AC/DC’s Back in Black has been named the most influential Australian album of all time. The rock classic took top honours in the poll voted on by a GQ magazine panel.
Acca Dacca’s international smash edged out the disco stylings of Saturday Night Fever, The Bee Gees triumphant soundtrack.
Iconic albums from The Saints, The Birthday Party, and The Easybeats rounded out the top five.
These sort of lists always generate controversy and conversation, but I think the panel’s done a pretty good job. I don’t agree with everything that made the cut, but I think it’s a really great representation of the different facets and changing times of Australian music. I’m really surprised that The Whitlams and John Farnham didn’t rate a mention, especially considering Rick Springfield did, but no list is perfect, is it?
The list will be published in GQ’s 2008 Music Issue, which hits newsstands on Wednesday. Until then, take a sneak peek at the full top 50!
GQ’s 50 Most Influential Australian Albums of All Time
- Back in Black – AC/DC
- Saturday Night Fever – The Bee Gees
- I’m Stranded – Saints
- Junkyard – The Birthday Party
- Absolute Anthology – Easybeats
- Since I Left You – The Avalanches
- East – Cold Chisel
- Blood Red River – Scientists
- Crowded House – Crowded House
- Young Modern – Silverchair
- The Good Son – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
- Kylie – Kylie
- Diesel and Dust – Midnight Oil
- Kick – INXS
- Radios Appear – Radio Birdman
- Quasimodo’s Dream – Reels
- Tribal Voice – Yothu Yindi
- Hourly Daily – You Am I
- Liberty Bell and the Black Diamond Express – Go Betweens
- Gossip – Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
- Starfish – The Church –
- Dead Can Dance – Dead Can Dance
- Love Buzz – Hummingbirds
- True Colours – Split Enz
- Magic Box – The Loved Ones
- Calenture – Triffids
- Girls on the Avenue – Richard Clapton
- The Honeymoon Is Over – The Cruel Sea
- It’s a Man’s Man’s World – Renee Geyer
- Doughboy Hollow – Died Pretty
- Sad and Dangerous – Dirty Three
- Divinyls – Divinyls
- Sunset Studies – Augie March
- Flash and the Pan – Flash and the Pan
- Spirit of the Place – Goanna
- The Night of the Wolverine – Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes –
- Mars Needs Guitars – Hoodoo Gurus
- Human Family – Hunters and Collectors
- Primitive Man – Icehouse
- Highlights of a Dangerous Life – The Johnny’s
- Grand Slam – Spiderbait
- The Pleasure of your Company – Models
- Business as Usual – Men at Work
- Unit – Regurgitator
- Savage Garden – Savage Garden
- Working Class Dog – Rick Springfield
- Aztecs Live! At Sunbury – Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
- Leaves Me Blind – Underground Lovers
- Countdown Silver Jubilee – Various Artists
- Cannot Buy My Soul (A Kev Carmody Tribute) – Various Artists
Image source: Wikimedia