Van Halen (album)
Van Halen | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 10, 1978 | |||
Recorded | August 29 – October 4, 1977[1][2][3] | |||
Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood[4] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 35:34 | |||
Warner Bros. | ||||
Producer | Ted Templeman | |||
Van Halen chronology | ||||
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Singles from Van Halen | ||||
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Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on February 10, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. Widely regarded as one of the greatest debut albums in rock music,[7][8][9] the album was a major commercial success, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard 200.[10] It has sold more than 10 million copies in the United States, receiving a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and making it one of the best-selling albums in the country.[11]
Van Halen contains some of the band's most well-known songs, including "Runnin' with the Devil", "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love", "Jamie's Cryin'", their cover version of the Kinks' 1964 song "You Really Got Me", and the instrumental "Eruption"; written and played by guitarist Eddie Van Halen, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time and helped popularize two-handed tapping.[12] In 2020, the album was ranked number 292 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.
Background
Van Halen recorded demos of 10 songs in November 1976 during sessions at Village Recorders in West L.A. and New York’s Electric Lady studios produced and financed by Gene Simmons of Kiss. [13] However, the resulting three-track demo tape attracted little interest from record labels, and Kiss’s manager Bill Aucoin even declined to manage the band.[13] Guitarist Eddie Van Halen was not convinced of the quality of the material because they could not make the recordings with their own equipment.[14] Simmons left to tour with Kiss after recording the demos, but said he would try to secure Van Halen a record deal afterwards.[15]
After recording the demos, the band was offered several concerts. At a sold-out show in their hometown,
The recording of this debut album with producer Ted Templeman began August 29, 1977.[19] The tracks were recorded quickly during sessions between August 31 and September 8, 1977. [20] It was mostly recorded live,[21] but "Runnin' with the Devil", "Jamie's Cryin'", "Feel Your Love Tonight" and "Ice Cream Man" contain guitar overdubs.[22] Edward also overdubbed his solo for "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" with an electric sitar.[23] Work on the album ended October 4 with the final mixing of "Little Dreamer" and "Eruption" (titled simply "Guitar Solo" on studio documents).[3] Overall, the album cost approximately $54,000 to produce. [2]
"We didn't have a ton of material," recalled bassist Michael Anthony, "so we basically just took our live show and all the songs we knew and went for it. The whole album only took a couple of weeks. Ted Templeman wanted to make a big, powerful guitar record, and he had all he needed in what Eddie was doing."[24]
The subsequent tour began March 3, 1978 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago with the band opening for Journey and Montrose in the United States.[25] [26] They later opened for heavy metal band Black Sabbath in Europe and the United States.[27]
Packaging and artwork
The cover photos for Van Halen were taken at the Whisky a Go Go, a Los Angeles club at which Van Halen often performed during late 1976-1977. The guitar pictured on the cover is Eddie Van Halen's signature Frankenstrat (before he added the red paint), a highly customized Stratocaster-style guitar built out of replacement parts.
The liner notes thank radio disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer and Kiss bassist Gene Simmons,[28] the latter usually credited with discovering Van Halen[29] although Bingenheimer deserves credit for introducing Van Halen to Simmons. "A lot of people stick me on their [thanks list], even though I don't deserve it," Simmons remarked. "One that I did deserve to be on was that first Van Halen record – the guys still owe me a couple thousand bucks! But I love 'em."[30]
Release and reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Q | [35] |
Rolling Stone | [36] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [37] |
In the United States, Van Halen reached number 19 on the
Soon after its February 1978 release, Van Halen became regarded by fans and critics as one of rock music’s greatest debut albums; however, its initial critical reception was mostly negative. In 1978,
According to Rolling Stone's Holly George-Warren, with the album's release the mainstream media focused on Roth's "swaggering good looks and extroverted persona", while fans and musicians "were riveted by Eddie Van Halen's guitar mastery", which included "an array of unorthodox techniques."[41] She notes that, even before the band's debut, "Eddie became a legend among local guitarists."[41]
Kerrang! magazine gave the album a very positive review, and considers the album to be an "essential purchase." They wrote, "IT'S DIFFICULT to overstate the effect VH's debut had upon its release. With the music world split between punk, disco and prog rock, Van Halen combined a dazzling live show with a party-hearty motto and, in Eddie Van Halen, a guitarist who redefined what was possible on six strings. His sound on this album—christened 'The Brown Sound'—remains the holy grail of guitar tones."[42]
Record World called the single "Jamie's Crying" a "driving rhythm piece, which may be [Van Halen's] most interesting single to date." saying that "its rock energy never lets up."[43]
Commercial performance
On August 7, 1996, Van Halen was re-certified by the RIAA for selling ten million copies in the United States alone.[44] One of only seven rock bands to release two RIAA Diamond status albums, Van Halen remains one of Van Halen's two best-selling albums, along with 1984.
