XM Channel 53 - All AC/DC

UPDATE - In late January of 2009, the ALL AC/DC Channel was retired by XM - it was fun while it lasted!

In the summer of 1980 my cousin Duane could not wait for July 25th that year.  That morning was spent rushing to Kmart to get in line for an album release he could not quit talking about from a band I'd only casually known of.  He spent an entire days pay from lawn mowing on this record whose album title you could not even make out since the completely black cover had only raised black letters for the name.  Upon a closer inspection the name was made boldly clear - Back in Black, AC/DC.

I had never actually heard an entire album from start to finish since my exposure to music was hit by hit from Casey Kasem and knowing the first half of the Top 40 Countdown was a prerequisite for any rising Freshman.   Nonetheless, the rest of the summer was spent listening to the album and a music style that I must say I was not all the "In" to at the time; But...... there was something about the grittier Rock with that melodic guitar and distorted sound that spoke to a burgeoning teenager in a way that only such music can.

The haunting chimes from the first note of Hells Bells; the 1-2-3-4, high-hat intro opening the title track, Back in Black; and the then soon-to-be uber popular intro to their biggest "hit", You Shook Me All Night Long sparked something in the both of us that I truly believe can only be lit once.  The entire album truly was a work of art.  Taken separately each song could easily stand on its own, but like chapters in a book; taking the time to actually listen to each song made the story in the lyrics come alive.

Fast forward 35 YEARS and the passion of that summer's album release MUST have been felt by more than just Duane and I.  Two reason;

• XM Radio has created an ENTIRE Music Channel (Channel 53) dedicated to only playing music by the band AC/DC 24/7.  At first I thought the whole idea of having a channel playing nothing but one band's recordings was crazy, but - I'm already hooked.


• On October 20, 2008 - AC/DC released their latest Album, Black Ice.  Upon my first listen, the album seems to reach back to the roots of their early 80's feel.  While I continue to absorb it, I do have to admit (in a somewhat bitter-sweet way) Back in Black and the experience of that time will continue to sit safely atop the altar of one of my favorite musical experiences.

And Finally - Major kudos to a band that has been making music almost as long as I have been alive!  "Let There Be Rock"!!