"Play Ball" is a single by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, and the first single from their 2014 album Rock or Bust. It was first used on 27 September 2014 in a trailer for Major League Baseball on TBS post-season coverage,[1] and the single was released on 7 October. It is the first single to feature rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, replacing founding member Malcolm Young who had retired from the band for health reasons.
| "Play Ball" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by AC/DC | ||||
| from the album Rock or Bust | ||||
| Released | 7 October 2014 | |||
| Recorded | May – July 2014 | |||
| Studio | The Warehouse (Vancouver) | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien | |||
| AC/DC singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Play Ball" on YouTube | ||||
AC/DC's drummer, Phil Rudd, was absent from the video shoot for the single, and was replaced by the Welshman Bob Richards, who had previously played with Man, Adrian Smith, Asia and Shogun.[2]
The Minnesota Twins play the song at home in _target Field directly after the game's line-up is announced. It plays for about two minutes before the game starts. The Danish basketball team, Svendborg Rabbits, play the song in connection with the game starts at home in The Rabbits House. Also the Austrian football club Grazer AK plays the song before home games.[citation needed]
The song was shortlisted for Song of the Year at the APRA Music Awards of 2015.[3]
Charts
edit| Chart (2014–15) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] | 44 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 45 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] | 23 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] | 53 |
| Canada Rock (Billboard)[8] | 5 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[9] | 15 |
| France (SNEP)[10] | 39 |
| Germany (GfK)[11] | 39 |
| Italy (FIMI)[12] | 85 |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100)[13] | 90 |
| Scotland (OCC)[14] | 37 |
| Slovenia (SloTop50)[15] | 46 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[16] | 28 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 19 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 85 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[19] | 3 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] | 17 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[21] | 21 |
References
edit- ^ "Listen to AC/DC's new song "Play Ball" in postseason baseball trailer". Ultimate Classic Rock. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ "AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd replaced at video shoot by Welshman Bob Richards after murder plot charge". Wales Online. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "APRA's Shortlist Of The Top Aussie Songs Of 2014 Is Hereng of the Year!". Music Feeds. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "AC/DC Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "AC/DC Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball". Tracklisten.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ "AC/DC Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball" Canciones Top 50.
- ^ "AC/DC – Play Ball". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "ac-dc Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ "ac-dc Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.