Van Halen

Van Halen

Track Listings

1. Runnin' With the Devil

2. Eruption

3. You Really Got Me

4. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

5. I'm the One

6. Jamie's Cryin'

7. Atomic Punk

8. Feel Your Love Tonight

9. Little Dreamer

10. Ice Cream Man

11. On Fire

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
At least half of the songs on Van Halen's eponymous 1978 debut are still considered classics, and the Eddie Van Halen instrumental "Eruption" revolutionized the guitar community by introducing a technique called finger-tapping into the heavy metal lexicon. A magnificent debut for sure, but maybe the band should have held onto a few of their blockbuster tunes to bolster the lean years that started after 1984, and continue to the present day. Regardless, Van Halen amply demonstrate their drive, showmanship, and musicianship throughout, blowing the needle off the scale on such tracks as "You Really Got Me," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Runnin' with the Devil," and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." --Jon Wiederhorn

Tracks:

Runnin' With The Devil
Eruption
You Really Got Me
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
I'm The One
Jamie's Cryin'
Atomic Punk
Feel Your Love Tonight
Little Dreamer
Ice Cream Man
On Fire

Amazon.com essential recording

At least half of the songs on Van Halen's eponymous 1978 debut are still considered classics, and the Eddie Van Halen instrumental "Eruption" revolutionized the guitar community by introducing a technique called finger-tapping into the heavy metal lexicon. A magnificent debut for sure, but maybe the band should have held onto a few of their blockbuster tunes to bolster the lean years that started after 1984, and continue to the present day. Regardless, Van Halen amply demonstrate their drive, showmanship, and musicianship throughout, blowing the needle off the scale on such tracks as "You Really Got Me," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Runnin' with the Devil," and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews:

(4.5 stars) ROCK ON!!!.......2007-07-27

Interesting story behind how I came about this album, and this band. A friend of my brother's was trying to argue that Eddie Van Halen was a better guitarist than Jimi Hendrix. I heard about it, and I'm thinking, What? Is this kid serious? No guitarist is better than Hendrix, and you know it! Well, I still don't think Eddie Van Halen is a better guitarist than Jimi Hendrix, but this album rocks like hell. I mean, a couple of these songs are awful, like "Janie's Cryin'" and "I'm the One", but that does not keep the best material from rocking tremendously. "Atomic Punk"? Oh, hell yeah. Hilarious little satire-thingy. "Runnin' with the Devil"? You've heard that song, right? It owns. It's got a great refrain, and a great riff, and that motorcycle guitar intro-thing... cool! "You Really Got Me Now" actually manages to almost out-Kinks the Kinks' original, except for the annoying sex noises in the end that were stolen right from "Whole Lotta Love". Other than that, it rocks. Let's see... "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" has the best riff on the record, "Feel Your Love Tonight" has the best solo (never said Eddie wasn't a good guitarist, just not as good as Jimi Hendrix. There's a difference, see?).I even enjoy a couple of the lesser-known songs, like "Little Dreamer", where Diamond Dave (I want a nickname like that) has all kinds of fun on vocals, and the hard-rockin' blues shuffle "Ice Cream Man". Even the infamous guitar solo "Eruption" is decent imitation Hendrix. A lot of detractors like to say that Van Halen is a hair-metal band, but I don't buy it: it never seems like they put style ahead of substance (much like AC/DC), and even Roth's macho-man I'm-so-sexy, do-me-right-now thing seems to be ironic (another AC/DC comparison). So if you want to rock out without thinking hard at all, buy this right away.

What can you say?.......it was VH's first.......2007-07-19

Van Halen.....with David Lee Roth, what can you say? This is there first album and it is great! I bought it on cassette and cd. One of the all time great bands. Highly recommended.

Sonic Perfection.......2007-07-09

While many could argue that this isn't Van Halen's best album, it's definitely in the top three. "Van Halen" was a landmark album for its time and still is today. It introduced the world to the guitar wizardry of Eddie Van Halen and unleashed David Lee Roth onto the music scene. One need look no further than "Eruption" to understand what makes this album so amazing. Eddie Van Halen becomes one with the guitar as he pulls off this wonderful sampling of sonic salvos, firing up the listener as the get ready to hear Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me." Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the first cut on this album, the wonderful "Runnin' With The Devil." It, along with "You Really Got Me," "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" and "Jamie's Cryin'" are all staples of any true Classic Rock radio staion today. "Ice Cream Man" serves as a harbinger to David Lee Roth's experimentation with dirty Blues tunes later on. The entire album is amazing. Is it their best? Maybe, maybe not. I'll let you decide.

Highly recommended to fans of electric guitar work, hard rock, and anybody interested in knowing why the guitar solo flourished throughout the 80's.