Van Halen went to Gold status on May 24, 1978, and then went to Platinum status just a few months later, on October 10, 1978. In less than a year the album sold more than one million copies in the US alone, meaning that the album was already a great success. On October 22, 1984, the album went to 5× Multi-Platinum status. The album went to 6x Multi-Platinum on February 1, 1989, and then went to 7× Multi-Platinum on September 29, 1993. In less than a year later, on July 11, 1994, the album went to 8x Multi-Platinum, and finally, on August 7, 1996, just two years later, the album went to Diamond status by RIAA.[11]
The Van Halen album, like Van Halen's other David Lee Roth-era albums—excepting
Legacy
In 1994, Van Halen was ranked number eight in
On April 15, 2013, David Lee Roth was interviewed by Jay Mohr for his podcast, where he selected the album as his favorite Van Halen recording.[52]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Runnin' with the Devil" | 3:36 | |
2. | "Eruption" | 1:42 | |
3. | "You Really Got Me" | Ray Davies | 2:38 |
4. | "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" | 3:50 | |
5. | "I'm the One" | 3:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Jamie's Cryin'" | 3:31 | |
2. | "Atomic Punk" | 3:02 | |
3. | "Feel Your Love Tonight" | 3:43 | |
4. | "Little Dreamer" | 3:23 | |
5. | "Ice Cream Man" | John Brim | 3:20 |
6. | "On Fire" | 3:01 |
Personnel
Van Halen
- David Lee Roth – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Ice Cream Man" (credited as "David Roth")
- Eddie Van Halen – guitar, backing vocals, electric sitar on "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"[53]
- Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals
- Alex Van Halen – drums
Production
- Dave Bhang – art direction and design
- Jodi Cohen – typesetting
- Elliot Gilbert – photography
- Logan Jervis – engineer
- Donn Landee – engineer
- Peggy McCreary – engineer
- Jo Motta – project coordinator
- Kent Nebergall – engineer
- Ted Templeman – producer
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[66] | 4× Platinum | 400,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[67] | Gold | 25,305[67] |
France ( SNEP)[68]
|
Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[69] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[70] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[72] | Diamond | 10,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
- ^ Renoff 2015, p. 279.
- ^ a b Gill, Tolinski 2021, p. 55.
- ^ a b "Van Halen "Eruption" Work Order & You Really Got Me Mic Technique! Sunset Sound Roundtable". YouTube. Sunset Sound Recorders. November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
[Brian Kehew]: In fact, on the original boxes it says Guitar Solo. Years later or months later it was scratched out, and they wrote Eruption and the catalog number of the Warner Brothers song. [Paul Camarata]: I actually have the invoice right here. This is the actual invoice, and yeah, as you can see, it's October 4th. They did Little Dreamer that day in Studio 1, and then they did Guitar Solo.
- ^ "Sunset Sound" (PDF). sunsetsound.com.
- ^ "Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ISBN 9780862415419.
- ^ "Readers' Poll: The Ten Greatest Debut Albums". Rolling Stone. April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "100 Greatest Rock Debut Albums". digitaldreamdoor.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "The 10 Greatest Rock Debut Albums Of All Time". I Love Classic Rock. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Album Chart for 1978-05-27". Music Charts Archive. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c "You searched for van halen - RIAA". RIAA.
- ^ "50 greatest guitar solos of all time". NME. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Gill, Tolinski 2021, p. 26.
- ^ "Volume: Van Halen - Biography and Discography at HardHarderHeavy". hardharderheavy.de (in German). Archived from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ Grow, Kory (March 22, 2016). "Gene Simmons Talks Lost Seventies Van Halen Demos". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
I gave the demo back to the band, told them I had a tour to go on and afterward I would try to get them a record deal, but until then, I tore up our contract and set them free. It didn't take them long to get on Warner Bros.
