I was only around 10 in '78, but my brain was massively influenced by my older brother and sister who were in their late teens at the time. I can clearly remember the day they came home from a trip to the mall with new album purchases and played them, she with Blondi's Parallel Lines, and him with Van Halen's debut. She was not entirely into most of the Van Halen Album until Ice Cream Man played, which she absolutely loved. I was very fortunate to grow up with their musical influences. To this day I love both of those albums!
This is a great reaction - love your enthusiasm! You cannot go wrong by reacting to all songs on their first 7 albums (all of Dave's and Sammy's first with the band). There are also some solid live versions to check out as well. You're going to run into some Dave vs Sammy .. but I don't see how a truly deep fan can dismiss 5150 (and the huge live energy that came from that). Keep in mind I was just transitioning into middle school and finding harder rock music during transition from Dave to Sammy - I can respect the heartbreak for someone following the band from day one. Keep going!!
Forgot all about "Little Dreamer" It was like hearing it for the first time. Wait till you listen to Diver Down, if you liked Ice Cream Man. :) EVH's melodies supported and sang along with Dave, hence why it's so spellbinding.
I believe they tuned down a half step and then on at least a couple of songs Eddie does a drop D tuning but with the half step included. Guess that's a D flat :) On this tour they played with Black Sabbath, at least here in the Cleveland area. Lots of rock bands tuneds down a half step back in the day. I know Kiss did on everything.
They always did have sort of a “rockabilly“ vibe, which you picked up on as early rock ‘n’ roll The other thing you’ll notice is that Van Halen rarely ever used a tritone.
The backup vocals in this band are perhaps some of the finest I have ever heard. But we should not forget that David's vopause. Where is much of a part? Not where were? How much of a band's signature sound.
"Is that the guitar? How is he doing that?!?" That ought to be the title of this vid. It's the same thing we all said in 1978. Still get goosebumps hearing this...
The "waka waka" sound in the Atomic Punk intro is done done by rubbing the edge of his right hand up and down over strings, while using a phase shifter pedal into his amp.
Dave era Van Halen was big time influenced by 50's and Motown music. And according to Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony is the true voice of Van Halen. His harmonies are just incredible.
I think anyone that listened to Van Halen from Day 1 -- years before Sammy Hagar entered the picture -- knows about Michael Anthony and his vocal importance to the band pre- and post-Dave. We hardly need Sammy to draw us a picture.
Eruption was never worked out beforehand , it was simply Edward warming up backstage before a show and Ted Templeman heard it and said it needs to be on the album . Eddie admitted he made a mistake in the beginning because he got turned around but decided to leave it instead of fixing it . Eddie never took it seriously but everybody else did.
All those gorgeous harmonies are from Michael Anthony. Another interesting thing about the mix is Ed’s guitar is panned one way and the effects on his guitar are panned opposite.
Michael Anthony has "highs from hell" as Eddie Van Halen said one time. Anthony's voice is beyond incredible - an incredible 1st tenor. Mixed Ed's second tenor voice and Diamond Dave's low voice, they had a super vocal group. Man, there will never be a band like Van Halen again. At least we were here when they were around! That first album turned everyone upside down - changed everything!
Doug, Eddie got the 'scratching' effect in Atomic Punk by rubbing up and down across the strings with the flat/palm of his right hand and enhancing the effect with his phaser pedal.
Saw them on tour in the UK for this album, supporting Black Sabbath on their 10th Anniversary tour. They probably regretted having Van Halen as the opening act...
Eddie was “unorthodox” which I translate as being inventive, original, experimental, simply on another level when it came to technique, speed and style. No one before or since equals his talent or contribution to music, guitar, and awesomeness.🤘🖖✌️🎸🎸🎤🥁
I haven't heard these in about 30 years and, strangely, the thing that struck me the most was how solid Alex was on the kit. Damn, could he take care of business!!
The second side of this great album is a wait for the tapping on Ice cream man, iconic! it has been quite some time since I listened to these somgs, but I got every note imprinted in my brain.
I can’t believe that you have never heard this. This album was revolutionary. It was something that nobody was doing. It changed the way I listen to music. It changed the way guitar was played even sheet music had to be rewritten because of Edward Van Halen. this album made me realize everything that was being played was boring compared to what this album was showing us and what guitar playing going to the next level really was this is the reason Edward Van Halen to me the greatest guitar player in my generation
The first tour they opened for Ted Nugent. Ed got Ted's attention. Ted loves Eddie, asked if he could play though his rig and in a recent interview with the author of the new Van Halen book couldn't say enough good things about Ed, praising him.
