The Young brothers began writing songs for what would become Stiff Upper Lip in the summer of 1997 in London and the Netherlands, with Malcolm on guitar and Angus on drums.

The Youngs turned to their older brother George, who had produced 1988's Blow Up Your Video as well as the band's early albums with Harry Vanda, and Mike Fraser, who had co-produced 1995's Ballbreaker, with Rick Rubin, to complete Stiff Upper Lip.

In an interview with Alan Di Perna of Guitar World, singer Brian Johnson commented on working with George Young: Angus Young explained in interviews that the album title occurred to him when he was stuck in traffic and began ruminating on how vital lips were in rock and roll culture, citing icons Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger, and carried a certain sneering defiance.

This includes Stiff Upper Lip plus a disc comprising: "Cyberspace", the B-side of "Safe in New York City", five live tracks from 1996's No Bull, as well as three videos, for each of the singles.

The video for the title track – directed by Andy Morahan,[16] – starts with the band driving down the street in a red 1997 Hummer H1 and being caught in a traffic jam.

The song that the band listens to before the car jam is "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)", released when the late Bon Scott was a member.

In a May 2000 interview with Alan Di Perna for Guitar World – just over a year prior to the tragedy – Angus Young was asked if he really felt safe in New York City: "That song is a little tongue in cheek.