Van Halen
1978 – Van Halen
Well, if you ever wanted to know what Gene Simmons and Van Halen had in common – this is it folks. We all know “Gene” is really short for genius, therefore, it didn’t take very long for Mr. Simmons to realize what he had just witnessed from the young Van Halen brothers and company so, an investment was made. An investment that would change history.
The classic Van Halen lineup –
Gene’s funding bounced a three track demo in 1976, but apparently nobody seemed to care. I guess they weren’t really listening because after a sold out gig in Pasadena, California, the band hooked their first manager, nephew of the great comedian Milton Berle – Marshall Berle, who ends up getting the band booked at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood. That’s right baby, Sunset Boulevard – L.A. rock-n-roll ground zero.
That gig soon led Van Halen right into the hands of record producer Ted Templeman and Warner Brothers Records. The deal was done and Van Halen headed into the studio in October 1977. Now remember, this album holds some of Van Halen’s most beloved tracks of all time, but check this out – the sessions only last 3 weeks bro! Da da did I stutter? Classic tracks like “Jamie’s Cryin'”, “Runnin’ With The Devil”, “Ice Cream man”. Are you kidding me?
That’s right Jerry the Minion – three weeks and Templeman recorded most of the tracks live in the studio with just four of them getting guitar overdubs.
Track List
Side One
1. Runnin’ With The Devil
2. Eruption
3. You Really Got Me
4. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
5. I’m The One
Side Two
1. Jamie’s Cryin’
2. Atomic Punk
3. Feel Your Love Tonight
4. Little Dreamer
5. Ice Cream Man
6. On Fire
“I wanna look like cock and balls!”
– David Lee Roth
“I didn’t know what the heck he meant, but okay! Then he gave me a big jar of marijuana. That was, you know, nice, but I didn’t need the jar.”
– Photographer Elliot Gilbert
The ultimate one-of-a-kind customized Stratocaster guitar Eddie is holding on the cover is so insanely classic, it’s housed in the Smithsonian Institute.
This record is so innovative, it set the tone for guitar rock in the eighties and beyond. It showed an entire generation of rock fans that anything you can think of is possible. This one deserves to be cranked all the way up to eleven on the vinyl must have meter!
I actually have an original pressing of this album, spent a lot of time rocking out to it, but it’s still in near mint condition. I grew up playing Van Halen’s music in bands, going to see their concerts (mostly at the Hollywood Sportatorium), hearing their songs endlessly played on WSHE radio in Miami and just marveling at the way Eddie could play that guitar.
The world seems a little emptier now without Eddie in it, and so to him I would just say, “Thank you Eddie for the music, the good times and all the memories you provided the background tracks for. You are missed”.
Eddie Van Halen died on October 6, 2020 at the age of 65.