Why I Chose Back in Black as Our First Album Hey, welcome! And thanks for joining the discussion. I chose AC/DC’s Back in Black because it holds a very special place in my heart: It was the first album—or, more accurately, cassette—I ever bought with my own money. I was ten years old, heading into fifth grade. We were still a year away from MTV hitting the airwaves, and discovering new music wasn’t as simple as tapping a couple of icons on your phone, tablet, or computer. Your circle of friends was basically your own personal focus group. And hopefully, your local radio station played “the good stuff.” I was lucky enough to have both. Everyone in my friend group had older siblings, which meant we were usually a little ahead of the pack when it came to music, clothes, movies, and pretty much everything else we thought made us cool. And then there was KGON. Here in Portland, Oregon, KGON was—and, as far as I’m concerned, still is—the undisputed king of the airwaves when it comes to AOR, Classic Rock, and Hard Rock. Luckily for us, they played the good stuff. I don’t remember the exact moment that convinced me AC/DC needed to become the starting point of my music addiction. But they have that honor nonetheless. AC/DC was my first. From there, it’s been one long, loud, wonderfully unpredictable ride. AC/DC to ZZ Top. Beastie Boys to Yazz. Country to Yacht Rock. And just about everything in between. So, for the first discussion in (Not So) Guilty Pleasures, we’re going all the way back to where my music obsession officially began. Back in Black. Because around here, we touch all the bases. So many musics. If I likes it, I plays it.