Two copies of the same AC/DC album can sell for wildly different money depending on which pressing you're holding and what shape it's in. And with this band, "which pressing" matters more than usual: the early records came out in different versions in Australia, Europe and the US, with different track lists and, in one case, a wait of more than four years before America got the album at all. This guide to AC/DC vinyl covers the seven records we'd put on any shelf, with the US label and catalog number for each original LP, its Billboard 200 peak and its RIAA certification. Want the full catalog instead? Browse every AC/DC record on Vinyles.com.
Quick take
- Start with Back in Black (1980) and Highway to Hell (1979): RIAA-certified 27x and 8x Platinum in the US.
- For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981) was the band's first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
- US originals of the Bon Scott era came out on ATCO (High Voltage, Let There Be Rock) and Atlantic (Powerage onward), and some track lists differ from UK and Australian copies.
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976) was not released in the US until 1981.
- Easy way in: the AC/DC 50 gold vinyl reissues from Columbia/Legacy, launched on March 15, 2024.
Why AC/DC on vinyl? Because the whole sound is built on space: a raw riff, a dry snare, two guitars locked together and nothing in the way. Every album below was checked against Discogs, the RIAA Gold & Platinum database and Billboard chart data: exact title, original release year, US label and catalog number, chart peak and certification. For each one you get the reason to own it and what to look for on the label before you buy.
The seven AC/DC records at a glance
Catalog numbers: first US LP pressings as listed on Discogs.
Australian vs. US AC/DC records: what changed
AC/DC's first albums were made for the Australian market on Albert Productions, then reworked by Atlantic for the rest of the world. If you're crate digging for US copies, here's what that means in practice.
- High Voltage exists twice. The 1975 High Voltage was an Australia-only album. The 1976 High Voltage sold in the US (ATCO) and UK (Atlantic) is a different record: a compilation of tracks from the first two Australian albums, High Voltage and T.N.T., both from 1975. Check the year and the label before you buy.
- Let There Be Rock has a US track list. The US ATCO LP (SD 36-151) has "Problem Child" on side two. UK copies on Atlantic (K 50366) drop it and carry "Crabsody in Blue" instead, right after "Overdose".
- Powerage runs differently in the UK. The US Atlantic LP (SD 19180) opens with "Rock 'n' Roll Damnation" and follows the Australian running order. The first UK pressing (K 50483) leaves that song off, opens with "Gimme a Bullet" and adds "Cold Hearted Man".
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap skipped America for more than four years. Released in 1976 in Australia and Europe, it only got a US release in 1981 on Atlantic (SD 16033), more than a year after Bon Scott's death. It went to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and is now certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA.
A related US quirk: Discogs lists several "Club Edition" pressings of the Atlantic LPs, made for mail-order record clubs, alongside the standard retail copies. Neither is fake, but they are separate entries, so make sure a seller's listing matches the copy in your hands.
High Voltage (1976): where the rest of the world came in
1976
ATCO SD 36-142
Outside the Top 100
4x Platinum
The first AC/DC album released outside Australia, High Voltage came out in 1976 on Atlantic in the UK and ATCO in the US. It pulls together songs from the two Australian albums, including "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", "T.N.T." and "The Jack". This is AC/DC before the big productions: rawer, closer to bar-band rock 'n' roll.
It didn't break the US Top 100 at the time, but it kept selling: the RIAA certified it 4x Platinum in July 2024. On vinyl it's the historical starting point. Buying used? Read our used vinyl buying guide first, and keep an eye on new vinyl releases for fresh reissues.
Let There Be Rock (1977): the hard rock blueprint
1977
ATCO SD 36-151
Outside the Top 100
2x Platinum
The band's fourth studio album came out on March 21, 1977 in Australia on Albert Productions, and internationally later that year on Atlantic, with ATCO handling the US. This is where AC/DC commits fully: stripped-down, physical hard rock with no ballad to catch your breath. "Whole Lotta Rosie", "Bad Boy Boogie" and the title track play almost like a live set. It's also the last AC/DC album with Mark Evans on bass.
On vinyl the urgency of the playing comes through: it feels like you're in the room. If you want to understand where the legend comes from, this is the record. Remember the US track list detail above: American copies have "Problem Child", most others have "Crabsody in Blue".
Powerage (1978): the one musicians pick
1978
Atlantic SD 19180
Outside the Top 100
Platinum
The fifth studio album, released in 1978 on Albert Productions and Atlantic, Powerage never had the mainstream profile of the records around it. Musicians are a different story: players from Keith Richards to Eddie Van Halen have named it among their favorite AC/DC records. It's also the first AC/DC album with Cliff Williams on bass. Tighter and tenser, driven by "Sin City", "Riff Raff" and "Down Payment Blues", it's the record to play someone who thinks they already know this band.
Original pressings are exactly what collectors go looking for, so check the label and catalog number carefully. For more on what makes a record sought after, see our guide to the most sought-after LPs. A must-have if you want to go past the obvious picks.
Highway to Hell (1979): Bon Scott's farewell
July 27, 1979
Atlantic SD 19244
No. 17
8x Platinum
First released in Europe on July 27, 1979 (Albert Productions and Atlantic), Highway to Hell is the last album recorded with singer Bon Scott, who died on February 19, 1980. It's also the first of three albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who brought a new clarity without sanding off any of the aggression. The title track, "Girls Got Rhythm" and "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" make it a remarkably consistent record.
This is where America finally caught on: it was the band's first LP to crack the Billboard 200 Top 100, peaking at No. 17. On vinyl, Lange's open production breathes nicely on a clean pressing. If you only own one Bon Scott era album, make it this one, and it earns its spot on any list of the must-have rock vinyl records.