- ^ Renoff, Greg. "How punk and new wave resurrected Hollywood's legendary Whisky a Go Go in the 1970s". medium.com/cuepoint. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ Gill, Tolinski 2021, p. 49.
- ^ Tolinski 2010, p. 38.
- ^ "Sunset-Sound.pdf" (PDF). Sunset Sound. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Van Halen debut album multitrack master tape boxes".
- ^ Tolinski 2010, p. 116.
- ^ Renoff 2015, p. 561.
- ^ "Prime Cuts: Eddie Van Halen Breaks Down 10 Van Halen Classics, from 'Eruption' to 'Right Now'". Guitar World. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
I doubled the solo section with an electric sitar.
- ^ musicradar.com/news/guitars/michael-anthony-my-6-career-defining-records-249695
- ^ Gill, Tolinski 2021, p. 59.
- ^ "Journey's Past Tour Information". journey-tribute.com. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "Black Sabbath Online: Tour Dates 1978". Archived from the original on July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ "Van Halen (1978)". albumlinernotes. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Gene Simmons Reveals The Van Halen Demo Most Deserving Of Release: 'It'll Make Your Jaw Drop'". Van Halen News Desk. December 10, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Gitter, Mike (March 6, 1993). "Talkin' 'bout revolutions". Kerrang!. No. 433. p. 39.
- Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Rock, Classic (February 19, 2018). "Album Of The Week Club: Van Halen - Van Halen". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ a b Graff & Durchholz 1999, p. 1187.
- ^ a b Q, August 2000
- ^ Edwards, Gavin (November 25, 2004). "Van Halen:Van Halen (2004 review)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008.
- ^ "Van Halen: Album Guide | Rolling Stone Music". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012.
- ^ George-Warren 2001, p. 1028; Whitburn 2010, p. 683
- ^ Young, Charles M. (May 4, 1978). "Van Halen:Van Halen". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
- ^ "Rolling Stone : Van Halen: Van Halen : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. April 27, 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007.
- ^ a b George-Warren 2001, p. 1028.
- ^ "Van Halen - Where to Start with - Kerrang". March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 26, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – February 21, 2014". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 5, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Charts, Week of October 17, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Stephen Thomas Erlewine (February 10, 1978). "Van Halen - Van Halen | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ^ Larkin 1994, p. 182.
- ^ a b c Levy 2005, p. 203.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Albums". Guitar World. October 2006. A copy can be found at "Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time – Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ "The 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time: 'Van Halen'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ^ "Mohr Stories". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "Prime Cuts: Eddie Van Halen Breaks Down 10 Van Halen Classics, from 'Eruption' to 'Right Now'". Guitar World. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3556". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Halen – Van Halen" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Van Halen – Van Halen". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Van Halen – Van Halen". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Van Halen – Van Halen". Music Canada.
- ^ Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "French album certifications – Van Halen – Van Halen" (in French). InfoDisc. Select VAN HALEN and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Van Halen; 'Van Halen')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Van Halen – Van Halen" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved February 27, 2020. Enter Van Halen in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1984 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "British album certifications – Van Halen – Van Halen". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Van Halen – Van Halen". Recording Industry Association of America.
Works cited
- George-Warren, Holly, ed. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (2005 ed.). Fireside. ISBN 978-0-7432-9201-6.
- Gill, Chris; Tolinski, Brad (2021). Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen. Hachette Books. ISBN 978-0-306-82665-8.
- Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-1-57859-061-2.
- ISBN 978-0-85112-786-6.
- Levy, Joe, ed. (2005). Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (First Paperback ed.). Wenner Books. ISBN 978-1-932958-61-4.
- Renoff, Greg (2015). Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal. Toronto: ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-77041-263-7. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- Tolinski, Brad (April 15, 2010). Guitar World Presents Van Halen. Backbeat Books.
- Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 1955–2009 (9th ed.). Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-8554-5.
Further reading
- Gill, Chris; Tolinski, Brad (2021). Eruption—Conversations With Eddie Van Halen. New York: Hachette Books. pp. 103–123. ISBN 9780306826658.
- Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 3–45. OCLC 605214049.