A solid debut that has aged about as gracefully as...well, the band.......2007-07-06

No sane person can look you in the eye and say that they truly admire and respect Van Halen. But the talent is certainly there, no more so than "guitar god" Eddie Van Halen, who while not as legendary as the Hendrixes and Becks and Pages, certainly deserves credit (and a bit of scorn) for his influential guitar prowess that inevitably led to a swamp of garbage in the next decade (though to be fair, the music on 1984 is probably even more guilty of that crime).

The hits here are all at least listenable (and "Runnin' With the Devil" is still their best song), and even the energetic cover of "You Really Got Me" is pretty good even while the candle falls far short of the Kinks' original.

Time has not been kind to this record, though (at the time of its release, I bet it was actually fresh and often amazing), but there's enough stuff that holds up well enough on here to give it a solid recommendation. Roth's goofy effect was already evident: the "shooby-doo-wah" break in "I'm the One" and the cover of "Ice Cream Man" proves two things: they have a sense of humor and they can find themselves on the wrong side of the thin line between clever and stupid. And shouldn't Eddie have revealed his finger-tapping method on a song that's not such a throwaway as "Eruption?"

Best cuts: "Runnin' With the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "On Fire," "You Really Got Me," "Atomic Punk," "Ain't Talkin' `Bout Love," "Feel Your Love Tonight"

a Very Good Debut Album.......2007-07-02

Van Halen back in the day was the truth. now I see alot of Bands being Proclaimed as the Best Rock and Roll Band in the world,etc... but there was a time when saying that title and Van halen in the same sentence truly was the truth. tracks like Running with the Devil, Eruption, you really got me going was the Jam. Eddie Van Halen changed the game on Guitar. he was something else back in the day,Michael Anthony on Bass was something else as well, Alex Van Halen on Drums was bringing it and One of the coolest Lead singers Ever Diamond David Lee Roth nailed down the vocals and was on point. this is a Debut album that still holds up some almost 30 years later. strong solos, Grooves and Arrangements. you felt a Band that was on a Mission and from start to finish it's a very Good Collection. Van Halen brought in there own Bag of Rock and Roll.

Average customer rating:

good collcetion of classics
Not my music.
Rushed out, missing many fan and radio favorites, but I do like the 2 new Dave songs.
Why Buy It?
4.5

Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002NAA
Release Date: 1996-10-22

Tracks:

Eruption
Ain`t Talkin` `Bout Love
Runnin` With The Devil
Dance The Night Away
And The Cradle Will Rock...
Unchained
Jump
Panama
Why Can`t This Be Love
Dreams
When It`s Love
Poundcake
Right Now
Can`t Stop Lovin` You
Humans Being
Can`t Get This Stuff No More
Me Wise Magic

Amazon.com

It took over 20 years for Van Halen to release a Best of album, and even then, the band downplayed the effort. Instead sticking to the original plan of releasing a two-disc set--one of material with original frontman David Lee Roth, and the other with his 11-year replacement Sammy Hagar--the band opted for a single CD chronicling their entire career. For the previously uninitiated, it's a golden introduction to a band that changed the face of '80s hard rock. Guitar-blazing old tracks like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," and "Dance the Night Away" segue into more commercial numbers like "Jump" and "Panama" from 1984. These in turn, set the stage for Hagar's slicker, more polished vocals on "Right Now" and "How Do I Know When It's Love." But while newcomers will be thrilled with the delights within, old fans will probably find little of use, since the two highly touted new tracks with Roth are pretty disposable. --Jon Wiederhorn

Album Details

Japanese Release featuring Exclusive Bonus Tracks. Tracks Include You Really Got Me, Pound Cake, Dreams, Jump, Right Now, and Others.

Customer Reviews:

good collcetion of classics.......2007-07-20

best of van halen volume 1 is a good collection of classics. you have the davidlee roth era wirh jump, you really got me,panama,and ain't talkin 'bout love. you have thesammy hagar era with why can't this be love,dreams,and when it's love.they also have 2 new songs with david lee roth.i like tis album a lot. ed wilson

Not my music........2007-03-10

I couldn't tell one song from the next. Baby, Baby was popular.

Rushed out, missing many fan and radio favorites, but I do like the 2 new Dave songs........2007-02-07

And for that Brief moment, will the reunion happen...nope, and in slide former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone. Yes, this single disc greatest hits is missing so much, and I always wondered, where is Volume 2? This album is Heavily Sammy, despite the 2 new tracks. It does miss so many of the classics as other reviewers have said. The newer Best of Both Worlds does make for a much more complete hits collection, but this cd is a mush have just for the fact of the 2 new David lee roth songs...what could have been. Oh well, i'll take what i can get, another unfortunate event in the wacky saga that in Van Halen. And how did they outdue the mess surrounding this album...Van Halen 3..wow. Overall, this CD is for a Van Halen Fan collection, but not nessecary for a regular collection, not a must need greatest hits collection.

