'Back In Black'

A gigantic, popular album and for good reason. There are good songs here and they're very accessible to the Everyman. I don't think it's bad, but it certainly doesn't get my blood flowing like it did 12 years ago.

What I want to know is where this Brian Johnson guy came from.

AC/DC's original lead singer, Bon Scott, died of alcohol poisoning in February 1980 at the tender age of 33.

The band recorded Back in Black, after discussing disbanding after their lead singer bit it, in April and May of 1980 and they released the album in July 1980.

The band had already, as you might expect, starting writing material for the album with Scott before he died and finished writing it with Johnson, who penned the lyrics over Angus and Malcom Young's music. Mind you, Back in Black has the band's most popular songs including "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Given The Dog A Bone," "Shoot To Thrill" and "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution." Johnson just didn't continue the band. He essentially put the band on the everlasting map of rock music. He helped make them one of the most popular rock bands of all time.

Johnson had been in a band called Geordie (which sounds completely retarded) and released two albums through the 1970s. He was brought in by AC/DC after apparently their manager recommended him and even Bon Scott himself had mentioned Johnson to his bandmates at a time as being someone that sounded like Little Richard.

He auditioned and got the gig. He wasn't anyone special. Worked just as hard as probably a million other musicians. But not everyone get's Bon Scott's attention. Fewer have Bon Scott die of alcohol poisoning opening up their spot on a world-renowned rock band.

Fun facts: Johnson's brother Maurice works as a cook for the band. Also, AC/DC's last five albums have sold one million, 2.5 million, two million, five million and five million records. Not only can you not name either of the five albums (on purpose) but you can't name a song of any of them.

'Muddy Waters Live At Newport 1960'

Often, when you go through the 1,001 lists for books, records and films, you discover art that is truly influential, that really made an impact on others and spurred a plethora of other art, some of which could very well be considered better. But it never exists without that first step.

This album might fit that mold. By the time Muddy Waters, the famous bluesman, performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and released it several months later, he was already well known around the world.

By 1960, he'd made a name for himself as rock and roll began to really break. Thing is, unlike Buddy Holly or Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters had already made his mark.

Born in 1915 (or 1913, depending on the story), by 17 he'd already picked up the guitar and was performing around the country and making Chicago the hub for American blues in the north. He'd already recorded and by 1950s he was already recording on his own and making pretty good bank.

All before Elvis, Buddy and the Beatles. Meanwhile, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Rod Stewart and every other bluesy rocker in England were cutting their teeth on Waters' bark and his steely guitar. Live at Newport was evidence of the changing tide in rock music as it showed a proven bluesman going electric. Never had those infamous guitar heroes heard the instrument like the day they put the needle on this record. Now that's an album to hear before you die.

'The Man Who Fell To Earth'

I was talking about this film with a friend and the conversation turned to that of filmmaking in the 1970s. Primarily, how directors could do whatever they want and the films, generally, are better.

Certainly standards were lax back then, but I think there was also a very influential cadre of directors willing to make the film they wanted to make and as long as they stood firm they would continue to make the films they wanted.

I also think the filmmakers weren't as focused about making money as studios are today and films done by renowned directors tend to make money nonetheless.

Also, I'd be naive to think that everything done in the 1970s was fantastic and everything done now is pathetic. Truth is, I wasn't even born in the 1970s and I've failed to largely see any of the bad films because I'm sure there were plenty.

The amount of sex and nudity in The Man Who Fell To Earth is ridiculous. Ridiculously awesome. It's also something today's filmmaker wouldn't be able to do without giving it an R rating and not making any money because 14 year olds can't get into the theater.

This film completed a pretty nice run for director Nicolas Roeg, who did Walkabout, Don't Look Now and this film in succession.

'The Rise & Fall'

The greatest non-ska ska album. Probably ever.

The Rise and Fall was not released in the United States (for reasons unknown to this reporter) despite "Our House" being a pretty popular single (No. 7 in the United States after it was released on the compilation album, Madness.

This album is called "experimental." Only because a ska band didn't make a ska record and basically made a pop album. And that's "experimental." It's not experimental, it's just a band that wants to make a popular record so he can make more money. There's nothing wrong with that, but if I go to a restaurant where I always order a hamburger and order a hot dog, that doesn't make me "experimental." Just hungry.

'Roots'

This album was unbearable. Seventy-three minutes later and I finished the son of a bitch.

Metal sucks. Most of it sucks. Most sounds like 1970s hard rock. Deep Purple is nominally more heavy than most heavy metal and that includes Sepultura, apparently.

The infusion of "Brazilian" beats and whatnot was a complete failure. In fact, I think it's pretty pretentious to play metal and attempt to work in some Latin element so you can prove about how Brazilian you are.

I don't know. This is no longer a part of my life. I'm pretty sure I could have died without listening to this album.

'Bad Company'

I've never understood why a band with four hits and two years of relevance 30 years ago is still important. Every couple of years they get back together -- or someone gets together to play music -- or Paul Rodgers joins what remains of Queen to tour.

It's really pathetic. A bunch of old guys that think what they do is good and that people still want to listen to "Can't Get Enough" for the trillionth time. I guess they have to pay the bills just like all of us.

"Bad Company" has had six bass players, five guitarists, three lead vocalists and one drummer, Simon Kirke. So I think we've identified the hanger-on here.

Kirke hasn't saved enough money from Free and Bad Company so he doesn't have to get Bad Company back together for another North American summer tour playing outdoor amphitheatres with Journey or Foreigner opening up. Advertise in the local newspaper and 60-year-old goofs nudge each other in the ribs saying how cool it'd be to get out and see Bad Company. Instead, they fall asleep.

'...And Justice For All' & 'S&M'

Appropriate bookends: Metallica, one of the world's foremost heavy metal bands, at their rawest and most dirty and grimy and then Metallica, the polished superstar metal band performing with an orchestra.

Granted, they can do what they want. I don't think they need to prove anything to anybody. They probably could have made the same ol' thrash metal album for 25 years and by 1996, when S&M was released, we probably would have criticized them for trying to be the same band they were in 1986, growing their hair out despite the receding hairlines and wearing the same scowls, T-shirts and ripped blue jeans.

Still, an orchestra. The Metallica of ...And Justice For All would have beat up the Metallica of S&M and thems just the facts. I think they're pretty content with things the way they are.

What frustrated me on the release of S&M was the band coming out of the woodworks to talk about how they were always inspired by classical music and all that jazz. What. Ever. If they'd covered The Carpenters, they would have talked about how they were so inspired by 1970s AM soft rock.

Essentially, Metallica is a band that can do what George Lucas does with the Star Wars films: Repackage them every couple of years and force everyone to rebuy it. It's a boon for the classical community -- and brought a lot of attention to symphony orchestras -- and it's a multi-platinum album for Metallica re-recording 20-year-old songs.

Also appropriate that ... And Justice For All was Jason Newsted's first album and S&M was his last. I can't do this stuff on purpose.