Van Halen Top Ten
Kip: Van Halen quickly replaced Kiss as my favorite band as soon as their debut album came out. I was such a straight arrow/nerd that the cocky, rebellious, just pure party attitude let me live vicariously through them. And then there was Edward. While I was also a huge Hagar solo fan as well, the Van Hagar (though I definitely bought every album) never landed with me in the same way, which my list will definitely support. I'm very much a first four albums fan in much the same way as I'm a first six album Kiss fan. My final list included no Hagar songs, but I am including “Humans Being,” “The Seventh Seal” and “Top of the World” as honorable mention, just missed tunes.
10. The Full Bug - I was SO disappointed with Diver Down on first listen, until I got to the last track on the album, “The Full Bug.” I remember thinking, “why didn't you OPEN with this??” It is the ONLY song on the album that retains that early Van Halen swagger and almost breathless pace. The song just smokes along and Roth's lyrics are at their absurd best. Videos of this tour back up my guess that this would just SMOKE live. A raver.
9. And the Cradle Will Rock - Opening with Edward's palm scuffing and utilizing his bastardized piano sound, this song just bulldozes along, punctuated with Roth's hilarious lyrics about a high school loser and his parents at their wit's end. Van Halen wasn't really a sing-along, anthem band, but this one falls into that category. Cool sonics, funny lyrics, a middle finger vibe; just classic VH.
8. Unchained - Another song I vividly recall thinking, “holy shit!” upon first listen. That drop D riff. I have never had goosebumps like I did the two times I saw VH and Roth did his split jump to lift off the show. This song was very obviously written for that moment. Even Roth's nonsensical, stream of consciousness lyrics somehow work perfectly. It's a cliché, but what a fist raising classic.
7. Ice Cream Man - While they could get cover song heavy, man, did they pick a winner with this one. While “Eruption” introduced Edward to the world, this tune became the vehicle for Roth to take the spotlight as well. From his ham-handed acoustic opening, to the cock of the walk lyrics and delivery, this was just peak Roth, before he became a caricature of himself later. And when the electric part comes in, good lord is that guitar sound perfect. They were so good at the slow build into chaos. The number of times I air-guitared to this song....
6. Feel Your Love Tonight - I was 13 at the time and thought this was the ultimate horny teenager anthem. Man, I love that riff and the guitar sound just rips. The “White Room/Cold Gin” riff under the chorus is just perfection and the rhythm sound/riff under the solo is my favorite rhythm sound of all time. It made me quit playing air guitar and hurry to learn it so I could play along.
5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor - Another song that displays Edward's unbelievable rhythm playing/ Another song that induces fists to lift in the air. This again established their “don't give a ….” attitude and man, it landed with me. This one stands out as one of my earliest memories of noticing Michael Anthony's incredibly high backing vocals. This song really worked live as well.
4. Dance the Night Away - While this song seemed very light compared to the rest of the first two albums, it worked because it was just a great song. Opening with Edward's harmonic tapping, the song is their first pop song. I had several female buddies at the time and all of them absolutely loved this song and it gave them a song to sing along to as they mooned over Roth and Edward. This is a song that immediately makes me remember a terrific, carefree time of my life.
3. Light Up the Sky - I was often baffled at the track selection of VH albums and couldn't believe they didn't open VH II with this rather than the moody, mediocre cover of “You're No Good.” (Sorry Jeff.) It's just the perfect “jumping off” song and I was rewarded when they opened every show of that tour with the song. The descending/ascending opening riff, Roth's howls, the top of your lungs sing-along chorus, the dive bomb/machine gun solo, the sledgehammer ending all just left me breathless. My wonderful grandmother bought me the album when I was staying with her but didn't have a turntable, so I literally stared at the cover, imagining what I was going to hear, for two weeks. This song made it all worth it. What a monster.
2. Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love - I honestly think this is their statement of purpose, defining song. Every guitar player I met after the debut album came out said they spend the next days learning this riff. It showcases Edward's inimitable rhythm and solo prowess, features the ultimate insensitive, parent terrifying Roth lyrics and showcases the vocal harmonies that would come to subtly define the band for several years. An era defining song.
1. Mean Street - Not only of Van Halen's, but one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. The swagger and edge in this song are just perfection. The stuttering harmonic tapping segueing into a just bone crushing riff had me slack jawed upon first listen. History has proven that it was indeed Edward reminding Roth and Templeman that this was HIS band. Roth has to be given credit for leaving the camp out of this one. “You know this ain't no through street/end is dead ahead. Poor folk play for keeps down here/they're the living dead.” “Jump” this ain't. For MANY years, this was my driving to the game baseball song. God, I love this.
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Jeff: When I was in high school, I was lucky enough to have a cassette deck in my car. This is the later 70’s and not many cars had them preinstalled, so you had to install them yourself and it was costly. But with a loan from my mom, I bought one and installed it with a friends help. What a pain that was! The next step was I wanted the coolest music I could find to blast from my speakers as I cruised around town. This was a common concept; I made many cassettes for friends who wanted the same thing. Cool music! Van Halen fit that bill like no other! When the first Van Halen album came out it dripped with coolness. It couldn’t have been any more bad ass. It was perfection to my ears. The front and back cover on the first album was awesome, the guitar playing was from another dimension, so fresh and so well executed! Roth’s vocals with Michael Anthony’s background vocals were just the icing on the cake! The production was spot on by Ted Templeman. It all made for a masterpiece of songs to blast from my car.
