Many music enthusiasts argue that AC/DC has consistently produced albums that sound remarkably similar to one another, yet the band members would strongly disagree with that notion. According to Angus Young, there is a distinct power in their ability to maintain a consistent musical style. He shared in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2021, “Malcolm used to say, ‘Yeah, well, they said we sound the same, because we’re the same band. That’s what we are.’ We never aimed to venture into unfamiliar territory. We fully understand our unique style and vision, so when fans listen, they can confidently say, ‘That’s them. They have their own unmistakable identity.'” This reflection emphasizes their dedication to their roots and authenticity.

Over the decades, despite experiencing numerous lineup changes, AC/DC has remained steadfast in their commitment to producing new albums and embarking on global tours, captivating audiences worldwide with their electrifying performances.

Utilizing data sourced from setlist.fm, we have meticulously compiled a comprehensive list showcasing both the most and least frequently performed songs from each AC/DC album. For this particular analysis, we have excluded tracks that have never been performed live, along with the 1976 international release of High Voltage, which included songs from their earlier Australia/New Zealand-only albums.

Album: High Voltage (1975)
Most-played: “She’s Got Balls”
Least-played: “You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me”

AC/DC made their debut with the album High Voltage in 1975, although it was exclusively released in Australia and New Zealand. The Young brothers, Malcolm and Angus, along with lead vocalist Bon Scott, showcased their songwriting prowess by crafting nearly all the tracks on the album, with the exception of the classic blues number “Baby, Please Don’t Go.” Remarkably, every song from this album has been performed live at least once, including the previously mentioned cover. “You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me” stands out as the least-played track, with just 11 live performances, while “She’s Got Balls” takes the top spot with an impressive 423 live renditions. Notably, most of these performances occurred prior to Scott’s untimely passing in 1980, though the band revived the song for a few shows in 1986.

Album: T.N.T. (1975)
Most-played: “The Jack”
Least-played: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer”

By the end of 1975, AC/DC released their second album, T.N.T., within Australia and New Zealand. Like its predecessor, every track from this album has made it onto a set list at some point. While “School Days,” a cover of a Chuck Berry classic, holds the title for least-played song, the original track “Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer” is the least performed original, with just over 200 live appearances. Conversely, “The Jack” has garnered the most attention, making its live debut in 1975 and continuing to be performed most recently at AC/DC’s 2015 Coachella performance.

Album: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Most-played: “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
Least-played: Tie Between “Ride On” and “Big Balls”

The album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was released globally, except in the United States, in 1976, where it would not appear until 1981, the year following Scott’s death. Out of the nine tracks featured, only five have made it to a live performance, while “Ain’t No Fun (Waiting ‘Round to Be a Millionaire),” “There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin,'” “Squealer,” and “R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)” have never been played live. “Big Balls” made a single performance in 1976, and “Ride On” was played once in 2001, resulting in a tie for the next least-played song. At the forefront, however, is the title track, which has been embraced by audiences with over 1,200 performances.

Album: Let There Be Rock (1977)
Most-played: “Whole Lotta Rosie”
Least-played: “Go Down”

“Whole Lotta Rosie” not only stands as the most-played song from Let There Be Rock, but it also ranks as the second most-played song throughout AC/DC’s entire discography, accumulating an impressive 1,678 plays, surpassed only by “The Jack.” This iconic track has appeared on all three of the band’s official live albums. In contrast, “Go Down” has only been performed once at the VH1 Studios in London in 1996, which is still a higher count than “Overdose” and “Crabsody in Blue,” which have yet to see any live performances.

Album: Powerage (1978)
Most-played: “Sin City”
Least-played: “Kicked in the Teeth”

This era welcomed Cliff Williams on bass, who took over from Mark Evans after his dismissal in 1977. “Sin City” claims the title for the most-played song from Powerage, showcasing AC/DC’s remarkable ability to craft powerful three-chord guitar riffs. Only two songs from this album, “Gimme a Bullet” and “Cold Hearted Man,” have never been performed live, making “Kicked in the Teeth” the next least-played with only two performances, both occurring in September 1977, just one day apart in San Francisco. Since then, the track has not been played again.

Album: Highway to Hell (1979)
Most-played: “Highway to Hell”
Least-played: “Beating Around the Bush”

Those fortunate enough to witness AC/DC’s performance on the music television show Aplauso in Madrid, Spain, on February 9, 1980, experienced the only live rendition of “Beating Around the Bush.” Two songs from Highway to Hell have been notably neglected in set lists: “Love Hungry Man” and “Night Prowler.” The title track, however, has rightfully earned its place as the most-played song from the album, with over 1,400 live performances, continuing to be a fan favorite.

Album: Back in Black (1980)
Most-played: “Hells Bells”
Least-played: “Shake a Leg”

With the release of Back in Black, we entered the era of Brian Johnson as the band’s frontman. Out of this album’s tracks, only one has never made it onto a set list: “Let Me Put My Love Into You.” “Shake a Leg” saw a single performance in 1980, but the rest of the songs soared in popularity. In fact, the top four most-played tracks from Back in Black have all surpassed 1,000 performances, with “Hells Bells” leading the pack at 1,302. Following closely behind are “Back in Black” at 1,295, “Shoot to Thrill” with 1,208, and “You Shook Me All Night Long” at 1,199.

Album: For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)
Most-played: “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)”
Least-played: “C.O.D.”