Doug has been unveilin' the Van Halen. Side two is my favorite. Atomic Punk may be my favorite song from the Dave years. The whole album has such a swing to it. Thanks for the video, Doug!
When this came out, I was just a few years into playing guitar and had just joined a band. After listening to EVH, my hopes of becoming the world's greatest guitar player were crushed. 😆😅🤣 I then knew what people in the 60s felt when they first heard Hendrix. "Is that the guitar?" you asked. That's exactly what many were saying back then, even guitar players. EVH, one of a kind.
This music is simply so satisfying.....their chemistry, the structure, the dynamics, their individual contributions...and, of course, Eddie...playing like nobody had heard before! I've stated this often: I've heard their music, especially during the DLR era, as "California Party Rock", but the genre that best describes them is simply as "Van Halen"!
Btw u noticed the extensive use of E flat. It really works well with Edward's "Brown Sound", which he developed with his self built amps, whammy bar and his technique
I was 18 when this album dropped, I bought two copies, One album, and one 8-track, for my '66 ford galaxy....great album debut for a band...we were changed!!!!
I was 15 when this came out. This is one of those albums that I have owned on vinyl, cassette, CD, MP3. I never had any 8 tracks cos I thought I was a little too young for that so I am sorta surprised this was even out on 8 track.
I’m so happy you brought up the background vocals! It does set them apart from ordinary bands that hire singers or overdub the lead vocalist multiple times. VH is one of a kind
I have only just discovered you on RU-vid. This album is still 45 years later my favourite of all time. Eddie clearly imo the greatest guitarist who ever played. Thank you for your reviews.
You can not pick a fault with this masterpiece..its just so unbelievable how good it is ..I never get sick of listening to it..probably one of the greatest albums ever recorded..ever ...end ❤❤❤
The first two Van Halen albums didn't have a lot of alternates in tuning because they were written for playing in clubs where retuning wasn't a practical thing without multiple guitars. VH recorded VH1 live for the most part outside of a vocal isolation booth. In the overhead drum mics, you can hear Edward's guitar in the background. Live.
Rocklahoma 1980 lineup -Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar Band, Van Halen , and Doobie Bros headlining with Michael McDonald. Sunburn , beer , and bikinis! What a great experience!🤠🎶
Never ever forget it until the day I die. My best friend Randy said "hey...I got a new album you have to listen to!" Who is it I said. VAN HALEN...who is Van Halen? LOL...a 100 watt stereo with a turntable and 15 inch woofer speakers...in like a 12 x 12 bedroom. The needle dropped on Running with the devil..and that was it...I was a fan.
when I saw them open for Sabbath in 78, they started with On Fire, and blew my teenage ass away... this was also partially helped by supplies from a 1 armed Vietnam vet that had mercy on our lack of party supplies.
I love the fact it's 2024 and Eddie still has people asking, "is that a guitat?". Yes in Atomic punk ed is muting the strings with left hand and scraping the strings with a pick on it's edge by the pickups. Also a phase 90 effect is giving it that swirl sound.
Thanks for your praise of Michael Anthony. Everyone knows how great the rest of the band was but fail to talk about Mike. A HUGE part of their sound. They have always been my favorite band of all time. I prefer the Dave era but it doesn’t really matter who’s singing. I love Sammy and Garry also. It’s just all great shit
Hendrix, clapton, page, blackmore, and all of those guys from that generations made "Electric guitar" an essential part of the band. because in 60's acoustic guitar was still widely used. Eddie Van Halen, in this particular album, made Electric Guitar as the Main dish.
This album is the beginning and the spark of the metal movement! Hard rock ‘n’ roll played with flare and Guitar like nobody else in this day and era could play… and I do mean nobody. All of the grades of today John Petrucci, steve by, Joe Satriani all heard this and we’re like just literally blown away and they all asked how is he doing that especially on eruption! And all four of these guys get their do because real musicians know just how great all of these guys really were
When I was about 15, so 1980, I went to high school with a guy who was obsessed with Eddie. I ended up in a band with him for awhile, and if he had it his way, we would have been a Van Halen tribute band. Unfortunately, he wasn't really that good. LOL
I actually love Feel Your Love Tonight. Some of Daves best vocals abd Michael harmonizes like a banshee. But i still think best song on this side is On Fire!!!!
Van Halen? Metal? uhhhh....closer to hair but really hard rock. i don't think if they were metal Sammy would have joined later. he's too mellow for that (Montrose was great, btw). and as a lover of Journey they were never metal. although Black Sabbath (first iteration) somewhat helped invent it.
