, 1977's ''[[Let There Be Rock]]'' and 1978's ''[[Powerage]]'', had seen the band find their raging, blues-based hard rock sound. Although the American branch of [[Atlantic Records]] had rejected the group's 1976 LP ''[[Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap]]'', it now believed the band was poised to strike it big in the States if only they would work with a producer who could give them a radio-friendly sound.<ref name="wall">{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Mick |title=AC/DC: Back In Black & For Those About To Rock We Salute You |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-final-salute-back-in-black-for-those-about-to-rock-we-salute-you |website=loudersound |access-date=17 Aug 2022 |date=15 April 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918073340/https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-final-salute-back-in-black-for-those-about-to-rock-we-salute-you |url-status=live }}</ref> Since their 1975 Australian debut ''[[High Voltage (1975 album)|High Voltage]]'', all of AC/DC's albums had been produced by [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]] and [[Harry Vanda]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=George Young, Easybeats Guitarist and AC/DC Producer, Dead at 70 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-young-easybeats-guitarist-and-ac-dc-producer-dead-at-70-125168/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405150546/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-young-easybeats-guitarist-and-ac-dc-producer-dead-at-70-125168/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the book ''AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll'', the band was not enthusiastic about the idea, especially guitarists [[Angus Young]] and [[Malcolm Young]], who felt a strong sense of loyalty to their older brother George:
{{blockquote|Being told what to do was bad enough but what really pissed off Malcolm and Angus was they felt that George was being treated disrespectfully by Atlantic, like an amateur with no great track record when it came to production{{nbsp}}... Malcolm seemed less pleased with the situation and went so far as to tell Radio 2JJ in [[Sydney]] that the band had been virtually "forced" to go with an outside producer. Losing Harry was one thing. Losing George was almost literally like losing a sixth member of the band, and much more.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Engleheart |first1=Murray |title=AC/DC : maximum rock & roll |date=2008 |location=New York |isbn=9780061133923 |page=257}}</ref>}}

The producer Atlantic paired the band with was [[South Africa]]n-born [[Eddie Kramer]], best known for his pioneering work as engineer for [[Jimi Hendrix]] but also for mega-bands [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]. Kramer met the band at [[Criteria Studios]] in [[Miami, Florida]] but, by all accounts, they did not get on.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Mick |title=AC/DC: The Making Of Highway To Hell |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-making-of-highway-to-hell |website=loudersound |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=27 March 2019 |archive-date=26 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326205341/https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-making-of-highway-to-hell |url-status=live }}</ref> Geoff Barton quotes Malcolm Young in ''Guitar Legends'' magazine: "Kramer was a bit of a prat. He looked at Bon and said to us, 'Can your guy sing?' He might've sat behind the knobs for Hendrix, but he's certainly not Hendrix, I can tell you that much." Former AC/DC manager Michael Browning recalls in the 1994 book ''Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott'', "I got a phone call from Malcolm in Florida, to say, 'This guy's hopeless, do something, he's trying to talk us into recording that [[Spencer Davis]] song,' '[[Gimme Some Lovin']],' '[[I'm a Man (The Spencer Davis Group song)|I'm a Man]],' whatever it was."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Polcaro |first1=Rafael |title=Why AC/DC chose not to have Eddie Kramer as Highway To Hell producer |url=http://rockandrollgarage.com/why-ac-dc-chose-not-to-have-eddie-kramer-as-highway-to-hell-producer/ |website=Rock And Roll Garage |date=31 January 2022 |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=1 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201082942/http://rockandrollgarage.com/why-ac-dc-chose-not-to-have-eddie-kramer-as-highway-to-hell-producer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Browning turned to [[Zambia]]n-born producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange to step in. Lange was best known for producing the [[Boomtown Rats]] number-one hit "[[Rat Trap]]"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=Daniel |title=5 tracks producers need to hear by… Mutt Lange |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/5-tracks-producers-need-to-hear-by-mutt-lange |website=MusicRadar |language=en |date=18 December 2020 |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925233609/https://www.musicradar.com/news/5-tracks-producers-need-to-hear-by-mutt-lange |url-status=live }}</ref> and post-pub rock bands like [[Clover (band)|Clover]],<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.cloverband.net/history |website=Clover |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818010648/https://www.cloverband.net/history |url-status=live }}</ref> [[City Boy (band)|City Boy]],<ref>{{cite web |title=City Boy |url=https://renaissancerecordsus.com/city-boy/ |website=renaissancerecordsus.com |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818010648/https://renaissancerecordsus.com/city-boy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Graham Parker]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Graham Parker & the Rumour, Graham Parker - Heat Treatment Album Reviews, Songs & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/heat-treatment-mw0000207267 |website=allmusic |access-date=18 August 2022 |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422163303/https://www.allmusic.com/album/heat-treatment-mw0000207267 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1979, singer Bon Scott told ''[[Rock Australia Magazine]]'', "Three weeks in Miami and we hadn't written a thing with Kramer. So one day we told him we were going to have a day off and not to bother coming in. This was Saturday, and we snuck into the studio and on that one day we put down six songs, sent the tape to Lange and said, 'Will you work with us?'" The band had also signed up with new management, firing Michael Browning and hiring [[Peter Mensch]], an aggressive American who had helped develop the careers of [[Aerosmith]] and [[Ted Nugent]].<ref name="wall"/>

