Van Halen (1978)

1. Runnin' With The Devil 3:36
2. Eruption 1:42
3. You Really Got Me 2:41
4. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 3:49
5. I'm The One 3:46
6. Jamie's Cryin' 3:30
7. Atomic Punk 3:01
8. Feel Your Love Tonight 3:42
9. Little Dreamer 3:22
10. Ice Cream Man 3:19
11. On Fire 3:00

US #19 UK #34
singles:
You Really Got Me US #36
Runnin' With The Devil US #84

One word:

Fucking awesome.

Despite the fact that I don't rank this as my favorite VH album, it does have some of my favorite VH material of all time on it. And when I look at the track listing, I have to say that my least favorite cuts ("Atomic Punk" and "On Fire") are not bad songs. But I'm repeatedly drawn to "Jamie's Crying", "Little Dreamer" and "Ice Cream Man", and only slightly less so to "I'm The One", "Feel Your Love Tonight" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love".

I came around to this album a couple years later, but huge impact. It almost made me want to quit playing guitar because I couldn't imagine anyone doing what Eddie did. But I heard Randy Rhoads within a couple months of when I found this and was totally reinspired.

But I agree w/IP - it's hard to top an album like this.

Alan

Bought this one when RWTD came out as a single, which was a few weeks before I saw them open for the Doobie Brothers and Rolling Stones at the Superdome in July '78. The LP (Side 1, especially) sure sounded like nothing else I had heard, and it holds up well today. They were pretty amazing at that concert, too.

It does hold up well. It still sounds vital, fresh and original. The idea of having EVH in one channel, Alex & Mike in another and Dave center was pretty wild and there are hardly any overdubs.
I don't care how many peopl can play it, but "Eruption" has never, ever sounded right played by anyone other than EVH, and as we all know he was just messing around and they happened to record it.
I used to think the intro to "Devil" was a keyboard but I think it's actually a car horn manipulated. The oly song I don't care for is "Janies' Cryin' "-the chorus has always annoyed me to no end for some reason.
And damn does "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" still rip. We used to play that in high school and we had an awful singer but musically we kinda nailed it and it was so fun to play-that opening riff is so nasty.
I just can't say enough about how important this album was. Sold over 10 million in the US and VH opened for Sabbath on a world tour and according to Ozzy anyone destroyed the Sabs. (Ozzy is wrong and right-Sabbath were still a great live band then but VH did crush them).

I remember hearing VH's cover of "You Really Got Me" on the radio...it was like they had supercharged the Kinks' classic. I loved it! Rushed out and bought the album soon after - it's still my favorite VH album after all these years.

First saw the band opening for the Rolling Stones in the Superdome. What a great show!

This one is neck-in-neck with Fair Warning as my favorite VH album. Such a fresh sound and so supercharged.

Always loved Jaime's Cryin.

The first VH album I got was "Women & Children First" in 1980, shortly before my 14th birthday. Until then I had never heard of them, but Creem & Circus magazines were writing about them all the time, so I had to check out their latest album. Of course, within a week I bought the first two albums (glad I had that paper route and saved some money), and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The debut is a monster, and can't really be compared to anything that came before it. I think Ted Templeman's massive production had a lot to do with how powerful it sounds. There's also not a weak song here. For some reason I always forget to include this when having discussions about best debut albums, but it's definitely up there.

PERSONAL REQUEST: If anyone in the IMWAN community has purchased the 2005 Jap VH remasters in the "Forever Young" series covering the Hagar years (5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Balance), and wouldn't mind sharing FLAC files, I would be indebted to you. No, these remasters aren't THAT difficult to find, but I need them for a project immediately and would be happy with the files. Reciprocation is a given, and maybe there is something in my extensive archives that you need (?). Please pm me if you can be of assistance, and thank you in advance everyone.

Didn't even know of these-are they legit remasters from the original WB tapes, or a secondary source?

These are quite legit from the original WB tapes, IP. The original 5150 and OU812 pressings were always the worst sounding CD's. These new remasters have real bite, true depth without brickwalling. All four are incredible. There was a big discussion on that "other" site concerning these. Just google "Van Halen 2005 Forever Young" if you're so inclined (don't know if we're allowed to post links here).

We are not.

There had been word of a possible revamping of the Sammy-era albums this year here in the States, but it hasn't happened. I don't think it ever will which is ridiculous.

There was also a rumor during the Van Hagar reunion in 2004.

Disregard my original request, folks. My local brick-and-mortar had all four for $15.99 each! What would I do without Amoeba...

Damn... you'd never see them at the Northern California Amoeba locations at that price. Nice score!

Van Halen II (1979)

1. You're No Good 3:14
2. Dance The Night Away 3:08
3. Somebody Get Me A Doctor 2:52
4. Bottoms Up! 3:05
5. Outta Love Again 2:52
6. Light Up The Sky 3:11
7. Spanish Fly 1:00
8. D.O.A. 4:10
9. Women In Love...... 4:08
10. Beautiful Girls 3:57

US #6 UK #23

singles:
Dance The Night Away US #15
Beautiful Gilrls US #84

Probably my favorite VH album, but I'm not sure. Quite a few of the tunes were written in the club days, and others were brand new. All of it sounds great and even better on the production end than the debut.
"Dance The Night Away" was a Pop classic that proved they didn't have to be all flash (EVH doesn't even really do a solo, just a few tapped harmonics). I still love this song and it reminds me of spring/summer. A true feel-good song.
Some of my favorite VH rockers are here including unsung headbangers like "D.O.A.", the bizarre "Light Up The Sky" (great Alex drumming), "Bottoms Up!", "Somebody Get Me A Doctor" and the lone cover "You're No Good" which opens the album with a bass solo.
The backing vox throughout the album are totally stellar and made VH stand out amongst other Hard Rock acts.
Then there's "Outta Love Again", one of my Top 5 VH tunes with a seriously nasty riff and killer drumming.
"Spanish Fly" is basically "Eruption" on acoustic guitar and is still amazing.
I've never liked "Women In Love" and "Beautiful Girls" is repetitive and I've also never been thrilled with.
But all in all, though painfully short, (a recurring theme for any DLR-era VH album) VH II easily avoids any sophomore slump and became the band's first Top 10 album and sold over 6 million in the US.

VH II is another winner, but I never liked it quite as much as the debut. It was a little too glossy & poppy for me at the time, although I don't see that as a negative anymore (but when you're 14, those things are REALLY important). As IP pointed out, there are some classics, with "D.O.A." probably being my favorite, yet I do like "Beautiful Girls" as well. It just didn't have that in-your-face impact that the first album did. Don't get me wrong, though...it's still a seriously great album.

"Beautiful Girls" and this album was the soundtrack for my rides out to Jones Beach that Summer! It will always remind me of a summer drive. (and of course sand filled with beautiful girls!!)

It starts off strangely with a cover "Your No Good"???? but gets quickly on track with the stellar "Dance The Night Away".
Love "Spanish Fly" into "DOA" (we were sitting ducks for the police man.....")
A big fan of "Women In Love" (gorgeous intro and nice chorus) and the line " all these crazy women and one more crazy night".

I played the crap out of this album back in the day!

And I'd classify this one as a fun album!

John:
Yes, this is a FUN album! And, it needs to be cranked to 11 1/2.