Today's Tune: "Let's Get It Up" By AC/DC

On March 27, 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence. It was the first boner pill to be approved for this condition within the United States.

To celebrate what must have been a really happy event for a lot of very frustrated people, I've chosen an appropriate song for the anniversary of this occasion. Our 'Today's Tune' is "Lets Get It Up" by AC/DC. The track first appeared on their 1981 album, 'For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)'. It was later released as a single.

This particular video shows the band performing at the Capital Centre (No longer exists) in Mitchellville (Usually refferred to as Largo or Landover), Maryland during the album tour. Those of you that know me can try to spot me in the crowd. I had a floor seat to the right of the center isle, close to the front (13th to 15th row?).

AC/DC - "Let's Get It Up" December 1981 - Capital Centre

Today's Tune: "Ride On" And "Whole Lotta Rosie" By AC/DC

Bon Scott sang "One of these days, I'm gonna change my evil ways ...", but he didn't quite live long enough to do that. The Scottish born Australian lead singer for the hard rhythmic rocking band AC/DC, died on February 19, 1980. Thirty years later, I can still remember how I was left with a broken heart and total disbelief, when I heard the news.

In honor of the truly unique individual that was Bon Scott, with his equally unique voice, the first 'Today's Tune' song for this February 19th is "Ride On" (1976), by AC/DC. The slide-show tribute style video I've chosen includes pieces of different interviews in the last few minutes. Bon discusses the inspiration for the song "Whole Lotta Rosie" (1977), the riggers of long tours, and you can hear and feel his loneliness and depression while he's speaking. The person that put this thing together did a good job.

Since I mentioned "Whole Lotta Rosie", I've decided to include it bonus track. The performance you hear in the video is from the October 16, 1979 Towson Center concert at Towson University, in Towson, MD. I bought a good copy of this bootlegged show on cassette right after it happened. Later, I found out my cousin Keith was sitting on the stage during the concert.

AC/DC - "Ride On" And Bon Scott Interviews



AC/DC - "Whole Lotta Rosie" Live at Towson Center October 16, 1979


Band Members Included:
Bon Scott - Lead Vocals
Angus Young - Lead Guitar
Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar
Phil Rudd - Drums
Mark Evans - Bass Guitar on "Ride On"
Cliff Williams - Bass Guitar on "Whole Lotta Rosie" Live in 1979

Today's Tune: "Cold Hearted Man" By AC/DC

On December 2, 1982, doctors at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah performed the first implant of a permanent artificial heart in a human. Sixty-one year old retired dentist, Dr. Barney Clark was the recipient of the man-made heart. He lived 112 days with the device, dying on March 23, 1983.

For our 'Today's Tune', we look at the life of a man with a much different kind of heart problem. The lyrics of AC/DC's "Cold Hearted Man" describe a real bastard, who ends up regretting having lived the lonely life of a bully. Making sure everyone feared him, he was never able to enjoy a lasting relationship.

"Cold Hearted Man" was originally released only on the European versions of the album 'Powerage' (May 25, 1978). I still have one of the superior French vinyl copies. The tune is finally included worldwide in a recently released box set called 'Backtracks' (November 10, 2009). The edgy sound that was pressed into the original vinyl has been softened up a bit for all CD releases.

AC/DC - "Cold Hearted Man"

Today's Tune: "Problem Child" By AC/DC

'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' album released in Australia on September 20, 1976.

John Ritter, born on September 17, 1948, was (Died September 11, 2003) a very talented American actor and comedian. Ritter is mostly remembered for playing Jack Tripper in the long running ABC sitcom Three's Company. He also appeared in episodes of many popular television shows, and was working in another comedy series of his own called 8 Simple Rules, when he passed away because of a leaking aorta that was caused by a congenital heart defect. John had mostly modest success in films, with 'Problem Child' (1990) doing well enough to earn a sequel called 'Problem Child 2' (1991). The 'Today's Tune' track for today is a live version of "Problem Child" (1976) by hard rockers AC/DC.

AC/DC - "Problem Child"

Bon Scott - Lead Vocals, Angus Young - Lead Guitar, Malcolm Young - Rhythm Guitar, Phil Rudd - Drums, Cliff Williams - Bass Guitar