==Recording==
With "Mutt" Lange in place as producer, recording commenced at the [[Roundhouse Recording Studios]] in [[Chalk Farm]], north London on 24 March 1979,{{sfn|Bonomo|2010|p=39}} and ended on 14 April.{{sfn|Bonomo|2010|p=67}} Clinton Walker described this process in his book ''Highway to Hell''. The band had spent about three months at Roundhouse Studio, constantly working on the album. They worked for fifteen hours a day, usually for days on end, working on and reworking the songs within the album. This process was a culture shock to the band, who had grown used to spending about three weeks or so on an album, not the exhausting three-month period they spent on Highway to Hell.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In spite of this, Lange's process was appreciated by the band, who had a similarly solid work ethic, themselves. Brothers Malcolm and Angus Young later went on to describe Lange's contributions to the band in an article in ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' by Sylvie Simmons. Lange was able to refine the tracks for the band, ensuring that sound, guitar, drums, and even vocals were up to par with both his and the band's expectations.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Tour manager Ian Jeffery, who was present during recordings, recalled the many changes Lange had put the band through, such as during a particular recording session that led to an argument between Bon Scott and Lange. Lange had advised Scott to control his breathing during the recording of "If You Want Blood," leading Scott to demand that he do the technique himself. Lange was able to do it without complication, much to the shock of those in the room. Soon after, the band became receptive to Lange's instruction.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Mick Wall |date=2013-11-06 |title=AC/DC: The Making Of Highway To Hell |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-making-of-highway-to-hell |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=louder |language=en}}</ref>

In ''AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll'', Arnaud Durieux writes that Lange, a trained singer, showed Scott how to breathe so he could be a technically better singer on songs like "[[Touch Too Much]]" and would join in on background vocals himself, having to stand on the other side of the studio because his own voice was so distinctive. The melodic backing vocals were a new element to the band's sound, but the polish Lange added did not detract from the band's characteristic crunch, thereby satisfying both the band and Atlantic Records at the same time.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

Lange also taught Angus some useful lessons, instructing him to play his solos while sitting next to the producer. Jeffrey recalled an instance where he sat down with the lead guitarist to show him how he wanted him to play. While Angus initially reacted with hostility, he sat down with Lange, who instructed him by pointing toward notes on the fretboard. These notes turned out to be the solo from "Highway to Hell." Moments like these stood out as significant to the band. Lange didn't ask them to do the impossible, nor tell them their past process was incorrect. He heightened their process further, shaping the album into what it came to be.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

==Tracks==
The album's most famous song is the title track. From the outset, Atlantic Records hated the idea of using the song as the album title, with Angus later telling ''[[Guitar World]]'''s Alan Di Perna that, despite backlash, the name is meant to depict the experience of touring for the band.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Alan di Perna |date=2008-02-06 |title=AC/DC: Hard as a Rock |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/acdc-hard-rock |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}</ref>

In a 2003 interview with Bill Crandall of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Angus further recalled the genesis of the song. Residing in Miami at the time, Angus and his brother Malcolm played the guitar intro and drum beat to "[[Highway to Hell (song)|Highway to Hell]]" while playing in a rehearsal studio. They recorded this initial intro and beat on a cassette tape. Which was then taken by a man in the studio with the two, who gave the cassette to his child, who then proceeded to unravel the tape. Bon Scott was then able to later repair the broken cassette for further use.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Crandall |first=Bill |date=2003-02-28 |title=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2003: AC/DC |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-2003-ac-dc-175551/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

