Great Metal Albums of 1986: AC/DC- Who Made Who

Like so many of you out there, the lockdown has given me more time to write and do other things I wouldn’t normally have time for. Usually I don’t have time to write three posts in a week and some weeks I struggle to write my self-imposed obligation of two. Right now, I’m on my three days off from work. I have a job considered essential. Normally, these days off would be filled with supply teaching work or since it’s the Easter break, nursery or holiday club work. But since both are closed, here I am.

Those of you who have been following 80sMetalman for some time have already worked out what makes me write about an AC/DC album at a particular time. For those who are new, whenever I write about an AD/DC album, it’s because AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Bells came to town and I always try to go see them for a bit of inspiration. After all, Hell’s Bells are always note perfect in things AC/DC. They were supposed to come to town tomorrow evening but because of the lockdown, they’re not. Therefore, I thought that in order to maintain some sort of normality, I should carry on and write about their 1986 “Who Made Who” album.

The last time I saw Hell’s Bells

“Who Made Who” was a soundtrack for the Stephen King film, “Maximum Overdrive.” I’ve never seen it but if anyone can recommend it, I’ll give it a go. The title track was written by the band exclusively for the film soundtrack and it turned out to have been their most successful single in years. However, when I first saw the video for it in 1986, I wasn’t overly impressed with it and like many paranoid metalheads back then, accused AC/DC of trying to sound too commercial. God, how naive I was back then! Fortunately, I’ve seen the light and like it much more these days.

Except for two instrumentals, the rest of the album consists of some of the AC/DC classics from earlier great albums. Saying that, I was very impressed with “D.T.” and it gets my vote for hidden gem. It does hold its own with the other great songs which make up this soundtrack. It just so happens that it has my two favourite tracks from the famous “Back in Black” album, “You Shook Me All Night Long” and the track whose title inspired the name for the tribute band. It just so happens that my top two tracks from the more controversial “Fly on the Wall” album, also make an appearance here as well, “Shake Your Foundations” and “Sink the Pink.” In addition, the listener is also treated to classics like “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” and the only song from the Bon Scott era, “Ride On.” With all of these great AC/DC songs on it, it can’t help but to be a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

1. Who Made Who
2. You Shook Me All Night Long
3. D.T.
4. Sink the Pink
5. Ride On
6. Hell’s Bells
7. Shake Your Foundation
8. Chase the Ace
9. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Brian Johnson- vocals

Angus Young- lead guitar

Malcolm Young- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Cliff Williams- bass, backing vocals

Simon Wright- drums

Bon Scott

Bon Scott- lead vocal on “Ride On”

Hell’s Bells wasn’t the only gig the Covid-19 lockdown has cancelled. Both Glastonbury and Download as well as Whacken in Germany have all been cancelled as well. One optimistic hope lies in an email I received last week stating that Bloodstock is still hoping to take place in August. Fingers crossed. In the mean time, while you are all stuck at home, this is a good album to enjoy.

Next post: Iron Eagle Soundtrack