1. I'll Wait2. Everybody Wants Some!!3. "Dirty Movies"4. I'm The One5. Unchained6. Could This Be Magic?7. Little Dreamer8. Sinner's Swing!9. Atomic Punk10. D.O.A.11. In A Simple Rhyme12. Top Jimmy13. Mean Street14. Drop Dead Legs15. And The Cradle Will Rock16. Hot for Teacher17. Women In Love...18. Hear About It Later19. Hang 'Em High20. Finish What Ya Started21. Intruder22. (Oh) Pretty Woman
― Now I Know How Joan of Arcadia Felt (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 00:57 (seven years ago) link
no #1 votes for Jump!
― rmde bob (will), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:11 (seven years ago) link
Wanna thank everyone for voting, and nate woolls for all his behind the scenes wizardry. Also, I want to apologize to Sammy Hagar because he got screwed.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:11 (seven years ago) link
EruptionDrop Dead LegsAin't Talkin' 'Bout LoveEverybody Wants Some!!PanamaI'm the OneAtomic PunkAnd the Cradle Will Rock...Take Your Whiskey Home(Oh) Pretty WomanIce Cream ManOn FireYou Really Got MeRunnin' with the DevilHot for TeacherJumpBig Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)Jamie's Cryin'Mean StreetUnchainedCould This Be Magic?Beautiful Girls
― weatheringdaleson, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:16 (seven years ago) link
...and by "Dinosaur Band" I meant that despite their youth, VH was trafficking in many of the same things--virtuoso musicianship, bottomless decadence & hedonism, huge huge shows--that older groups were into and the new groups (supposedly) weren't. Of course despite VH were skronkyier and noisier than their predecessors and and most of their contemporaries--they did sound right at home on the Over Edge s/t, didn't they?
― Now I Know How Joan of Arcadia Felt (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:17 (seven years ago) link
sometimes I think my overwhelming preference for the DLR era has a lot to do with my overall preference for that era of music in general. i was coming of age during the latter half of the Sammy reign, but outside of indie bs and g-funk I was pretty obsessed with classic rock/ funk/ new wave/ disco/ post-punk
― rmde bob (will), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:19 (seven years ago) link
(Thanks Johnny! :-))
― weatheringdaleson, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:21 (seven years ago) link
1. Girl Gone Bad2. Light Up the Sky3. Unchained4. "5150"5. Everybody Wants Some!!6. Little Guitars7. Push Comes to Shove8. Drop Dead Legs9. I’m the One10. Mine All Mine11. On Fire12. Finish What Ya Started13. Why Can’t This Be Love14. Me Wise Magic15. Romeo Delight16. Sinner’s Swing!17. Top of the World18. I’ll Wait19. You and Your Blues20. Humans Being21. As Is22. Cabo Wabo
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:55 (seven years ago) link
TRAX1. Panama2. Unchained3. I'll Wait4. Hot For Teacher5. Jamie's Cryin'6. Poundcake7. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love8. Everybody Wants Some!!9. Jump10. Runnin' With The Devil11. Atomic Punk12. Dance The Night Away13. Why Can't This Be Love14. Ice Cream Man15. Somebody Get Me A Doctor16. Right Now17. Finish What Ya Started18. Beautiful Girls19. And The Cradle Will Rock20. Runaround21. Standin' On Top Of The World 22. Me Wise Magic
SOLOZ1. Eruption2. Hot For Teacher3. Ice Cream Man4. Poundcake5. Beat It
ALBUMZ1. 19842. Van Halen3. Van Halen II4. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge5. Women And Children First
― maura, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 01:57 (seven years ago) link
Great top 2.
― Hi! I'm twice-coloured! (Sund4r), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 02:06 (seven years ago) link
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is the first VH song I learned on guitar, and it's probably the easiest VH song to learn, probably because there's no tapping and speed picking anywhere in it. I'm sure I drove my parents crazy playing it in my room for hours at a time.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 02:12 (seven years ago) link
Maybe everyone else already arrived at this conclusion, but "Good Enough," the opening track on 5150, is basically a rewrite of "Panama" because I guess the band wanted to prove they could still do that with a new singer?
Anyway, "Good Enough" is good and should've been a single.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 02:30 (seven years ago) link
thanks JF!