"[[Highway to Hell (song)|Highway to Hell]]" quickly took on a life of its own just after the death of Bon Scott in 1980. Just months after the album was first released to the public, Scott was found dead in his car, apparently having drunk himself to death. Scott's death gave a new perspective to the lyrics of the album's title song, becoming more a representation of his life up to mortem. His literal "Highway to Hell." They show the carefree attitude when it comes to Scott's lifestyle, his so-called "fierce independence," and the company he kept during his hectic lifestyle. It is a physical manifestation of everything the singer stood for, making the song seem all the more alive, as Scott embraces his fate with enthusiasm.<ref>{{Citation |title=Highway to Hell - AC/DC {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/highway-to-hell-mt0002733049 |access-date=2024-10-11 |language=en}}</ref>

Scott's lyrics on ''Highway to Hell'' deal almost exclusively with lust ("Love Hungry Man", "[[Girls Got Rhythm]]"), sex ("Beating Around the Bush", "Touch Too Much", "Walk All Over You"), and partying on the town ("Get It Hot", "Shot Down in Flames").  In his 2006 band memoir, Murray Engelheart reveals that Scott felt the lyrics of songs like "Gone Shootin'" from the preceding ''[[Powerage]]'' were "simply too serious."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Engleheart |first1=Murray |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm77535806 |title=AC/DC: maximum rock & roll |last2=Durieux |first2=Arnaud |date=2006 |publisher=HarperEntertainment |isbn=978-0-06-113391-6 |edition=1st U.S. |location=New York, NY |oclc=ocm77535806}}</ref>

"Touch Too Much" had been first recorded in July 1977, with a radically different arrangement and lyrics from its ''Highway to Hell'' incarnation.{{cn|date=July 2022}} The final version was performed by Scott and AC/DC on the [[BBC]] music show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' a few days before the singer's death in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewrypublished |first=Fraser |date=2024-02-06 |title="He looked as fit as a butcher's dog": Watch Bon Scott's surreal final UK appearance with AC/DC |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/acdc-touch-too-much-totp |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=louder |language=en}}</ref> The song "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" borrowed the title of the band's live album from the previous year and stemmed from Scott's response to a journalist at the [[Day on the Green]] festival in July 1978: when asked what they could expect from the band, Scott replied, "Blood".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Engleheart |first1=Murray |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm77535806 |title=AC/DC: maximum rock & roll |last2=Durieux |first2=Arnaud |date=2006 |publisher=HarperEntertainment |isbn=978-0-06-113391-6 |edition=1st U.S. |location=New York, NY |oclc=ocm77535806}}</ref>

The opening guitar riff of "Beating Around the Bush" has been referred to by journalist Phil Sutcliffe as "almost a tribute{{nbsp}}... a reflection, I hesitate to say a copy" of "[[Oh Well (song)|Oh Well]]" by [[Fleetwood Mac]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irv_HcntKKo&t=96| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202031459/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irv_HcntKKo&t=96| archive-date=2017-02-02 | url-status=dead|title=ACDC - Highway To Hell. A Classic Album Under Review (Part 6 of 8)|date=15 February 2013|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/b19PcuJsQbA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130614051055/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b19PcuJsQbA&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b19PcuJsQbA|title=Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well (Part 1 & 2)|date=23 July 2012 |accessdate=18 April 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1vdgGC4qrI&t=7| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024749/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1vdgGC4qrI&t=7| archive-date=2017-02-02 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>

Asked in 1998, "What's the worst record you've ever made?", Angus replied: "There's a song on ''Highway to Hell'' called 'Love Hungry Man' which I must have written after a night of bad pizza – you can blame me for that."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Sheppard|title=Famous last words: Angus Young|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] #137|date=February 1998|page=178}}</ref>