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10. Runnin’ with the Devil – This fits perfectly to what my lead paragraph was saying. The opening is amazing. You can thank Gene Simmons for this. If you listen his demos with the band, it’s there. Thankfully Templeman copied it and made it one of the most memorable openings ever on a rock album.
9. And the Cradle Will Rock – I didn’t come to appreciate this song till later in life, I was missing out. This is a great tune. I like the swirling guitars intro and the bass and drums provide a solid bounce beneath the whole thing. What a timeless song, even to my ears in 2024 this still sounds totally modern.
8. You’re No Good – this is not gonna make many peoples top 10 of Van Halen and Kip's head explodes. When this came out, I had just broken up with my girlfriend and it just fit my mood perfectly. I do remember arriving at a friend’s house and he had bought the album before me. This song was playing the minute I walked in the door. He looked up and kind of frowned and said “Now they’re doing Linda Ronstadt.” He wasn’t impressed, but I was. Great cover! Just should not been the first song on the album.
7. Intruder – I always loved synth tunes like Gary Numan and Ultravox and when this came out it was right up my alley. Such an aggressive synth sound with Eddie’s guitar work that a magical otherworldly mood is created. I just wish it was longer!
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6. You Really Got Me – This song is an undeniable charmer. Such a classic song of the sixties, but Van Halen made it radically modern!
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5. Panama – This song is practically impossible to resist! The instrumental break with Roth’s dialogue is so well crafted, with the whoosh effects in the background and Eddie’s guitar layered on top just illustrates the creative marvels they were.
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4. Jamie’s Cryin’ - The production of Templeman showcases the groups vocals and instrumental talents, a perfect match of a band with a producer. You can turn this stuff up and it sounds great with clarity and space amongst the musical muscle of the recording. This song is a perfect showcase of what Michael Anthony’s background vocals brought to the band.
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3. Little Dreamer – From the very get go this song grabs me. A haunting melody with a compelling guitar hook and an exciting dynamic arrangement that reaches Abby Road perfection. Highest compliment I can think of!
2. Somebody Get Me a Doctor – What a riff! The break after the lead with the slight pause and the clapping that leads back into the riff is beautiful. This should have been the first track on the second album instead of “You’re No Good”.
1. Ain’t Talkin’ “Bout Love - A wonderful mix of rock, art and hooky commerciality. Tough confident vocals and an ingenious bass line. We get two lead breaks on this song and both can bring tears to my eyes. The angry guitar matched with the joyous, shouted chorus is just magical.
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Mark:
10. Best of both worlds (Live Without a Net) - The live version is so kickass! Eddies riding that volume knob to perfection. The studio version is good but, I dig the live energy. Just four dudes kicking butt! Alex is a monster drummer. Micheal locks in so tight, and of course Sammy’s a total vocal stallion.
9. Girl Gone Bad - Van Halen gone prog? Well, it may not be… Tarcus or even… Natural Science… but the solo section gets up there on the proggo-meter. This is my go-to song on 1984. The first side was played out for me, but this tune gets me.
8. Take Your Whiskey Home - Boozy and smoke saturated. Like the gambling joint in the back room at Rick’s place circa 1943 Morocco. Back when dames were beautiful and men fought off desert marauders. Then took their whiskey home. Oh yeah, the tune! I love the gut bucket blues intro. I kinda wish they just kept going, but the rest of the song is cool too. Great tones from Eddie. Dave’s vocal squeezing’s are particularly smoky as well. Win win!
7. Push Comes to Shove - I love this side of the band! I think they should’ve done a whole album in this vein. I’ll call it “Murder Ballad Noir”. I can smell Dave’s gin-soaked breath coming off the vinyl (I got the super duper deluxe release. Out of print). Eddie’s guitar solo is nothing short of amazing! He truly sings through his guitar.
6. Light up the Sky - From the get go this song goes for the throat! This one was born on the mean streets of Van Halensville. From the fog ladened shipping wharf infested with deep ones to the haunted Russian Circus on the edge on of town. Watch your back amigo…
5. Oh, Pretty Woman - I normally am not into remakes but darn it this one is so good! If you’re going to do a cover a tune, no better choice than a Roy Orbison classic. Back in the early dawn of the 1980s when pterodactyl attacks were common and parachute pants were coming into vogue, every band that ever banded were doing this one. The riff is so fun to play, and it immediately filled the dance floor. Good times!
4. Dance the Night Away - So sugary sweet it will make you pucker… in a good way though. I’ve always dug this tune. It’s good time, care free vibe makes me smile. Melodic, sing-along-able and yet it still has that special Eddie Van Halen secret frosting that makes me want to turn it up! So, I do.
3. Spanish Fly - When I first heard this gem, I imagined Eddie sitting on stage with John McLaughlin to his right and Paco De Lucia to his left. Trading improvisations on a Friday night in San Francisco with the masters. All three arm and arm walking down the Spanish hall…
2. Running with the Devil - Who can forget the first time this devil kicked them in the tenders. I wasn’t running for a while after that impact. Truly a tsunami of change in the guitar world. From this wave a million guitarist caught a tasty curl. The wave is still being felt.
1. Mean Street - I tried… I really did…. I tried to find a better Van Halen song…I didn’t want to be part of the herd (Moo) but before I realized it… I grew a tail. Then hooves! What the!!! Before I could come to terms, I grew udders! UDDERS!!! No, no, no. Now I’m a girl cow! I switched genders! WHAT!!!! Moo, help me, moo, must give milk, moo…
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