After the monumental success of Back in Black, many bands struggle to replicate that success, but AC/DC defied expectations with their impressive follow-up, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You). Unfortunately, only half of the album’s ten tracks have been performed live. The title track has been a standout, accumulating 1,158 plays to date. On the opposite end, “C.O.D.” — short for “Care of the Devil” — has only seen 10 performances, all of which took place in 1982.

Album: Flick of the Switch (1983)
Most-played: “Guns for Hire”
Least-played: “Landslide”

Flick of the Switch may not have achieved the commercial success of AC/DC’s previous two albums, but it marked a significant moment as the last album featuring drummer Phil Rudd before his return for the 1995 release, Ballbreaker. Notably, “Deep in the Hole” and “Brain Shake” have never graced a live stage, while “Landslide” (distinct from the beloved Fleetwood Mac track) saw one performance in 1983, the year of the album’s release. “Guns for Hire” has accumulated 71 live performances, coincidentally serving as the A-side to “Landslide.”

Album: Fly on the Wall (1985)
Most-played: “Fly on the Wall”
Least-played: “Playing With Girls”

Starting in October 1984, AC/DC convened at Mountain Studios, formerly owned by Queen, located in Montreux, Switzerland, to record Fly on the Wall. With Rudd absent, Simon Wright took over drumming duties, and after about four months of recording, the 10-track album was completed. Out of these tracks, only five have ever been played live. The title track garnered significant attention during 1985 and 1986, while “Playing With Girls” only managed a single performance, much to the delight of the dedicated fan who recorded it.

Album: Blow Up Your Video (1988)
Most-played: “Heatseeker”
Least-played: “Go Zone”

As quickly as Simon Wright joined the band, he also played his final album with AC/DC in 1988 with Blow Up Your Video, which was also notable as the last album on which Brian Johnson was credited as a co-writer. Following the album’s release, a tour was launched, marking the first time in seven years the band performed in their native Australia. However, only four tracks from the album made it onto set lists: “Heatseeker,” “That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Nick of Time,” and “Go Zone.” Remarkably, these four songs are the only ones ever played from the album, with “Go Zone” receiving eight performances and “Heatseeker” 284.

Album: The Razor’s Edge (1990)
Most-played: “Thunderstruck”
Least-played: “Are You Ready”

Even those unfamiliar with AC/DC likely recognize “Thunderstruck,” which rightfully earns the title of most-played song from the 1990 album The Razor’s Edge. In 1992, Angus Young explained, “I’m a classic doodler, and every now and again I’ll pick up a guitar and knock out some classical-sounding or flamenco thing just for a stretch. That’s how the ‘Thunderstruck’ intro came about.” A noteworthy number of tracks from this album have never made it to a set list, with “Are You Ready,” a No. 16 hit in the U.S., being the least-played.

Album: Ballbreaker (1995)
Most-played: “Hard as a Rock”
Least-played: “Cover You in Oil”

As previously noted, Phil Rudd returned to AC/DC in time for the 1995 release of Ballbreaker, alongside a new producer, Rick Rubin, a long-time fan of the band. As AC/DC matured, they began to perform less of their newer material, as fans often preferred their classic hits during concerts. Consequently, “Hard as a Rock” has amassed 295 live performances, while “Boogie Man” and “Ballbreaker” each have nearly 150. “Hail Caesar” has been performed 100 times, and “Cover You in Oil” has seen 75 performances, while the remaining tracks from the album have yet to be played.

Album: Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Most-played: “Stiff Upper Lip”
Least-played: “Satellite Blues”

Stiff Upper Lip marked the final album produced by George Young, the elder brother of Malcolm and Angus, before his passing. Out of the 12 tracks featured on the album, only four have been performed live thus far. Ranking from most to least-played are: “Stiff Upper Lip,” “Safe in New York City,” “Meltdown,” and “Satellite Blues.” One of those performances of the title track took place during an episode of Saturday Night Live on March 18, 2000.

Album: Black Ice (2008)
Most-played: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train”
Least-played: “Anything Goes”

A notable eight years passed between the releases of Stiff Upper Lip and Black Ice, marking the longest gap between studio albums in AC/DC’s history, during which the band toured sparingly. Black Ice features an impressive 15 tracks, yet only five have made it onto set lists. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train” leads the way with 283 performances, followed by “Big Jack,” “Black Ice,” “War Machine,” and “Anything Goes,” with 112 plays. Given the lengthy hiatus, it was particularly impressive when Black Ice received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album in 2010.

Album: Rock or Bust (2014)
Most-played: “Rock or Bust”
Least-played: “Rock the Blues Away”

Following Malcolm Young‘s retirement, his nephew Stevie Young joined the band in 2014, just in time for the release of Rock or Bust. “I’m not trying to imitate or copy him – but trying to keep the spirit of what he did in the band,” Stevie commented at the time. This album stands as AC/DC’s shortest, yet it still boasts 11 tracks, six of which have never been performed live. The title track takes the lead for the most-played song with 90 performances, while “Rock the Blues Away” managed to secure just one performance at a Los Angeles concert in 2015.

Album: Power Up (2020)
Most-played: Tie Between “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark”
Least-played: Tie Between “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark”

It’s important to note that Power Up is still relatively new, having been released less than five years ago. Consequently, only two of its songs have been performed live thus far: “Demon Fire” and “Shot in the Dark,” both of which have been played 25 times each. Significantly, all songs on Power Up were co-written by Malcolm Young prior to his death in 2017. The album was reportedly completed in the fall of 2018 but was delayed while the band finalized their lineup.