songs:PanamaEverybody Wants Some!!Hot For TeacherAin’t Talkin’ ‘Bout LoveSomebody Get Me A DoctorI’m The OneDance The Night AwayUnchainedWomen In Love…In A Simple RhymeRunnin’ With The DevilYou Really Got MeEruptionHear About It LaterD.O.A.Why Can’t This Be LoveJumpFinish What Ya StartedDrop Dead LegsThe Best Of Both WorldsPoundcakeBeautiful Girls
albums: Van Halen II1984Women And Children FirstVan HalenFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 02:39 (seven years ago) link
1. Runnin’ with the Devil2. Mean Street3. Panama4. I’ll Wait5. You Really Got Me6. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love7. I’m the One8. Hot for Teacher9. Everybody Wants Some!10. Beautiful Girls11. Atomic Punk12. “Dirty Movies”13. Jamie’s Cryin’14. And the Cradle Will Rock…15. Unchained16. Eruption17. Jump18. Dance the Night Away19. Sinner’s Swing!20. Dancing in the Street21. (Oh) Pretty Woman22. Big Bad Bill (is Sweet William Now)
I didn't vote for solos or albums, but if I had, my top 5 albums would be:
Van HalenFair Warning1984Van Halen IIWomen & Children First
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 10:51 (seven years ago) link
1. Panama2. Everybody Wants Some!!3. Unchained4. Runnin' With the Devil5. And the Cradle Will Rock6. Dance the Night Away7. Eruption8. Hot for Teacher9. Take Your Whiskey Home10. Jump11. You Really Got Me12. I'll Wait13. Mean Street14. Jamie's Cryin'15. Light Up the Sky 16. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love17. Feel Your Love Tonight18. Bottoms Up!19. Sinner's Swing20. Ice Cream Man21. Hang 'Em High22. Happy Trails
ALBUMS:1. Women and Children First2. Van Halen3. 19844. Fair Warning5. Van Halen II
― mte, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 14:04 (seven years ago) link
New theory after listening to the songs on this thread: if Michaels Anthony had been mixed as loud live as he was in the studio, or if he had any of the amplifier overdrive that he had live in his studio tone, he'd be recognized as a bass genius worldwide. The single p-bass pickup instrument is not well-served by 80s style direct recording.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 14:24 (seven years ago) link
1. Could This Be Magic2. Atomic Punk3. Ain't Talkin' Bout Love4. Dance The Night Away5. Unchained6. Little Guitars7. Sinner's Swing!8. Panama9. D.O.A. 10. Outta Love Again11. Jump12. Mean Street13. Top Jimmy14. So This Is Love15. Everybody Wants Some!!16. I'll Wait17. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)18. Dancing In The Street19. Somebody Get Me A Doctor20. Light Up The Sky21. I'm The One22. On Fire
Didn't vote for albums or solos
― kevin smith what a bro (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 17:59 (seven years ago) link
I was the first place vote for "When It's Love". That's all I'm going to say here.
― how's life, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 22:25 (seven years ago) link
Tracks
01 Atomic Punk02 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love03 On Fire04 Runnin' With The Devil05 And The Cradle Will Rock...06 Everybody Wants Some!!07 I'm The One08 Panama09 Dance The Night Away10 Jamie's Cryin'11 Unchained12 Romeo Delight13 Sinner's Swing!14 Beautiful Girls15 Little Dreamer16 Mean Street17 Top Jimmy18 Women In Love...19 'Dirty Movies'20 Feel Your Love Tonight21 Outta Love Again22 Loss Of Control
LPs
01 Van Halen02 Women and Children First03 Fair Warning04 Van Halen II05 1984
― lingereffect (Kent Burt), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 22:37 (seven years ago) link
50. ROMEO DELIGHT(Women and Children First; 1980) 49 points | 3 votes | 0 first place votes
Kinda surprised this didn't place higher. Solid.
― lingereffect (Kent Burt), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 22:41 (seven years ago) link
Michael Anthony's bass style is similar to Dusty Hill and Cliff Williams in keeping it simple and play what is needed like a clock.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 22:46 (seven years ago) link
01 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love02 Everybody Wants Some!!03 I'll Wait04 Mean Street05 And the Cradle Will Rock06 Runnin' with the Devil07 Eruption/You Really Got Me08 Intruder/(Oh) Pretty Woman09 Jump10 Hot for Teacher11 Beautiful Girls12 Panama13 On Fire14 D.O.A.15 Unchained16 Ice Cream Man17 Drop Dead Legs18 Atomic Punk19 Fools20 Sunday Afternoon in the Park21 Cathedral22 Tora! Tora!
last two were joeks, really
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 23:35 (seven years ago) link
Cathedral's cool. My favorite EVH instrumental that isn't Eruption.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 23:40 (seven years ago) link
I want to believe that somewhere in Eddie Van Halen's archive of home recordings is him jamming with some analog sequencer sounding like late 70s/early 80s Tangerine Dream. A dude that could play tap lines so repetitive and clean with a delay could sound like a one man Steve Reich. Add in some Berlin style electronic repeating sequences and you probably would have eargasm on your hands. I'd imagine the lure of easy money on the road probably kept him from ever having time, but I would have thought at one time with his L.A. proximity he could have done more movie and tv music if he wanted.
― earlnash, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 23:54 (seven years ago) link
― earlnash, Wednesday, May 25, 2016 6:46 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah...i can't imagine Eddie's sound would work as well if the bassist was trying to be as flashy as him, especially in a band with no 2nd guitarist.
