"You Shook Me All Night Long" is one of AC/DC's most well known songs that appeared on their most successful album, Back in Black. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who. It is one of the band's top 40 singles, reaching number 35 in the North American pop singles chart in 1980. The single was re-released internationally in 1986 following the release of the album Who Made Who. "You Shook Me All Night Long" is considered one of AC/DC's best songs and many fans believe that it is the best one they have ever made, rivaling "Back in Black" and "Highway to Hell".
"You Shook Me All Night Long" placed at No. 10 on VH1's list of The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s. In the song, the lead singer Brian Johnson relates the story of a night with a beautiful woman. The woman is identified in the lyrics as American, which perhaps contributes to the song's enduring popularity in the US.
There are two versions to the music video. The first version, directed by Eric Dionysius and Eric Mistler , is similar to the other Back in Black videos ("Back in Black", "Hells Bells", "What Do You Do for Your Money Honey", "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution", and "Shoot to Thrill") and is only available on the special Back in Black, The Videos which could be obtained by purchasing a recent Back in Black album. In the second version, directed by David Mallet and released six years after the song's original release, Angus and Malcolm Young follow Brian around, with Angus in his signature schoolboy outfit. "You Shook Me All Night Long" was also the second song to be played by AC/DC on Saturday Night Live in 2000, following their performance of "Stiff Upper Lip."
There are two live versions to this song. One of them is on the band's album Live, the other is on the soundtrack to the Howard Stern movie Private Parts.
The title of the song is taken from the lyrics of a Willie Dixon song called 'You Shook Me', which was covered by Led Zeppelin on their first album, the lyrics of which go, "You Shook Me Baby, You Shook Me All Night Long".
"You Shook Me All Night Long" is perhaps one of the most controversial film clips AC/DC ever released. The film casts many leather clad women with zippers at the groin region of their suits; however, a softer censored alternative version exists without these shots.
