Van Halen — Van Halen

Author: tracysigler | Posted: February 26th, 2006 | | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments »
Van Halen -- Van Halen

Van Halen -- Van Halen

  • Artist: Van Halen
  • Title: Van Halen
  • Year: 1978
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: ? ?
  • Keeper: Yes

I’ve always liked Van Halen, but I was too busy trying to be punk rock when their records came out to buy them. I got ’em all now though! My friend Bennie Ingram is above any type of posing and was a huge fan from the get-go. Fortunately, hanging with Bennie (Bobo) kept me clued in.

And when I say “their records” I mean the ones when “Diamond” David Lee Roth was in the band. I know Hagar was in the band even longer but who cares? Not me. Roth is the only front man I can imagine complementing, and competing with, Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work. Both guys are so good at, and so over the top in what they do it’s hard to believe the union lasted as long as it did.

I wish I had been paying closer attention when this record first hit. I remember riding in the car with my dad when “Jamie’s Cryin'” came on and I said “I’ve been hearing a lot of Van Halen lately” and he replied “that’s too bad.” And my dad is a rocker! I should’ve known right then that this was something special, and very different. Every song on here is exciting and totally original sounding, even today.

I had a friend, Bill Rogers, who once said that Eddie Van Halen ruined rock guitar for the next decade because everybody wanted play like him. Of course, who really could? The guy was a total innovator and the song writing matched the technique. The same can be said for Diamond Dave. Insane showmanship, crazy good voice, and really smart and occassionally smart-assed lyrics.

Dave’s famous quip that the reason more critics like(d) Elvis Costello than Van Halen is that more critics look like Costello is pure genius, and of course true. I don’t look like either of them, but if I could choose it would be the high kicking Diamond Dave… for sure. I’m finding it difficult to stop writing about them. Just be glad you’re not in the same room with me right now. Seriously.

2 Comments on “Van Halen — Van Halen”

  1. 1 kp said at 2:25 am on February 27th, 2006:

    Ah… wailin’ Van Halen… takes me back.

    My favorite track from this album is “Ice Cream Man” cover — I just always thought it was funny. Blues guys always have the craziest way of spinning sexual innuendo into previously innocent stuff.

    Here’s a vote for 1984 on a future lap around the alphabet. “I brought my pencil… gimme somethin’ to write on!”

    Of course, if you’re looking for other V bands, I do loves me some Velvet Underground… “White Light White Heat” would be the choice for me (assuming you have it).

    Man, I have *got* to unpack my records….

  2. 2 Tracy Sigler said at 12:19 pm on February 27th, 2006:

    Oh I have the Velvet Underground, but they’ll have to wait their turn(s). I play the next letter in the alphabet each day and alphabetically within each letter.

    And since you mentioned covers I’d like to point out that Van Halen had the guts to do two on this record. The other of course is their fantastic version of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” The fact that VH are Kinks fans makes me like them even more. Later they would do another Kinks cover… coming soon to a self-indulgent web log near you.

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