"[[Night Prowler (song)|Night Prowler]]," the album's outro song, has gained a degree of infamy over the years, due to an alleged association with Los Angeles serial killer [[Richard Ramirez]]. Coined the "Night Stalker" by the media, Ramirez is accredited to a series of brutal murders, rapes, and attempted murders taking place from 1984 to 1985, and a claimed fan of AC/DC. Ramirez left behind an AC/DC hat at the scene of a murder, and according to friends of Ramirez, he had a particular love for the album and the song "Night Prowler." Ramirez himself never confirmed such an association. This alleged connection brought bad publicity to AC/DC, whose ensuing concerts and albums faced protests by parents and the general public.<ref>{{cite web |title=AC/DC The Case of the Night Stalker |url=http://www.crabsodyinblue.com/acdcnightstalker.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503063159/http://www.crabsodyinblue.com/acdcnightstalker.htm |archive-date=3 May 2010 |access-date=25 May 2010 |publisher=Crabsody in Blue}}</ref> Despite backlash, the band had stated the song was given a murderous connotation by Ramirez's crimes, revealing on an episode of [[VH1|VH1's]] ''[[Behind the Music]]'' about AC/DC that the song was actually about a boy sneaking into his girlfriends bedroom at night while her parents are asleep, despite lyrics such as, "And you don't feel the steel, till it's hanging out your back."<ref>{{cite web |date=1 September 2007 |title=Metal made me do it |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/magazine/article/metal-made-me-do-it/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417072311/http://www.revolvermag.com/magazine/article/metal-made-me-do-it/ |archive-date=17 April 2010 |access-date=25 May 2010 |work=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]}}</ref>

==Release==
''Highway to Hell'' was originally released on 27 July 1979 by [[Albert Productions]], who licensed the album to [[Atlantic Records]] for release outside of Australia, and it was re-released by [[Epic Records]] in 2003 as part of the ''AC/DC Remasters'' series. In Australia, the album was originally released with a slightly different album cover, featuring flames and a drawing of a bass guitar neck superimposed over the same photo of the band used on the international cover; also, the AC/DC logo is a darker shade of maroon, but the accents are a bit lighter. The [[East Germany|East German]] release had different and much plainer designs for the front and back of the album, apparently because the authorities were not happy with the sleeve as released elsewhere.

"[[Highway to Hell (song)|Highway to Hell]]" is featured in the 2003 film ''[[Final Destination 2]]'' and the 2010 films ''[[Megamind]]'', ''[[Iron Man 2]]'' and ''[[Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief]]''. "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" is featured in the films ''[[Empire Records]]'' (1995), ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (2005), ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard (film)|The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' (2005), ''[[Shoot 'Em Up (film)|Shoot 'Em Up]]'' (2007), and ''[[Final Destination 5]]'' (2011). "Walk All Over You" is featured in the 2010 film ''[[Grown Ups (film)|Grown Ups]]''. "Touch Too Much" is featured on the soundtrack for the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned]]'', and it was also the theme song for the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'s [[SummerSlam (1998)|SummerSlam]] event in 1998.

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| title = Retrospective professional reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/highway-to-hell-mw0000649805|title=Highway to Hell – Allmusic|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 November 2009|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|archive-date=22 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722052054/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r82|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52637/highway-to-hell.html |title=Highway to Hell |work=Blender |access-date=29 November 2009 |last=Twist |first=Carlo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513045353/http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52637/highway-to-hell.html |archive-date=13 May 2009 }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ac-dc-highway-to-hell-album-review | title = AC/DC: Highway To Hell album review | access-date = 2019-10-03 | last = Rock | first = Classic | date = 26 July 2019 | publisher = [[Loudersound]] | archive-date = 27 July 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190727223709/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ac-dc-highway-to-hell-album-review | url-status = live }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|chapter=AC/DC|year=2011|title=[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|isbn=978-0857125958|edition=5th}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Great Rock Discography]]''
| rev5score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Strong|first=Martin C.|author-link=Martin C. Strong|year=2004|chapter=AC/DC|title=The Great Rock Discography|publisher=[[Canongate Books|Canongate U.S.]]|edition=7th|isbn=1841956155}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev6score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Gary|editor-last=Graff|editor-link=Gary Graff|title=[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide]]|publisher=[[Visible Ink Press]]|location=Detroit|year=1996|isbn=0787610372|chapter=AC/DC}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/highway-to-hell-20030225|title=Highway to Hell|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Greg|last=Kot|date=25 February 2003|access-date=20 June 2012|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614024801/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/highway-to-hell-20030225|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="RSAG">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ac-dc/albumguide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308001205/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/ac-dc/albumguide|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2012|title=Highway to Hell|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Greg|last=Kot|date=25 February 2003|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Smash Hits]]''
| rev9score = 3/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Starr|first=Red|url=https://archive.org/details/smash-hits-1979-08-23/page/n19/mode/2up|title=AC/DC: Highway to Hell album review|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|location=[[Peterborough]]|publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP National Publications, Ltd.]]|volume=1|issue=19|date=August 23 – September 5, 1979|page=25|issn=0260-3004}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev10score = 7/10<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|year=1995|title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|location=New York|isbn=0-679-75574-8|chapter=AC/DC}}</ref>
}}
The album became AC/DC's first LP to break the top 100 of the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, eventually reaching number 17, and it propelled the band into the top ranks of hard rock acts.  It is the second-highest selling AC/DC album (behind ''[[Back in Black]]'') and is generally considered one of the greatest hard rock albums ever made. On 8 July 2024, the album was certified 8× Platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="RIAA"/>

