You Shook Me All Night Long
Encyclopedia
"You Shook Me All Night Long" is one of AC/DC
's signature songs from their most successful album, Back in Black
. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who
. It is one of the band's top 40 singles, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100
pop singles chart in 1980
. The single was re-released internationally in 1986 following the release of the album Who Made Who.
The song's title possibly comes from You Shook Me
, a Muddy Waters blues song, in which he sings the line "you shook me all night long".
"You Shook Me All Night Long" placed at No. 10 on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s". It was also No. 1 on VH1's "Top Ten AC/DC Songs". In the song, the lead singer Brian Johnson
relates the story of a night with a beautiful woman. Guitar World
placed "You Shook Me All Night Long" number 80 on their "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list.
The re-released single in 1986 contains the B-side(s): B1. "She's Got Balls" (Live, Bondi Lifesaver '77); B2. "You Shook Me All Night Long" (Live '83 – 12-inch maxi-single only).
The song has also become a staple of AC/DC concerts, almost never being excluded from the setlist, and it has also been considered their signature song, competing with "Back in Black
" and "Highway to Hell
" for the title.
There are three live versions of this song that have been officially released. The first one on the 1986 maxi-single "You Shook Me All Night Long", the second one from the band's album Live
, the third one is on the soundtrack to the Howard Stern
movie Private Parts
and the AC/DC box set "Backtracks".
In 2010, this song came No. 5 in Triple M's
Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Melbourne, Australia. The top five were all AC/DC songs.
. The first version, directed by Eric Dionysius and Eric Mistler, is similar to the other Back in Black videos ("Back in Black", "Hells Bells", "What Do You Do For Money Honey", "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", and "Let Me Put My Love Into You") and is available on the special Back in Black, The Videos which could be obtained by purchasing a recent Back in Black album. It is also available in the Backtracks
box set.
In the second version, directed by David Mallet
and released six years after the song's original release, Angus
and Malcolm Young
follow Brian around the town of Huddersfield
, with Angus in his signature schoolboy outfit. This version of the video for "You Shook Me All Night Long" is perhaps one of the most controversial film clips AC/DC ever released. The video clip casts the English glamour model Corinne Russell, a former Hill's Angel
and Page 3 Girl, along with other leather clad women with zippers at the groin region of their suits who are pedaling bicycle like machines in the background; however, a softer, censored alternative version exists without these shots.
It was revealed on the VH1
series Pop-Up Video
that during the shot with the mechanical bull, the woman playing Brian's lover accidentally jabbed herself with her spur twice. The roadie who came to her aid married her a year later; Angus gave them a mechanical bull for a wedding present as a joke. Also according to Pop-Up Video, when asked about the meaning of the video, the band said that its goal was to "be as politically incorrect as possible." It should be noted that the original 1980 video features drummer Phil Rudd while the 1986 video features drummer Simon Wright who replaced Rudd in 1983. Rudd, however, would return to AC/DC in 1994.
"You Shook Me All Night Long" was also the second song to be played by AC/DC on Saturday Night Live
in 2000, following their performance of "Stiff Upper Lip
."
The song is played during the closing credits for the movie "Knight's Tale" starring Heath Ledger.
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
's signature songs from their most successful album, Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who
Who Made Who
Who Made Who is a hard rock album by Australian band AC/DC, released in 1986 as the soundtrack to the Stephen King movie Maximum Overdrive...
. It is one of the band's top 40 singles, reaching number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop singles chart in 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
. The single was re-released internationally in 1986 following the release of the album Who Made Who.
The song's title possibly comes from You Shook Me
You Shook Me
"You Shook Me" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and J. B. Lenoir. Earl Hooker first recorded it as an instrumental which was then overdubbed with vocals by Muddy Waters in 1962....
, a Muddy Waters blues song, in which he sings the line "you shook me all night long".
"You Shook Me All Night Long" placed at No. 10 on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s". It was also No. 1 on VH1's "Top Ten AC/DC Songs". In the song, the lead singer Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band....
relates the story of a night with a beautiful woman. Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
placed "You Shook Me All Night Long" number 80 on their "100 Greatest Guitar Solos" list.
