“What the hell is this?” I had to be one of millions of teenagers in 1978 who had the same response on dropping the needle on Van Halen's debut album for the first time. From opener, “Running with the Devil” through the scorching closer “On Fire” Van Halen could not have been released at a more perfect time. Heavyweights Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath had all either imploded, become lethargic and lazy, dealt with death or simply outlived their relevancy, and punk, New Wave, and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal were yet to really come to fruition. Along comes the ultimate party band armed with a once in a lifetime guitarist and a genre defining lead singer. Loaded with songs that would dominate their live set for decades, Van Halen would ultimately become one of the biggest selling albums of all time. But before all that, it simply became the summer soundtrack album/tape for countless horny American teenagers.

Kip

​

   Who would of thought in the late half of the 1970’s minds immeasurably more advance than ours would look down at our puny planet with blood shot eyes filled with a Maui Wowie haze idling hundred watt Marshall’s loaded down with vari-acks and Ampeg 300 watt bass amps juicing 8-10 cabbies seething with power just waiting for the moment to unleash some of the most radical and or tubular jams ever conceived? I mean what are the odds? It’s hard to explain the impact this album had on me and my fellow guitar players…It either inspired or made you want to give up. For me it was a revelation for sure. Again the scope of the guitar was widened. Following the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix and John McLaughlin. Van Halen made me want to dive deeper into this ocean of awesomeness to see what was waiting…

Mark

​

   If you are big fan of this album I would highly recommend that you read “Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music”. This book has great section about Van Halen and Templeman’s recording of this masterpiece!

Jeff

​

​

1. Runnin' with the Devil (Van Halen) A

   Talk about announcing your presence with authority. This was everything Van Halen would come to encompass in one song. Opening with car horns mimicking a siren, the song begins with a plodding open bass note leading into our introduction to Edward Van Halen's “brown” guitar sound. Based around a monster guitar riff, Van Halen shows how they could embody both heavy metal guitars with melodic vocal harmonies. David Lee Roth was definitely no Ronnie James Dio as a singer, but his distinctive, almost talking, singing style combined with noon whistle harmonics, worked perfectly for the 'rebel without a clue” teenage boys that would make up their initial fan base. Working the devil into their first song title also ensured that those same boys' parents would instantly be wary of the band and its influence, a sure sign of rock band success. The chorus was also the world's introduction into Michael Anthony's incredibly high backing vocals, which would also prove to be a constant for the next couple of decades. This song also features Edward's first solo on vinyl; one which is fairly straight forward and almost restrained compared to what was to come. What an opener (even if it does establish a pattern they would continue of opening with mid tempo songs on their albums, rather than the ravers they would use for concert openers.)

A

Kip

​

   One the best intros ever! I love the distorted bass pounding after the siren. Or is it a spaceship landing from Mars? Not sure…Eddie’s tone is so beautifully mid heavy, powerful, and just explodes out of the mix. Wow a total game changer. There’s not much going on instrument wise. Guitar, bass, and drums, but it sounds full and punchy. I love the way Eddie backs off the guitar volume in the verses leaving room for the diamond Dave’s vocal sculptures. Then brings the volume knob back up for the choruses. That’s how you do it kiddos! The real star in this tune is the backing vocals. Eddie and Michael Anthony harmonize so good together! Their harmonies are a signature to the Van Halen sound. Great tune. Eddie’s a stallion!

A

Mark

​

   This song is so unique and powerful that I can remember the first time I heard it. I bought the record at Budget Tapes and Records the day it released February 18, 1978. and drove straight home with my small stack that I bought that day. I don’t remember if I any knowledge of the band from magazines, most likely I bought the album due to the cover. If the band look like they rocked I bought it! Along for the ride was my best friend's girlfriend Cathy who was hanging out with me. We went downstairs into my bedroom and this album was the first thing I played. I played that first song “Running with The Devil” pretty loud on my stereo and it was freaking amazing! I don't think people can understand just how fresh and powerful this came across at the time. It really helped that this song is so well recorded by Ted Templeman, who did Montrose first album, it sounded so good!  I remember Cathy saying at the end of this song just how cool that was. She was impressed too, and I'm still impressed to this day with this song. Boring story, yeah maybe, but still it was that impressive that I remember it clearly, says a lot about how special this song is. What a killer opening track!!! I still listen to this song loud. One of best opening tracks on any album ever!

