General Information Artist: AC/DC Title: Back in Black Label: Atlantic Catalog number: SD 16018 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Specialty Pressing Year: 1980 Country: US Edition: First Pressing (Robert Ludwig Master) Genre: Hard Rock Description Released in July 1980, Back in Black is the seventh studio album by AC/DC and stands as one of the most successful albums in music history. It was the band's first record to feature vocalist Brian Johnson, who joined following the tragic death of the band's original frontman, Bon Scott. The stark, all-black cover was designed as a sign of mourning for Scott. Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album's tight production and iconic riffs on tracks like "Hells Bells" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" helped it sell over 50 million copies worldwide. Condition Vinyl: Near Mint Minus (NM-) Cover: Very Good Plus (VG+) White mark/sratch on back side Notes for collectors This is the highly coveted "RL" (Robert Ludwig) cut, widely considered the best-sounding version of this album ever produced. Collectors specifically look for the "MASTERDISK" stamp and the hand-etched "RL" initials in the runout grooves, which signify that Ludwig mastered the audio. This version is famous for its incredible dynamic range and "punch," which is often lost in later reissues. The "SP" suffix on the center labels confirms this was pressed at the Specialty Records Corporation plant in Olyphant, Pennsylvania. Matrix/Labels Matrix Side A: ST-A-804517-C MASTERDISK RL SP-GD Matrix Side B: ST-A-804518-B MASTERDISK RL SP-GD Labels: Standard Atlantic green/white/red labels with the "75 Rockefeller Plaza" address.