Of the album, [[Greg Kot]] of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote: "The songs are more compact, the choruses fattened by rugby-team harmonies. The prize moment: Scott closes the hip-grinding 'Shot Down in Flames' with a cackle worthy of the [[Wicked Witch of the West]]."<ref name="RS"/> In a 2008 ''Rolling Stone'' cover story, [[David Fricke]] noted: "Superproducer 'Mutt' Lange sculpted AC/DC's rough-granite rock into chart-smart boogie on this album." [[AllMusic]] called the song "Highway to Hell" "one of hard rock's all-time anthems."<ref name="AM"/> The album was ranked number 199 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's 2003 list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|the 500 greatest albums of all time]];<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/highway-to-hell-ac-dc-19691231 |title=199 Highway to Hell |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902081102/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/highway-to-hell-ac-dc-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> it was number 200 on the 2012 revised list.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/?list_page=7#list-item-200| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]| access-date=18 September 2019| archive-date=31 March 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331171907/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/?list_page=7#list-item-200| url-status=live}}</ref> The 2010 book ''[[The 100 Best Australian Albums]]'' included ''Highway to Hell'' in the top&nbsp;50 (''Back in Black'' was No.&nbsp;2).<ref name="ODonnell">{{Cite book | title = [[100 Best Australian Albums]] | last1 = O'Donnell | first1 = John | author-link1 = John O'Donnell (music journalist) | last2 = Creswell | first2=Toby | author-link2 = Toby Creswell | last3 = Mathieson | first3 = Craig | author-link3 = Craig Mathieson | publisher = Hardie Grant Books | date = October 2010 | location = [[Prahran, Victoria|Prahran, Vic]] | isbn = 978-1-74066-955-9 }}</ref>

In 2013, AC/DC fans Steevi Diamond and [[Jon Morter]] (who was behind a [[Rage Against the Machine]] Facebook campaign in 2009) spearheaded a Facebook campaign to make "Highway to Hell" a Christmas number one single on the [[UK Singles Chart]], to celebrate the 40th anniversary of AC/DC, and to prevent ''[[The X Factor (British TV series)|The X Factor]]'' from achieving another number one hit single.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/why-acdc-should-be-the-2013-christmas-number-1-by-the-highway-to-hell-campaign-2667/|title=Why AC/DC should be the 2013 Christmas Number 1|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=18 April 2021|archive-date=12 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112070555/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/why-acdc-should-be-the-2013-christmas-number-1-by-the-highway-to-hell-campaign-2667/|url-status=live}}</ref> The campaign raised funds for Feel Yourself, a [[testicular cancer]]-awareness charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justgiving.com/acdcxmas|title=Read Jon's story|last=JustGiving|access-date=17 December 2013|archive-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221140727/http://www.justgiving.com/acdcxmas|url-status=live}}</ref> The song peaked at number four on the Official Singles Chart for Christmas that year, making it AC/DC's first-ever UK Top 10 single.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/x-factors-sam-bailey-crowned-2013-official-christmas-number-1-2693/|title=X Factor's Sam Bailey crowned 2013 Official Christmas Number 1|last=Lane|first=Dan|date=22 December 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=23 December 2013|archive-date=22 December 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131222213546/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/x-factors-sam-bailey-crowned-2013-official-christmas-number-1-2693/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline        = Side one
| all_writing     = [[Angus Young]], [[Malcolm Young]] and [[Bon Scott]]
| title1          = [[Highway to Hell (song)|Highway to Hell]]
| length1         = 3:29
| title2          = [[Girls Got Rhythm]]
| length2         = 3:24
| title3          = Walk All Over You
| length3         = 5:10
| title4          = [[Touch Too Much]]
| length4         = 4:28
| title5          = Beating Around the Bush
| length5         = 3:55
}}