A+

Jeff

​

2. Eruption (Van Halen) A+

   And so it begins. A piece that Edward apparently used for their live shows, but one he had no intention of putting to vinyl, became the announcement of a true challenge to Jimi Hendrix's crown as the most influential, game changing guitarist ever. I lost count of how many times I repeated this upon first listen. From the unbelievable tone, to the whammy bar dive bombs; the incredibly fast, accurate pick work to the groundbreaking two hand tapping technique that would inspire countless imitators, this was the song that set them apart. Thank God Ted Templeman heard him using it as a warm up, pushed play and told him to play it again. And all Edward wants to talk about is a “mistake” that he wished he had went back and remedied. An absolutely revolutionary 1:42 in rock music history.

A++

Kip

​

   I never learned this briny pickle. It’s iconic, and sign of things to come. Eddies the man! And a stallion…

A

Mark

​

   It's amazing to think that this was just Eddie Van Halen noodling around warming up and Templeman happened to capture it on tape and thought “what the hell was that”. He used that first take, even though Eddie always asked if he could redo it because he could do it better! Templeman never let Eddie try it again, but it'd be interesting to hear what he had done with a retake… wow!

 

A+

Jeff

​

3. You Really Got Me (Ray Davies) B+

   This was the first VH I remember hearing on rock radio. They absolutely took the Kinks classic and made it their own. The song works as the perfect vehicle for Roth and Edward to trade talents back and forth and the harmonies leading into the key changes are highly underrated. Roth's distinctive throat whistles and Edward's use of harmonics and his pickup switch on his Gibson Explorer are also highlights of what would become a concert staple for years to come. Can't imagine a classic rock station anywhere going 24 hours without playing this. A monster cover.

A+

Kip

​

   Every cover band did this song after Van Halen redid it. So as of today I'm kinda tired of this song. It’s a blast to play, but everyone blew the lead. We actually openly made fun of each other before, during and after each attempt. Good times! Oh and Eddie’s the coolest!

C

Mark

​

   Perfect cover of this Kinks song! Rarely do I like a remake over the original, but this time I if I had to choose to only listen to one version of this song I would choose Van Halens. It's such a great riff and Roth’s vocals work well on this. Van Halen perfectly capture what the Kinks were doing and turn it up to 11!

A+

Jeff

​

4. Ain't Talkin' About Love (Van Halen) A+

   This is quintessential Van Halen. Roth brought the female portion of the crowd to the shows and everything about this song would demonstrate how he would represent every father's nightmare. With his California tan beach body and “give no f***s” lyrics, this was early fan's opus in terms of why Van Halen was their favorite. From Edward fingerpicking some basic chords into an absolute crushing riff, to Roth's “you're lucky I picked you for the night” lyrics, this much darker song was what Van Halen imagined representing. Just a monster song that even Sammy Hagar couldn't resist singing in the later version of the band. What a gem.

A+

Kip

​

   For me the opening riff introduces the first totally Van Halenized song. It sounds hard to play, but is deceptively kinda easy. Either way it’s brilliant! Eddie’s guitar voice is so strong here. I love diamond Dave’s voice… it’s smokey, well-traveled and unique. You couldn’t have this band without Dave. And then there’s Alex and Michael!! Man they hit hard and heavy. The total package! Eddie’s the top!

A

Mark

​

   Great riff! Great vocal! This is one of my favorite Van Halen tunes! So much to appreciate: the vocals and the background harmonies, the guitar work of Eddie that is just fascinating to pay attention to throughout the whole song.  He's tweaking that riff and that became a signature piece to his sound that improvised playing that keeps it interesting throughout the songs. At the time I'd never heard guitar work that interesting except from Nokie Edwards and Don Wilson of the Ventures. I think the bass playing of Michael Anthony is awesome, just wish it was a little louder in the mix. But the thing that's still just stands out to me when I listen to this track is how beautiful the two leads are! They're so melodic and powerful. Perfect track!

A+

Jeff

​

5. I'm the One (Van Halen) B

   While there is no denying that Edward Van Halen has established himself among the Mount Rushmore worthy ranks of guitar players based on his groundbreaking lead techniques, I'm of the belief that he is the greatest rhythm player that ever lived. (Relax Malcolm fans.) If I had to argue it, the riff that opens this piece would be Exhibit A. He demonstrates both shocking technique and feel in this upbeat piece. The vocals are another Roth boastful showcase, but the do wop vocal breakdown in the middle showed what would separate them from all of the other imitators; this band could meld layered “shoo be wahs” into a blow your hair back metal song that just absolutely smoked and was the perfect conclusion to what can compete as the best Side One in vinyl history. I vividly recall finishing this side and thinking, “I have no idea which was my favorite song.” A song that got lost in the shuffle live, this could have been a career classic for most other bands of that era.

A

Kip

​

   Eddie’s intro is a beautiful mess. As you might know, I’m not a boogie guy so this tune doesn’t love me, but it still cooks. Eddie’s the tower of pizza!

C

Mark

​

   This isn’t the one for me…I never really liked this song. The drum/bass pattern bugs me too much. I wish I could take the song and change the groove of this thing and I’d probably like it a lot more.

C

Jeff

​

6. Jamie's Cryin' (Van Halen) A

   This song probably demonstrated to me why they were going to shortly become the biggest band in the world. Upon first listen, this was my least favorite song on the album. It was too poppy, I wasn't crazy about the chorus, the nature of the song called for a more sedate solo, and while I didn't hate it, it resonated the least with me. My best friend at the time was a girl, who quickly told me I was a complete moron (and had no chance with her) if I didn't acknowledge this was the greatest song I'd ever heard. I remember laughing, while also thinking, “these guys have something for everybody. They're going to be monsters.” I always think of summer when I hear this, as our local “rock” station had this on HEAVY rotation that summer. It's still not my favorite song on the album, but I have come to appreciate it more over the years.

A-

Kip

​

   What a great well-constructed and arranged tune. There’s no guitar solo, but the lead line bathed in a sweaty echo plex is a perfect fit. Dave is such a right on cat. His voice is also a perfect fit for this band… I can’t state it enough. I love the hook with the background harmonies… I always sing along…”Oh oh oh Jamie’s crying woup whaaa da da da daaa” :-) Eddie’s the Mona Lisa?

A

Mark

​

   Another fave of mine. This is perfect Van Halen with those terrific Beatle-like harmonies. Perfect drumming! Great riff that just demands that you pay attention and turn it up! Thank you, Ted Templeman! This album just sounds so good.

A+

Jeff

​

7. Atomic Punk (Van Halen) B+

   I will admit, this is probably the weakest track on the album, but what a title and what a monicker for their burgeoning superstar of a guitarist. Featuring the distinctive sound of Edward rubbing the calloused heel of his hand across the muted strings, this was about as close as they came to pure thrash metal that would emerge later. Edward's solo on this is just staggering and this is the perfect vehicle for his guitar pyrotechnics. I remember being disappointed when they didn't play this live, as I thought it would really shine with a participating audience. Just a raver.

B+

Kip

​

   A dark dive into a dystopian netherworld the atomic punk is… (Yoda) The guitar work is just aces, and Eddie’s timing just blows me away. The solo? Amazing! The rhythm section? Radical! Diamond Dave? Atomic punk like! Eddie’s the nose on the great Durante!

A

Mark

​

   I think this song needed just a bit more work in Dave’s vocals; his phrasing falls flat for me at times and with some tweaked vocals I think it could have been a much better song. It's got such potential! Just not one of my favorites, but I can hear what might have been…

B

Jeff

​

8. Feel Your Love Tonight (Van Halen) B+

   A throwaway track for many (including seemingly the band) this is one of my three or four favorite Van Halen songs ever. From the exuberant riff that opens it, to Roth's delivery of a sleazy potential pickup, this songs just oozes summer nights. This song highlights why I think so highly of Edward's rhythm playing. I worked so hard to learn the simple accompaniment he played under his solo in this piece and I still think it is the “perfect” rhythm track, as well as the “Cold Gin” type riff he plays under the chorus. Everything about this song brings a smile to my face.

A+

Kip

​

   This is a great high school party song. Perfect for dancing, drinking beer and puking in your best friend’s car. Sorry, I’m running out of words to describe how good Eddie is…Great tune! Eddie’s beyond snazzy!

A

Mark

​

   Not my favorite. I listened to this album a few times for my review and when this came on I didn’t even remember it. Sorry doesn't connect with me still today. Sometimes the harmonies sound off key to Roth’s vocal to me. Bugs me as I listen to it.

C

Jeff

​

9. Little Dreamer (Van Halen) A-

   I connected the least with this piece. A fairly basic riff leads into a typical Roth lyric about a girl. The standout on this piece is some serious pick work from Edward. This is probably the most “standard” and melodic solo he does on the entire album and it is spectacular. Not a great song but definitely not one to skip over, due to Edward's brilliance.

B-

Kip

​

   A slow minor bluesy tune that showcases Dave’s husky vocal stylings. This gives Eddie a lot of room to roam with his Frankenstein strat whammy bar all akimbo, in total control, and freedom. Inspired! Eddie killed the radio star!

A

Mark

​

   Another one of my favorites! One those songs that grabs you on the first listen. It wouldn't have been the same caliber of songs without Michael Anthony's background vocals. This album has sold 10 million copies and one of the reasons why is it has so many tracks that you could share with a friend and they would be so impressed they’d go buy a copy for themselves. Word of mouth on this first album was strong. I remember so many friends had this album in their collection.

A+

Jeff

​

10. Ice Cream Man (John Brim / Van Halen) A-

   The second cover song on the album serves as a vehicle for Roth's hound shtick. I'm not even embarrassed to admit this was my go to air guitar song in my bedroom at 14. This song just oozes cool and would have worked anyway, but the adrenaline surge when Edward comes in on electric for the third verse still makes the hair on my arms stand up. His tapping on this is amazing as well. A song that was just made for the stage, with Roth's ridiculous fudge sickle guitar, and it never disappointed. What an absolute joy of a song.

A

Kip

​

   Van Halen does the down-home dirty blues. And why not? I hear that Pasadena is the delta blues of California. I read that…somewhere… Eddie’s the ice cream man!

B

Mark

​

   Love the lead on this song. A song that must have been killer live. Can you imagine being in high school 1976 and going to a party and these guys are playing this in the backyard. Wow! That would have been incredible.

B+

Jeff

​

11. On Fire (Van Halen) A-

   Their opener on the first tour, this album closer immediately conjures a mental image of Roth's split jump that to this day, which was the best visual concert opener I've ever seen. The song probably shows why Templeman was so important, as I think this song is closer to what Van Halen saw themselves, rather then the more melodic stuff that came to define them. It is impossible not to hear Michael Anthony's incredibly high “On Fire!” when you read the song title. 14 year old me loved how “metal” this one was. A great album closer. I always thought it should be the opening song on the album, but Jeff may be right that nothing could announce their presence like “Runnin' with the Devil.”  This is a smoking song, none the less, and the perfect conclusion to one of the greatest albums ever recorded.

A-

Kip

​

   A good tune to end a great debut album. Wow the music biz was changed a bit yeah? Hair bands started forming, hair was being teased, mascara was being hoarded. Dudes were raiding their girlfriend’s closets for lingerie and their dads closets for leather. Ah the winds of change! Eddie was indeed on fire…

B

Mark

​

   Great closing number! There are parts of this song that I prefer the demo version from 1976 with Gene Simmons.  The Simmon’s version has a better bottom end and at times a different groove was captured from the band that I feel they didn’t replicate with Templeman. Worth checking out on YouTube if you are a fan of this song. 

A

Jeff

​

​

​