The Van Hagar sound had to grow on me over time. The DLR era will always be Van Halen to me. From Van Halen to 1984 albums were my Jr High and High School days. It culminated with seeing Van Halen at the US Festival in 1983 a week after graduating HS. Party Party Party!!!!
The rock side is what got most people into the band, but Eddie really wanted to feature more synth as he was writing more songs on his keyboards. I respect that it's a side of the band that isn't gonna be for everyone, and hasn't been since "Jump" came out on 1984. But there's some great synth/keyboard/piano driven songs that Eddie wrote, more ballad and mid-tempo stuff like "Love Walks In" and "When It's Love" or a synth driven rock song like "Why Can't This Be Love" (a personal all-timer for me). That's not to say almost all of the DLR era -- and Sammy era cuts like "Cabo Wabo," "In N Out," or something even harder like "Judgment Day" -- doesn't kick ass. I love all that too, always will. I just love the band, and I love almost all their songs through For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. I own em all and will always listen to every one. The cool thing is that I'm sure you'll find plenty more that you dig, man. There's so much good stuff.
Just say it... I love the fact that you always call it like it is!!! Sammy era does not have the same BALLS as Dave era....period!!! Love this reaction!!
Alright Jay, their most relentless groove and under rated song, "Drop Dead Legs." Be watchin out for it next Monday. It's from the DLR era and you going to dig it the most.
Also, "Dreams" was not featured in Top Gun. "Dreams" is highly regarded as one of Van Halen's masterpiece, but it's cool if you don't like it; we all have different tastes. I know it kinda defeats the purpose of a reaction channel, but don't forget that these older songs come from an era of albums, when albums were meant to be listened to from front to back. As such, bands and producers put some thought into song sequencing, even if there wasn't an overarching concept to the album. That being said, "Dreams" was the 4th song on the album and served to give the listener a chance to catch his breath after the total scorcher, "Get Up," and it served as a calm before the absolute summertime rocker, "Summer Nights," which is another VH masterpiece. Opinions aside, there is a reason the 5150 album sold 10 million copies in the US alone in its first week of sales.
What’s puts you ahead of others is you know your music Jay... you actually know talent when you see it.... and you actually listen to the instruments playing.. keep up the good work bro.... God Bless!
The Dream is over is my favorite Van Hagar song in that it has awesome guitar rifts and great drums, bass and singing,....Also “ Human Beings”...I think those 2 are the best of the Van Hagar era....Keep those VH Monday’s coming !!!
The album 5150 is a cross-over from one sound to the next. Some of Eddie’s best playing is on this album. The opening track “good enough” has some killer riffs and spice everywhere.
Next Monday, react to "Drop Dead Legs" from 1984 (if you haven't already). It's Roth, but the real highlight is Ed's outro guitar solo... probably my fav of his! As good as it gets in my opinion.
Hey Jay Rah, pleasure getting your feedback on this song. I am a big AC/DC and STP fan with a taste of heavy metal sounds. Yes Pound cake is my favorite Van Halen song. I also like Panama. That put DLR on the map in my humble opinion.
Hey Jay . My favourite guitar and synth song of Van Hagar era is called "Mine All Mine" off the 0U812 album . You won't be disappointed . Soul searching lyrics with awesome music . Eddie's creative juices flowed on this one . Love to see your reaction .
Thanks for listening to Sammy again I love them both I love all three versions of Van Halen equally they're just different. I think black and blue would be a really good one for you to go to next.
Don't forget Diamond Dave's solo work: California Girls, Just a Gigolo, Just Like Paradise, Yankee Rose, Shyboy, Hina, Big Trouble, Skyscraper, Damn Good. Check out the original videos (if you can) for that Dave TV charasma ;)
Add in Knucklebones, Ladies Night in Buffalo and Hot Dog & A Shake and we have a nice gig. Man, those first 2 albums with Steve Vai were monsters. David + Steve were in no way less than Sammy + Eddie in those 86-88 years.
@@kparso You're absolutely right. Sheehan was amazing too. Unfortunately he left before the Skyscraper Tour so I never saw him perform live with David cause they didn't tour in Europe after their first album. Bissonette took over at that point.
Summer Nights, Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do, and Poundcake are the 3 Sammy songs that most remind me of the DLR era attitude from the band. One thing to keep in mind is that the different sounds from the different eras reflect changes in Eddie's writing style and general trends in music of their relative times as much as they are the product of the different singers. The heavy synth was driven by Eddie not by the vocalists. A lot of critics of the Sammy era erroneously attribute those factors to Sammy.
Keep in mind...Van Halen is Eddie and Alex, nothing is recorded that they do not want. This era, Eddie wanted a totally new direction. And, to go back to his first training, the piano (synth)
Humans being, I swear I think eddie solos the whole song. The song is a track from the movie twister. Some other songs to check out. Right now, Finish what ya started, Best of both worlds and Cabo wabo.
