March 24, 2025

1990 - December: AC/DC “The Razors Edge”

46 minutes

1990 is an odd time for a hard rock band from the late 70's to make a comeback. Hair metal was declining rapidly, and music that would form the grunge movement was percolating up in the pacific northwest. But that is exactly what AC/DC did with their album The Razors Edge. The album reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 4 on the UK albums chart, and it would become AC/DC's third highest selling album behind “Back in Black” and “High Voltage.”

After concluding their 1988 world tour the band had some changes and interruptions. Drummer Simon Wright left the group to join Dio, and was replaced by Chris Slade who would be with the group until 1994. Front man and songwriter Brian Johnson took some time off to finalize his divorce, which left brothers Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Angus Young (lead guitar) to write all the songs for the album. They would continue to be the songwriters for the band through 2020.

Critical reviews of the album were mixed, with negative comments revolving around the idea that this album was nothing new for the band. With the benefit of hindsight it may be that the consistency with AC/DC's previous works is actually a strength of the album. In a period of big shifts in rock music, AC/DC provided a point of stability and a return to hard rock origins.

Friend of the show Julie Doran joins us to bring us this high energy hard rock masterpiece with Rob.

Are You Ready

The anthem that leads of side 2 of the album reached number 16 on the US charts, and became the band's only number 1 hit in New Zealand. It is used in a number of sports events and is also familiar as the official theme for WWE SmackDown on Fox.

Thunderstruck

The lead off track and lead single to the album is a signature song for the band. It started as a "little trick" Angus Young played on guitar, and Malcolm built the rhythm guitar behind that riff. It has been performed in almost every live show the band has performed since its release.

Moneytalks

This track reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first top 40 hit for AC/DC since Back in Black in 1981. Interestingly, the song has not been performed live since the band toured The Razors Edge. Part of the appeal of AC/DC on this album could have been the downturn in the economy at the time, striking a cord with blue collar employment struggles. If so, money really does talk!

The Razors Edge

While this song is the title track it was not released as a single. This dark track talks about the fine line between success and failure, good and evil, life and death. "You're running out of lives, and here comes the razor's edge."

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Mel Torme (from the motion picture "Home Alone")

This Christmas classic saw its debut from Judy Garland in the motion picture "Meet Me in St. Louis". Mel Torme's version was used in the Christmas movie "Home Alone" which was in theaters in 1990.

STAFF PICKS:

Keep On Loving Me Baby by Colin James

Wayne starts out the staff picks with a Canadian blues singer-songwriter. This cover from James' second album, Sudden Stop, is a high energy cover of a tune originally written by Otis Rush in 1958. James benefitted from the blues revival of the time, as well as the soon-to-come swing revival in the early- to mid-90's.

Chain of Fools by Little Caesar

Lynch brings us another cover originally performed by Aretha Franklin and written by Don Covay in 1967. Little Caesar is a hard rock band formed in the late 80's which had a short career before problems with their label, and the eclipsing of hard rock by grunge contributed to their decline. This cover from their debut single was their most memorable

Diabolic Tastemaker by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies

Bruce's staff pick is a deep cut off the Daddies' debut album "Ferociously Stoned." This horn-heavy track first appeared on their 1989 demo tape before it was added to their album. The band at the time was an amalgam of punk, funk, jazz, ska, and swing at the time, thought future albums would move heavily towards swing.

If You Needed Somebody by Bad Company

Julie features the second single off Bad Company's ninth studio album, Holy Water. It was their first top 40 hit since “Rock and Roll Fantasy” back in 1979. The rock ballad hails from BadCo's days with Brian Howe as the front man, as Paul Rodgers had left the group in 1982 and was performing solo at the time.

Been Caught Stealing by Jane's Addiction

Rob finishes off the staff picks with the third single from Ritual de lo Habitual, and the biggest single, topping the Billboard Modern Rock charts for four weeks. The dog barking is Perry Farrell's pet Annie, who was brought to the studio. The barking was not planned, but the coincidence was included on the track.

COMEDY TRACK:

Do the Bartman by The Simpsons

Bart Simpson closes us out this week with this lost epic.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings