Null:
I don’t think Van Halen has a “perfect” album, but this one
comes pretty close.
Van Halen always had their instant radio classics that every
kid born within our age borders is familiar with, for better for worse. The
sound of Van Halen in the 1980s (my coming of age years) always incited a
little bit of excitement. They sounded like teenage sex, cigarettes, and
stealing from dad’s liquor cabinet. Their songs always made me want to be bad.
I inadvertently acquired their entire 80s catalog on
cassette tapes sometime around 1988. Some kid walked up to my locker between
classes and pulled out a bag of cassette tapes from under his jacket. He said,
“You look like a rocker. I’ll sell these to you for $2.00 each.” I took a look
at the bag of about 20 rock cassettes. I don’t remember what was in the bag
other than every Van Halen tape. I told him I would buy all the Van Halen the
following day. The next day I gave him 12 bucks and I had the first 6 Van Halen
cassette tapes. They were in great shape too.
All the albums had good songs, but Diver Down really sucked. Unfortunately, David Lee Roth did his creepy
pedophilic monologues throughout the bulk of the records. Nevertheless, most of
the music was good. The debut album and 1984
were the best.
The first album has those slightly sinister guitar riffs
that hant the ears on songs like “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout
Love,” and “Jaimie’s Cryin.’” All great tunes. “Eruption” still kicks ass. The
high octane singing on the track, “On Fire,” is still impressive. Most of the
music is just rockin’ fun. However, if I never had to listen to the torturous “Ice
Cream Man” again I could die with a smile on my face.
Spooner D:
Van Halen’s first record is very good. It cemented their
place in rock ‘n’ roll history, then it was all downhill from there.
PaulySure:
Van Halen’s first LP is a fine album—probably their second
best. The “Eruption” solo is mediocre and frankly overrated (everyone in high
school was playing it on their guitar). And then the other single was a Kinks’
cover that didn’t need to happen. So why aren’t we talking about 1984? That’s an album!
Kloghole:
During my formative youth, my introduction to Van Halen
happened on a visit to my cousins’ house. They lived between Madison,
Milwaukee, and Chicago, which granted them access to a wide variety of music. I
think Diver Down was just released,
and I got a quick preview. Another cousin treated me to some Kiss and “Big
Balls” by AC/DC. In between his chortling, I recall my cousin trying to point
out the obvious—the song was not about dances but really about somebody’s
balls. I was laughing inside while I was soaking it all in.
Unlike my cousins, I lived in a town with access to one
radio station, and its lineup included the following genres: easy listening, polka,
top 40 (when school was letting out, it played shit like “Morning Train”), and
country. I had no real access to punk, metal, or hard rock, except for some
bands that may show up on late night TV (we got two channels, three if it was
cloudy).
I am not sure when I picked up Van Halen’s self-titled
album. My guess is that I picked it up after 1984 came out. I do remember it was a fixture in my dorm room, but
I cannot recall it being in regular rotation on my bus route. To keep the
savages in their seats, the bus driver installed a tape player and let us
select the music. I am sure he was not thrilled by Quiet Riot’s “Love’s a
Bitch,” and I was not particularly fond of it either. “Love’s a bitch, bitch,
bitch, bitch, baby.” Repeat ad nauseum.
Van Halen’s self-titled album was one of those that you
heard blaring through the dorm rooms at all hours of the day. It had enough
punch in “Running with the Devil” and “Eruption” to fuel the binge drinking
undergrads. I think it was also one of those tapes that people played the first
side, rewound it while they got another beer or mixed a drink, and played it
over again.
I, however, liked the David Lee Roth influenced tracks and
direction of the band. Once they split, I gave them both a listen, but only
have CDs of Roth’s post-1984 work.
Although I started out listening to the more radio friendly rock, I moved away
from the commercial, and Roth’s stuff was definitely not commercially
successful, aside from the airplay he got for his solo effort after leaving the
band. I liked the goofy “Ice Cream Man” on the self-titled and “Big Bad Bill”
from Diver Down. I played the hell
out of his solo EP and enjoyed his “Tobacco Road” and “Sensible Shoes.” I am
certain Van Halen fans were horrified, but Roth’s songs were out there just
enough to tickle my strange sense of humor.
Although the self-titled was a solid album, my favorite is
probably still Women and Children First.
“Take Your Whiskey Home” was the soundtrack to my life back then, and the last
two songs had a sentimental ring to them that resonated with my pathetic love
life. We probably listened to the self-titled more when we had social
gatherings, just to bend to the will of the majority. Fortunately, it was an
album that I did not mind hearing, unlike other popular music from the time (I
allowed Thriller just once for
curiosity’s sake).
Overall, I would give Van Halen’s self-titled album two
sweet sticky balls. It is a pretty solid album, especially as a debut and holds
up pretty well. It would be one of those albums you could sing along to in the
car if you were getting too sleepy. For that, it was at least useful at some
point.
“Give me a bottle of anything and a glazed donut … … to go!”
Sweet Dreams Motherfuckers.
Sugar Pie Honey Bun:
I miss Sammy Hagar.
Gusty Bellows:
I don’t know. They were always a radio band to me. I never
had their albums.
SoDak:
Van Halen brings back a lot of memories. Van Halen was
everywhere in the late 1970s and throughout the 80s—even before the complete
saturation associated with 1984. They
were played on the radio, at the roller skating rink, and at state fairs. I
used to play basketball with the neighor, who was at least six years older than
me. We would always listen to cassette tapes on a small boom box, during a game
of horse or shooting hoops. When the first Van Halen record was released in
1978, he brought the tape over, excited to share what he called “the best new
band on the planet.” For weeks, we played basketball, taking turns, between
shots, flipping the tape between sides A and B. I fondly remember those days,
intently listening to new music, internalizing each song, even if I did not
care for some of them. I am sure that this experience is the reason why I have
a soft spot for this record.
Side A still rocks. “Runnin’ with the Devil” is a bit
plotting, but makes me think of hot summer days and being free. “Eruption” is
enjoyable. “You Really Got Me” is a fine cover. I really like “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout
Love.” The song always seemed dangerous and a bit creepy. I know that my young
mind did not fully comprehend what David Lee Roth was singing about—guess I was
a bit innocent at the time. Of course, this song marks the first, or at least
the precursor, in a series of tunes when Van Halen includes a mellow/slow part
while Roth mostly talks over the music. I like how it is handled here, but find
it tiring and exaggerated on later songs—not to mention that in those songs Roth
generally sounds sleazy, as if he is trying to talk someone into having sex
with him. “I’m the One” is forgettable to me.
In my opinion, side B is uneven a best. I like listening to “Jamie’s
Cryin.” “Atomic Punk” sounds reimescient of other hard rock songs of the
period. “Feel Your Love Tonight” is okay; the chorus is catchy. “Little Dreamer”
does not hold my attention. I cannot stand the song “Ice Cream Man.” It still
makes me shutter. For the most part, I like “On Fire” and find Roth’s squeals
amusing.
For me, I would like to take the first four songs from side
A and the first song on side B, select a few songs from other records, such as “Unchained,”
“Everybody Wants Some,” “Dance the Night Away,” and (possibly) “Jump,” to make
one solid Van Hallen from start to finish.
In regard to a few other memories related to Van Halen. I
bought Diver Down on vinyl in 1982. I
was so disappointed that I wasted my money on such a steaming pile of shit.
But, I did listen to it over and over, since I was rarely able to buy records.
Figured, I had to give it a try. I must admit, I do like the cover “Dancing in
the Street.” A friend had a David Lee Roth poster in which his butt hair was
visible due to his assless chaps. The image still haunts me.
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