A lot of tenderness was brought forth too. Eddie’s heart was pored out in this time period as well. Tear-jerking lyrics for sure now...How Do I Know When Its Love; I Can’t Stop Loving You. Eddie and Valerie 4 Ever.
Ok , I use 5150 as a ring tone on my phone Good Enough, Judgement Day, Get Up!! Now Get Up is a massive heater, hotter than anything DLR did with them, and is a motivation lyric that motivation speakers could use
I tell people all the time that Eddie, Alex and Michael didn't go anywhere when Sammy joined. You can love the DLR days all you want and for good reason, but to diss on For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and OU812 and Balance because you can't get over DLR is foolish. There are SO many great, straight up VH tunes from the Sammy days. Speaking of which, you really should listen to Right Now. It won't have the sound you are looking for as it fits into that other side of Van Hagar, but it's just a really cool song. Some more great Van Hagar tunes you will enjoy I think are Runaround, Aftershock and In N Out just for starters. There are tons if bangers.
Hagar brought a different energy and musical style. He also was almost ten years older than the other guys. He brought his own talent his own style to the group. That youthful energy would have been there if he was in the group earlier
DLR era Van Halen will ALWAYS be my favourite, but the Hagar era had some absolutely rawking tunes, and this was one of them!! (and there are many more!) True, the Hagar era brought in a lot more power ballads and a softer side (and some of those were good tracks too), but they still did know how to crank it up a notch or two when they wanted!! From the same album, should check Pleasure Dome (killer drums - Alex VH is off the chain!), Spanked, Runaround, Judgement Day, Right Now, Top Of The World. Other great Van Hagar tracks: Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do) (Eddie's riff is amazing!), Human's Being (from the Twister soundtrack), Source Of Infection, Good Enough, The Seventh Seal, Can't Stop Loving You, Mine All Mine. Lots to dive into!! Have you checked out I'll Wait, off of 1984, with DLR? Definitely one to check!!
I love ALL Van Halen!!! They just moved with the times 🤷🏾♂️ If you go back to 1984 album, do ‘Girl gone bad’ and ‘House of pain’ Eddie and Alex connection on those 2 are 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sammy Hagar plays a pretty mean guitar too. If you check out their concert, "Live Without a Net" (which you did Eddie's Eruption solo reaction to), The opening song, "There's Only One Way to Rock" (Which is a Hagar song from his solo years) they have dueling guitars going. It's really cool. Sammy holds his own. He's no Eddie of course, but he tears it up as well. I know you don't like doing live versions first, but this one is amazing. The energy and chemistry they have is incredible. Here's the link just in case you decide to watch it. There might be better versions, I don't know: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6kii3lt-3Jg.html
This is the most guitar driven/energetic album with Sammy Hagar. His tone on this album is so in your face and badass. You need to hear more from this album such as Judgment Day, Man On A Mission, Runaround, In N Out
This album was a change in sound for Van Halen. While every album has always had its own sound, Eddie changed everything on this album. From 1978 through 1988 he used largely one legendary amplifier to record (a Marshall Plexi), and for the most part just a few guitars that he had built himself. That was THE Eddie Van Halen "Brown Sound". On this album he used his first custom-designed, signature model guitar with custom-built pickups, and a brand new, built from the ground up amplifier that was his own, the 5150. Completely different sound. Completely different production. Still Eddie, but a whole different ball of wax sonically that was the final break from the sound of the old Van Halen.
Seen both Dave and then Sammy. Both were great in their own way. But Eddie was bombed with Dave and they both messed up but laughed it off. But so we're we my friends and I. Was a sight to see. Chicks galore. WOW.
For Sammy era, For unlawful carnal knowledge was their heaviest album. The live versions of these songs are amazing, especially judgement day, right now, and runaround. Human beings is another amazing track from a later album.
Don't get me wrong based on my User name. I Love Sammy and was glad he came in to keep VH going. No other could have done it good enough. Sammy is a better singer, but just something about the Dave era that had me liking every single song from those early 6 albums. This literally split the fan base down the middle and divided my neighborhood buds all 6 of us. Right down the middle. I sided with Dave on the ongoing "fued" as it unfolded lol. But ya. Sammy solo for me. This song is a Banger tho
I like Sammy Hagar but David Lee Roth was so much better to me may not have been a better singer technically but it worked better and he was definitely a better Showman
There's a big difference between 5150 and for unlawful carnal knowledge I liked it better with the Red Rocker cuz they went from high-school to college you should check out some Red Rocker stuff
Still not as good as the Roth stuff, but more rockin' than "Dreams". Speaking of "Dreams", Fleetwood Mac has a song called "Dreams"... check it out if you haven't already.
I'll be straight: you still have a lot of Roth material to get through before this stuff. It's not bad, but it's not really "Van Halen" as they're known and at their best. The genesis of VH is the collision of Roth and Eddie. That's the spark of the band. I cannot stand when people say "it doesn't matter who's singing as long as Eddie's on guitar." Simply not true.