Why Buy It? .......2006-10-02

I won't buy anything with Van Hagar on it. While this CD has a bunch of actual Van Halen songs, there's way too much of that dork Sammy on it. Not only that, but too many great classics are missing. I will just continue to collect the original albums. Forget the best ofs anyway. They always suck.

Van Hagar is not Van Halen and will never be. I can't believe any self respecting Van Halen fan would fail to realize that.

4.5.......2006-07-01

Van Halen is an incredible band and this album covers some of their best music. SOME. The bad part of this compilation is it's missing some of the other and earlier hits like

Jamie's Crying,
Runnin' With The Devil,
You Really Got Me,
Best of Both Worlds,

and a bunch of others. It's a great album if you're just getting into Van Halen, but the fact that Volume 2 never came out i suggest you get "The Best of Both Worlds". Or better yet, buy the 11 other albums and create your own compilation. Still, this is a great buy. Van Halen ROCKS!

Average customer rating:

Not the best in the world, but not the worst either.
Great Songs! But left a lot to be desired for the true Van Halen Fan
POP HALEN
Good collection, decent packaging but cheasy liner notes, great mix up of songs, really the best of both worlds
complete best of

The Best of Both Worlds
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000286S8S
Release Date: 2004-07-20

Tracks:

Eruption
It's About Time
Up For Breakfast
Learning To See
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Finish What Ya Started
You Really Got Me
Dreams
Hot For Teacher
Poundcake
And The Cradle Will Rock
Black And Blue
Jump
Top Of The World
(Oh) Pretty Woman
Love Walks In
Beautiful Girls
Can't Stop Loving You
Unchained

Tracks:

Panama
Best Of Both Worlds
Jamie's Cryin'
Runaround
I'll Wait
Why Can't This Be Love
Runnin' With The Devil
When It's Love
Dancing In The Street
Not Enough
Feels So Good
Right Now
Everybody Wants Some
Dance The Night Away
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (Live)
Panama (Live)
Jump (Live)

Amazon.com

One shouldn't have too much difficulty imagining a two-disc Van Halen compilation entitled The Best of Both Worlds. The first disc will showcase the David Lee Roth-fronted version of the band that reenergized hard rock with its titanic 1978 debut and peaked commercially with 1984's, uh, 1984. Disc two will take up where David Lee was left off--from 1986 on, when Sammy Hagar (and, briefly, Hagar-sound-alike Gary Cherone) took over the mike. Well, unfortunately, that's not the anthology assembled this time out. Rather than sequence the selections chronologically and, in the process, display the band's evolution (or devolution, depending on where one stands in the great Roth/Hagar debate), the band has opted for a more eccentric sequencing strategy. After the opener "Eruption" confirms the sass and chops of the young VH, three fairly uninspired new tracks featuring a back-in-the-fold (for now?) Hagar interrupt the flow. Unfortunately, the flow never really recovers, as Roth and Hagar tracks leapfrog one another through the next 29 selections. Three live Hagar takes on songs from the Roth era finish things off in confusing fashion. Obviously, there's plenty of powerful music here, but do fans really need a lesson in what happens when worlds collide? And didn't David Lee earn at least one photo in the package? --Steven Stolder

Album Description

Van Halen rocketed to stardom with their raucous, 10X-platinum-plus 1978 self-titled album, one of the greatest debuts ever. Anchored by Eddie Van Halen's guitar wizardry and David Lee Roth's vocal showmanship, the band's dynamic sound reinvented hard rock. A run of multiplatinum Top 10 discs followed, peaking with 1984, another 10X-platinum blockbuster and Roth's swan song. Sammy Hagar replaced the vocalist, a transition that cost the band no momentum. The Red Rocker's VH debut, 1986's 5150 , hit #1 on The Billboard 200, as did 1988's OU812. The Grammy-winning 1991 release, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, reached #5. This new compilation spotlights Van Halen's always-stellar musicianship over the course of 25 years and two world-class frontmen, and continues the story with three brand new Hagar-fronted tracks!

Customer Reviews:

Not the best in the world, but not the worst either........2007-07-21

Some key songs are missing.

So don't call this "The Essential V.an H.alen", b/c it is not.

I agree. Where is "Cabo Wabo", "Ice Cream Man", "Get Enough", "Summer Nights", "Pleasure Dome", "Judgement Day", "Somebody get me a Doctor", "In and Out", "Hang 'em High", and "Intruder"?!