{{Track listing
| headline        = Side two
| title6          = Shot Down in Flames
| length6         = 3:23
| title7          = Get It Hot
| length7         = 2:35
| title8          = If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
| length8         = 4:38
| title9          = Love Hungry Man
| length9         = 4:18
| title10         = [[Night Prowler (song)|Night Prowler]]
| length10        = 6:13
| total_length = 41:38
}}

==Personnel==

'''AC/DC'''
*[[Bon Scott]] – lead vocals
*[[Angus Young]] – lead guitar
*[[Malcolm Young]] – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
*[[Cliff Williams]] – bass, backing vocals
*[[Phil Rudd]] – drums

'''Production'''
*[[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]] – producer
*Mark Dearnley – recording engineer
*[[Tony Platt]] – mixing engineer
*Kevin Dallimore – assistant engineer
*Bob Defrin – art direction
*Jim Houghton – photography
*Recording studio: [[Roundhouse Recording Studios]], London, England
*Mixing studio: [[Basing Street Studios]], London, England

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1979–1981)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="aus">{{Cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |year=1993 |title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |edition=illustrated |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |publisher=Australian Chart Book |page=11 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| 13
|-
{{album chart|Canada|40|chartid=9462a|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|14|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell |rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|7|id=4556|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|46|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell |rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|38|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|24|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|8|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|17|artist=AC-DC|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2007–2009)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|27|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|38|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|37|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Italy|81|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Spain|67|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|57|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2011)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|France|135|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|156|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=30 April 2023}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2024)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|2|id=4556|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=22 March 2024|refname=ger-2024}}
|-
! scope="row"| Greek Albums ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web | title = Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 12/2024) | url = http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327104829/https://ifpi.gr/charts_el.html |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |access-date=March 30, 2024 | publisher = [[IFPI Greece]]}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums ([[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|MAHASZ]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 12. hét |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/12 |publisher=[[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|MAHASZ]] |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>
| 30
|-
{{album chart|Poland2|95|date=15.03.2024–21.03.2024|rowheader=true|access-date=28 March 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|7|artist=AC/DC|album=Highway to Hell|rowheader=true|access-date=24 March 2024|refname=swi-2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UKRock|3|date=20240322|rowheader=true|access-date=22 March 2024}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (1980)
! scope="col" | Position
|-
! scope="row" | German Albums ([[GfK Entertainment charts|Offizielle Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1980|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|date=1980|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment Charts]]|language=de|access-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021191905/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1980|archive-date=21 October 2021}}</ref>
| 4
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=2003|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=2011-07-06|title=Discos de oro y platino|language=es|access-date=2013-02-21|publisher=[[Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]]}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1979|certyear=2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1990}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1979|certyear=2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|number=2|id=13626|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=October 13, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=1981|source=infodisc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=1988|note=WEA|access-date=February 1, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=1991|note=Eastwest Records|access-date=February 1, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=2022|id=9797}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1979|certyear=2022|access-date=16 February 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1979|certyear=2000|certref=<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |date=September 2005 |page=953 |isbn=84-8048-639-2 |access-date=23 August 2019 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129151111/http://www.mediafire.com/file/7q55521w7go6vh6/Spanish+Certifications+for+2000-2002.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|relyear=1979|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=2884-1825-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=AC/DC|title=Highway to Hell|award=Platinum|number=8|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=8 July 2024|refname="RIAA"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite book |last=Bonomo |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Bonomo |year=2010 |title=Highway to Hell |series=[[33⅓]] |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-4411-9028-4}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061020042215/http://www.acdcrocks.com/highwaytohell.html Lyrics] on AC/DC's official website
* {{MusicBrainz release group|id=f85647ec-a69b-3b0a-ad04-bb6076c4dcf1|name=Highway to Hell}}

{{AC/DC}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:AC/DC albums]]
[[Category:Albert Productions albums]]
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange]]