Back in Black (1980): the comeback that became a monument
July 25, 1980
Atlantic SD 16018
No. 4
27x Platinum
Released on July 25, 1980 on Albert Productions and Atlantic, Back in Black is the first album with Brian Johnson on vocals, recorded after Bon Scott's death. You get why it stuck from the opening bell of "Hells Bells", followed by "Shoot to Thrill", "You Shook Me All Night Long" and the title track. The all-black cover was, according to Angus Young, a sign of mourning for Scott.
In the US it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and never went higher, but its sales kept climbing for decades: on August 21, 2024 the RIAA certified it 27x Platinum, which at the time made it the third-highest-certified album in US history. It's the record that most often starts an AC/DC collection, and for good reason: Phil Rudd's drumming hits you in the chest on a decent system. A cornerstone of any list of the best vinyl records of all time.
For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981): built for arenas
1981
Atlantic SD 11111
No. 1 (3 weeks)
4x Platinum
Released in 1981 on Atlantic, For Those About to Rock We Salute You was the first AC/DC album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, on the chart dated December 26, 1981, and it stayed on top for three weeks. The band's third and last album with Mutt Lange pushes toward stadium anthems, starting with the title track and its cannon blasts, plus "Let's Get It Up".
This is AC/DC going big on purpose, made for large speakers, and the scale of the production suits vinyl well. A solid pick to round out the classic era.
The Razors Edge (1990): back on top
September 24, 1990
Atco 7 91413-1
No. 2
6x Platinum
Released on September 24, 1990 (Atco in the US and Europe, Albert Productions in Australia), The Razors Edge put AC/DC back near the top of the US chart after a quieter stretch in the 1980s, peaking at No. 2. It's carried by "Thunderstruck", plus "Moneytalks" and "Are You Ready", and it brought a new generation of listeners to the band.
A heads-up for vinyl hunters: of the 1990 US Atco LPs listed on Discogs, most are record-club editions, next to the standard 7 91413-1. Compare editions and favor copies with a clean sleeve and a lightly played disc. If you want your collection to reach into the '90s, this is the natural next step.
Original pressing or reissue?
Both routes make sense, depending on your budget and why you're buying.
- Originals. Look for the US catalog numbers in the table above on the label and spine. On the classic-era albums, sleeve condition and how much the disc has been played matter more than a few months' difference in pressing date. Hold the vinyl under a light and inspect the surface before you pay. Not sure what a copy is worth? Our checklist on how to tell if your vinyl is valuable walks you through it.
- The AC/DC 50 gold vinyl. For the band's 50th anniversary, Columbia and Legacy Recordings reissued the catalog on limited gold vinyl, each LP with a 12"x12" art print. The first wave, on March 15, 2024, included High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Powerage, Highway to Hell, Back in Black, For Those About to Rock and The Razors Edge. Let There Be Rock followed on June 21, 2024.
- Other reissues. Beyond the anniversary editions, these albums have been reissued many times; Discogs lists 2003 remastered US LPs on Columbia and Epic, for example. A recent reissue is usually the simplest way to get a clean copy.
Before you buy, check the pressing, then compare: prices move fast on this catalog, and the same album can be listed at very different prices by different sellers.
Our rule of thumb: on the Bon Scott era albums, check the country and catalog number first. A US ATCO or Atlantic copy, a UK Atlantic copy and an Australian Albert copy of "the same" album can have different track lists.
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AC/DC vinyl FAQ
Which AC/DC vinyl should I buy first?
Back in Black (1980) and Highway to Hell (1979) are the safest first picks: between them they cover both singers and the core of the band's sound, and they sound great on a turntable. From there, explore the full AC/DC catalog.
What's the difference between the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras?
Bon Scott sang on every album up to Highway to Hell (1979), the last one released before his death in February 1980. Brian Johnson took over on Back in Black (1980). Both eras have high points, which is what makes an AC/DC shelf fun to build.
Are US AC/DC pressings different from Australian or UK ones?
On some early albums, yes. The 1976 High Voltage is a compilation of two 1975 Australian albums, the US Let There Be Rock has "Problem Child" where UK copies have "Crabsody in Blue", and the first UK Powerage has a different running order with "Cold Hearted Man". Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap wasn't released in the US until 1981.
Should I buy an original pressing or a reissue?
Originals appeal to collectors, especially for Powerage and the early albums, but they can be expensive and uneven in condition. Recent reissues, including the AC/DC 50 gold vinyl from 2024, are the easy way in. Always check the condition of used copies with our used vinyl buying guide.
Does this list cover the whole discography?
No, it's a focused selection of the records to own. For the complete discography and every edition available, head to the AC/DC page on Vinyles.com.
Sources
- Featured image: photo by Matt Becker, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons). Album covers: Cover Art Archive (MusicBrainz), rights reserved by the respective labels.
- Discogs: master pages (High Voltage 8437, Let There Be Rock 8572, Powerage 8531, Highway to Hell 8522, Back in Black 8471, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 8412, For Those About to Rock 8636, The Razors Edge 8670) and US/UK release pages for catalog numbers, track lists and credits.
- RIAA Gold & Platinum database (riaa.com): AC/DC album certifications.
- Billboard: Billboard 200 chart of December 26, 1981 and AC/DC chart coverage.
- Legacy Recordings and Consequence: AC/DC 50 gold vinyl reissue announcements (2024).
- Ultimate Classic Rock (Powerage retrospective), Noise11 (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap at 50), Blabbermouth (Back in Black RIAA certification, 2024).
- Wikipedia (EN): album pages for High Voltage, Let There Be Rock, Powerage, Highway to Hell, Back in Black, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, For Those About to Rock We Salute You and The Razors Edge.
Release dates, labels, catalog numbers, chart peaks and certifications checked against Discogs, the RIAA and Billboard, September 2026.