The re-released single in 1986 contains the B-side(s): B1. "She's Got Balls" (Live, Bondi Lifesaver '77); B2. "You Shook Me All Night Long" (Live '83 – 12-inch maxi-single only).
The song has also become a staple of AC/DC concerts, almost never being excluded from the setlist, and it has also been considered their signature song, competing with "Back in Black
Back in Black (song)
"Back in Black" is a song by AC/DC, appearing as the first track on side two of their 1980 album, Back in Black. Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott...
" and "Highway to Hell
Highway to Hell (song)
"Highway to Hell" is the opening track of AC/DC's 1979 album Highway to Hell and the twelfth track on AC/DC Live. It was initially released as a single in 1979....
" for the title.
There are three live versions of this song that have been officially released. The first one on the 1986 maxi-single "You Shook Me All Night Long", the second one from the band's album Live
Live (AC/DC album)
AC/DC Live is a 1992 live album by Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. It was released both as a single album and as a double album...
, the third one is on the soundtrack to the Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
movie Private Parts
Private Parts (1997 film)
Private Parts is a 1997 American biographical comedy film produced by Ivan Reitman and released by Paramount Pictures. Written by Len Blum and Michael Kalesniko, the film is an adaptation of the 1993 best-selling book of the same name by radio personality Howard Stern, who stars as himself. It...
and the AC/DC box set "Backtracks".
In 2010, this song came No. 5 in Triple M's
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Melbourne, Australia. The top five were all AC/DC songs.
Music video
There are two versions to the music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
. The first version, directed by Eric Dionysius and Eric Mistler, is similar to the other Back in Black videos ("Back in Black", "Hells Bells", "What Do You Do For Money Honey", "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", and "Let Me Put My Love Into You") and is available on the special Back in Black, The Videos which could be obtained by purchasing a recent Back in Black album. It is also available in the Backtracks
Backtracks (AC/DC album)
Backtracks is a box set by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was announced on 29 September 2009 and was released on 10 November 2009. This is a collection of the band's studio and live rarities together in one boxset. There are two editions; a Deluxe Edition and a Standard Edition...
box set.
In the second version, directed by David Mallet
David Mallet (director)
David Mallet is a British director particularly noted for his work on music videos, including David Bowie's innovative "Ashes to Ashes", Rush's "Distant Early Warning, and Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" videos. He has also served as a producer on television programmes including...
and released six years after the song's original release, Angus
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
and Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
follow Brian around the town of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, with Angus in his signature schoolboy outfit. This version of the video for "You Shook Me All Night Long" is perhaps one of the most controversial film clips AC/DC ever released. The video clip casts the English glamour model Corinne Russell, a former Hill's Angel
The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill.There were various incarnations of the show between 1951 and 1991, and it aired in over 140 countries. The show is generally sketch-based with heavy use of slapstick, mime, parody and double-entendre...
and Page 3 Girl, along with other leather clad women with zippers at the groin region of their suits who are pedaling bicycle like machines in the background; however, a softer, censored alternative version exists without these shots.
It was revealed on the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
series Pop-Up Video
Pop-up Video
Pop Up Video is a VH1 television show that "pops up" bubbles — officially called "info nuggets" — containing trivia, witticisms and borderline sexual innuendos throughout music videos. The show was created by Woody Thompson and Tad Low and premiered October 27, 1996. For a time, it was the...
that during the shot with the mechanical bull, the woman playing Brian's lover accidentally jabbed herself with her spur twice. The roadie who came to her aid married her a year later; Angus gave them a mechanical bull for a wedding present as a joke. Also according to Pop-Up Video, when asked about the meaning of the video, the band said that its goal was to "be as politically incorrect as possible." It should be noted that the original 1980 video features drummer Phil Rudd while the 1986 video features drummer Simon Wright who replaced Rudd in 1983. Rudd, however, would return to AC/DC in 1994.
"You Shook Me All Night Long" was also the second song to be played by AC/DC on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
in 2000, following their performance of "Stiff Upper Lip
Stiff Upper Lip
Stiff Upper Lip is the 14th Australian and 13th international studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC; it was released in 2000. The album was recorded at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. The album was produced by George...
."
The song is played during the closing credits for the movie "Knight's Tale" starring Heath Ledger.
Chart positions
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 29 |