The song celebrates its 45th anniversary
Nashville-based country music singer-songwriter Robby Johnson puts his own southern spin on one of rock’s most iconic tracks with the release of his new single, “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Paying tribute to the 45th anniversary of AC/DC’s timeless hit, Johnson delivers a bold, high-energy performance that bridges the worlds of classic rock and modern country. Originally released in 1980 on AC/DC’s landmark album Back in Black, “You Shook Me All Night Long” remains one of the most recognizable songs in rock history. Johnson’s version captures that same electric spirit infused with gritty vocals, driving guitars, and the raw emotion that defines rock and country music.
Johnson’s journey from manufacturing plant worker to full-fledged artist began after a demo session, gifted one Christmas, which revealed his musical talent. He moved to Nashville in 2012, connecting with industry veterans Jimmy Nichols and Frank Myers, who guided his career. His single “South Of Me” reached the Top 20 on the Music Row Breakout Chart and led to a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. This breakthrough was followed by his debut album, Don’t Look Back, produced by James Stroud and featuring contributions from top Nashville songwriters and Vince Gill.
Johnson talks to us about recording a classic rock staple.
THE MUSIC UNIVERSE: Tell us about the inspiration to record this cover of AC/DC.
ROBBY JOHNSON: I’ve always loved that song. It’s timeless, electrifying, and still as powerful as the day it was released. I perform it live and the crowds go wild as soon as they hear that iconic riff, so I decided to put it on my album as a homage to this rock staple first released 45 years ago.
TMU: Talk about the instrumentation of the cover.
RJ: Since it pays tribute to the original, we kept most of its AC/DC DNA with drums and electric guitars, but added B3, piano, and fiddle.
TMU: Do you know if AC/DC is aware of this recording?
RJ: I don’t know if they’re aware of the recording, but if they are, I hope they understand where it’s coming from.
TMU: Any additional rock covers in the works?
RJ: I love to release hard-hitting country rock songs, but don’t have any plans on recording any other rock covers for now.