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Wednesday, 25 May 2016 23:56 (seven years ago) link
i like cathedral fine, i just remember guitar dudes creaming themselves over it
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 23:57 (seven years ago) link
I want to believe that somewhere in Eddie Van Halen's archive of home recordings is him jamming with some analog sequencer
It's the groovetastic combo of gtr/synth/cowbell that led me to vote for their Martha and the Vandellas cover
― kevin smith what a bro (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 26 May 2016 02:18 (seven years ago) link
"Outta Love Again" was my other choice determined largely by groove alone. And my #1, "Could This Be Magic" I wouldn't have ranked so highly without the rain-dependent recording circumstances or Nicolette Larson's contribution or Dave's rhythm guitar contribution. And as for "Big Bad Bill", I can't regard highly enough a hard rock/metal band that allows 2 bandmembers' dad to tootle along on clarinet on a swing-jazz novelty cover.
Thanks for doing the poll, JF!
― kevin smith what a bro (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 26 May 2016 02:33 (seven years ago) link
Anthony makes for a better Bill Berry than Bill Berry, in terms of a somewhat unheralded band member making the difference between a good and GREAT band.
Lot of the time there's no rhythm guitar track at all when Eddie goes off on one, so Anthony covers a lot of ground himself, plus, obviously, the vocals.
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 26 May 2016 02:35 (seven years ago) link
I seem to recall in an article about the recording of the first record with Ted Templeton they had to work that out. Originally Templeton was wanting him to cut basic rhythm parts then over dub leads, but he really couldn't take them apart in a way that sounded better. The stripped down setup without much over dubs gives those early studio records a very live feel.
Another unique sonic element in Van Halen's early sound is how Alex Van Halen tuned up his kit. He's kinda known for having his snare pitched really high which makes it pierce through the mix. They also used the toms quite a bit in the arrangements of tunes.
Probably from growing up around their Dad's jazz, they could swing pretty well for a hard rock band and they put it in the act. It gives them a bit of Vaudeville.
― earlnash, Thursday, 26 May 2016 04:07 (seven years ago) link
"Michael Anthony's bass style is similar to Dusty Hill and Cliff Williams in keeping it simple and play what is needed like a clock."
Right, that's the cliche -- but listen carefully. He plays these crazy funk-style octaves and perfect little runs all the time -- he's high in the recorded mix but the sound of his instrument is not as aggressive as it is live (where he's ironically less audible). He's not a 8th-notes-and-that's-it player. He's doing something similar to Chris Squire -- Squire adapted Motown to prog, Anthony is playing a lot of fingerstyle funk -- but without the aggressive timbre, Anthony doesn't get noticed for it.
― Three Word Username, Thursday, 26 May 2016 05:56 (seven years ago) link
^^^
To wit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu8RpcChZrw
Listen to the chorus!!!
― a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Thursday, 26 May 2016 13:34 (seven years ago) link
Fuuck so bummed I missed this one.
Def wouldve voted for Bottoms Up, Runaround, Me Wise Magic & In A Simple Rhyme.
― billstevejim, Thursday, 26 May 2016 16:07 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, I really should have voted. I would have repped for the unfairly maligned Diver Down. In my book, Hang 'em High, Secrets, and The Full Bug are all classics.
― Darin, Thursday, 26 May 2016 18:34 (seven years ago) link
Might as well Jump!. My favorite tracks. Well do I remember the world premiere of DLR's "Just Like Paradise."
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 30 January 2019 03:19 (five years ago) link
VH rulez
― calstars, Wednesday, 30 January 2019 03:46 (five years ago) link
AIN'T TALKIN BOUT POLL
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 30 January 2019 11:37 (five years ago) link
maron interviewing DLR kicked off my first full catalog listen. Lots of stuff between Van Halen and 1984 sounds good in a way it never did before. and most of what's good is absent in van hagar. holy shit, i didn't even know any of these recognizable-from-old-radio van hagar songs were them.
― Cecil replies to your e-mails (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 16 July 2019 23:28 (four years ago) link
Dance the Night Away might have been my #1. <3 that chorus with those backing vocals. Ultimate party music. Gettin' shit done music. Cruisin' music. Music.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 July 2019 00:19 (four years ago) link
I just put this on and DLR's "come on" scream might be the apex of their catalog.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 July 2019 00:36 (four years ago) link
VH is grrrreat but don’t feel like you can’t also show VHagar some love too. Dreams, Why Can’t this be Love, Summer Nights are all pretty sweet. You don’t have to choose between Dave and Sammy- only Eddie has that burden.
― calstars, Wednesday, 17 July 2019 00:56 (four years ago) link
Van Halen was both more fun and (when they needed to be) heavier. Van Hagar was competent (he's a great belter) but AOR dumber, and not in a smart way. However, Hagar has its moments. For example, "Finish What Ya Started" may be the most subtle the band has ever sounded, and I've always liked the pure cheese of "When It's Love." "Black & Blue" might be as ugly as lyrics get this side of AC/DC at its grossest, though.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2019 01:03 (four years ago) link
"Dance the Night Away" is an utter gem.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2019 01:04 (four years ago) link
I will fuck with some 5150 and "Finish What Ya Started" but nothing later than that.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Wednesday, 17 July 2019 01:44 (four years ago) link
The production on F/U/C/K largely ruins it for me, but Balance has a few dope things. And that song from the Twister movie was alright.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 17 July 2019 03:36 (four years ago) link