I'm just glad Beat It won, because it really is the best.
Here's #20...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G2JKIVstJU
20. ON FIRE(Van Halen; 1978) 183 points | 8 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:54 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vJUvecTTR0
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:55 (eight years ago) link
(Sorry to Mr. Big-bomb the thread, though Paul Gilbert is a nuts guitarist)
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:56 (eight years ago) link
(The drill comes out at 6:40)
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:57 (eight years ago) link
i didn't do a solos list just because i barely had time to send in a ballot at all, but that's a good list
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 13:57 (eight years ago) link
The Beat It solo is so graceful, so easy in execution. Always the highlight of the song
― calstars, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:03 (eight years ago) link
Isolated "Beat It" solo. A true mic drop, like "Enjoy your rhythm track, Lukather. See ya!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aplfy9YZcZs
― a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:08 (eight years ago) link
Back to "On Fire," when I first bought the debut, it was on cassette and the song was at the end of side 1, but it apparently was always meant to be the closer. So when I hear it after "Ice Cream Man" now, it still sounds weird.
Disappointed it only came it at 20, because on any given day it could be my favorite VH song of all.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:15 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOpSS46VezQ
19. SOMEBODY GET ME A DOCTOR(Van Halen II; 1979) 186 points | 9 votes
Another TOO LOW
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:20 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lynStsoEMc8
18. BEAUTIFUL GIRLS(Van Halen II; 1979) 207 points | 12 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:53 (eight years ago) link
^^ Both of those would have been VERY strong contenders for a #1 on my ballot.
― a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:57 (eight years ago) link
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yr_PGbtRrY
― Now I Know How Joan of Arcadia Felt (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 15:37 (eight years ago) link
I knew what that was before I clicked it, and I still clicked it.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 15:42 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEsckJ56Bng
17. I'M THE ONE(Van Halen; 1978) 214 points | 9 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 15:48 (eight years ago) link
^^^^^^^ yessss
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 15:49 (eight years ago) link
kinda the ultimate vh song imo
Is there any VH that doesn't feature even just a little bit of boogie?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:33 (eight years ago) link
I was just curious and did some googling, and it's remarkable how little footage there is of them in the early days, and that even what little exists already has them at playing to thousands c. 1978.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:42 (eight years ago) link
Maybe one day I'll figure what people like so much about this one—it's always a fan fave in VH discussions—but it hasn't happened yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_-ytH0JMZg
16. LITTLE GUITARS(Diver Down; 1982) 227 points | 9 votes | 1 first place vote
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:53 (eight years ago) link
uh iirc it's
CATCH AS CATCHCATCH AS CATCHCAAAAN
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:02 (eight years ago) link
like, what a cool part of a cool song
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:03 (eight years ago) link
people think tiny things are cute, even guitars
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:06 (eight years ago) link
It's joyous and light of spirit. I guess the "intro" is not considered part of this, although Roth wrote his lyrics thinking of flamenco and Mexicans based on that
― Josefa, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:18 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti1BWGgdGL8
15. ERUPTION(Van Halen; 1978) 302 points | 12 votes | 1 first place vote
—
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6e7uctAww
14. YOU REALLY GOT ME(Van Halen; 1978) 318 points | 15 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:49 (eight years ago) link
oh my god
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:50 (eight years ago) link
should have also polled all of michael anthony's \m/ faces
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 17:51 (eight years ago) link
Little Guitars was my #1, I just think it's a crazy mix of jazzy bullshit in the beginning, latin whatever, a great catch-phrase backed by a break beat, and some pizzicato wanking
― calstars, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:12 (eight years ago) link
my son's favorite song for the past couple weeks has been the original "You Really Got Me," he'll listen to it 2 or 3 times in a row and totally rock out. i'm gonna drop the VH version on him next time he asks to hear it and see what happens.
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:23 (eight years ago) link
lol cool test
"Wait, dad...whaaaaaa???"
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:30 (eight years ago) link
the original back to the future prom moment
― home organ, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:31 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DstMopCz5cA
13. ATOMIC PUNK(Van Halen; 1978) 329 points | 14 votes | 1 first place vote
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:36 (eight years ago) link
and aren't we all victims of the science age in the end
― home organ, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:44 (eight years ago) link
Think I might change my Twitter bio to "I can't remember when I was your age."
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:46 (eight years ago) link
i like to imagine DLR changing into a really badass road warrior style getup when this came up on the setlist in the 70s
― home organ, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:54 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M4_Ommfvv0
12. HOT FOR TEACHER(1984; 1984) 373 points | 16 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 18:58 (eight years ago) link
x-post It was generally their closer at their 1979 shows
― Josefa, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:03 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOjm4I7LRgY
11. JAMIE'S CRYIN'(Van Halen; 1978) 373 points | 16 votes | 1 first place vote
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:21 (eight years ago) link
I've just about now, 27 years later, gotten to where I can listen to Jamie's Cryin' without thinking about Wild Thing.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:30 (eight years ago) link
ahaha ok my no. 1 won't make it :(
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:31 (eight years ago) link
Eruption my #1 because VAN HALEN!
― weatheringdaleson, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:34 (eight years ago) link
• Did Nos. 15 & 14 really happen like that?
• I'll tell you what wasn't on my ballot - stuff like Ice Cream Man. Not a big fan of those shaloobidoobydoo jaunts. Didn't vote for Happy Trails either.
• I've always taken up for Van Hagar even though I'm firmly in the DLR camp. (But not the DLR "camp" I mention above.) Went through 5150 and OU812 as I was making my ballot, heard those "Stop lookin' out, start lookin' in, be your own best friend" lyrics and realized that I really can't take up for them as much anymore.
Pretty happy with the way this is rolling out though!
― pplains, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:41 (eight years ago) link
First time hearing Little Guitars, this is cool! Kind of like Van Halen doing Rush
― Dominique, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:46 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHXbi1bC9T4
10. AND THE CRADLE WILL ROCK...(Women and Children First; 1980) 377 points | 17 votes | 1 first place vote
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:46 (eight years ago) link
rock on
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:49 (eight years ago) link
i couldn't make room for Ice Cream Man but had to slip Happy Trails in at the end. i've always got time for a little of Dave's jazz scat, but a little does go a long way.
― rmde bob (will), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 19:53 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Gk79FazKs
9. MEAN STREET(Fair Warning; 1981) 391 points | 17 votes
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 20:06 (eight years ago) link
TOO FUCKIN' LOW!
― Turrican, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 20:08 (eight years ago) link
so fuckin good
― rmde bob (will), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 20:15 (eight years ago) link
maybe too early to call but it's looking like my only picks that didn't make it here are Happy Trails, One Foot Out the Door & You're No Good
the last one wasn't super-obvious for me. i'm not particularly in love with Ronstadt's version (Dee Dee Warwick OTOH...), but the atmospherics and DLR's vocals tipped it.
― rmde bob (will), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 20:16 (eight years ago) link
I'm no fan of the VH rhythm section, but to their credit with a very few exceptions they work with EVH like a true power trio. That is, when he is soloing there are rarely other guitars at work. Just the three instruments.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 20:19 (eight years ago) link