It does have their stand out songs and their most popular songs from the David Lee Roth days and Sammy Hagar days, and also it has David Lee Roth's best V.H. song - "Hot for Teacher" and David's heaviest V.H. song - "Unchained", so at least that's something.

These CDs has a lot of good songs, but it is also missing a lot of good songs too.

Overall, I don't think too highly about David Lee Roth; the total goofball who has a fairly nice singing voice but a pathetic personality, and who thought that the band centered and revolved all around him, and who was way too goofy and too much of a clown, except for the "Fair Warning" CD which is the 1 and only time that David Lee Roth was ever serious about anything.

I don't really hate Roth in V.an H.alen b/c he did have a few very good songs with them, but his overall goofy and egoistical personality surely did not add anything to the band, and it turned some people away from them.

Yeah, Roth had a few really good songs with V.H. Yes, he did. Most of which are on these 2 CDs.

So, I will leave it at that.

Great Songs! But left a lot to be desired for the true Van Halen Fan.......2007-03-18

I can remember one day in late 1978, hearing Van Halen's (Eruption) and the entire first album scream out of the speakers of my buddies' borrowed record player in our 8th grade locker room during our half hour lunch break. I couldn't believe what I was actually hearing, but ever since that time I was hooked on Van Halen and I have every album they have ever put out. Yes, even the disappointing Van Halen III. Except for a couple songs, Van Halen III was very difficult to listen to, and I wonder what they were thinking when they got rid of Sammy after several great albums with the infamous "Red Rocker". Anyway, back to 1978 and the David Lee Roth era through 1984. They were the hottest rock band around. Unfortunately, I was unable to ever see them perform live with David Lee on vocals but since then, I have seen them a half-a-dozen times with Sammy and they all have been fantastic live shows. I also own both of their live concert videos and love to watch Eddie's solo guitar performances which, in my opinion, are second to none. Yes, there have been other great guitarists before Eddie: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, just to mention a few, but in my opinion, no one before, and no one since, has been as innovative, creative and just down right the "Best of the Best" as Eddie Van Halen on guitar. He will always be #1 in my book of top Rock guitar players of all-time.

Alas, back to the album at hand. I actually give this album 5 stars for quality of songs, because some of these songs are some of the best Rock-n-Roll songs of all time. But I give whoever put this record together a NEGATIVE 5 stars as for the order in which the songs were compiled and they left out at least another 5 to 10 songs that could have, and should have been included on "Best of Both Worlds". I have listed my ultimate Van Halen song collection below. Therefore, I have to rate this album as an average compilation of Van Halen Songs. First of all, I wish they would have put the songs in chronological order starting with Van Halen I continuing down through the years, and then saved the three newest songs with Sammy for last, (of which shouldn't be on the album in the first place, because they are definitely not the "Best" that Van Halen has to offer) But if they are going to be included in this disc set, they should have been the last three songs of the disc, so that when you got to end you could push stop, or eject if you didn't want to sit through them. This album never gets into a rhythm due to this non-chronological order of songs. Also, I would like to have seen a little more homage paid to David Lee Roth. Even if he is one of the fruitiest "Nuts" you'll ever see, you have to admit he was one heck of a Front man back in his prime, and sang some of Van Halen's greatest songs.

This is the song set that I would have compiled, had I been the producer on this "Best of Both Worlds" project.

Disc 1: (David Lee Roth) Eruption, Runnin' With The Devil, You Really Got Me, Ain't Talkin' Bout Love, Jamie's Crying, Feel Your Love Tonight, Little Dreamer, Ice Cream Man, Dance The Night Away, Beautiful Girls, And The Cradle Will Rock, Everybody Wants Some, In A Simple Rhyme, Mean Street, Unchained, Where Have All The Good Times Gone, Cathedral, Secrets, Pretty Woman, Dancing In The Street, Little Guitars (intro), Little Guitars, 1984, Jump, Panama, Drop Dead Legs, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait.

Disc 2: (Sammy Hagar) Why Can't This Be Love, Dreams, Summer Nights, Best of Both Worlds, Love Walks In, 5150, When It's Love, Cabo Wabo, Feels So Good, Finish What Ya Started, Black And Blue, Poundcake, Runaround, Right Now, 316, Top of The World, Can't Stop Lovin' You, Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do, Amsterdam, Not Enough, Take Me Back (Deja Vu), Feelin'.

Van Halen will always be one of my favorite groups, if not my favorite rock-n-roll group of all time. It's too bad the Van Halen brothers can't put their egos aside, get over themselves and get back together with one of, if not both of, two of the greatest front men of all time. And don't forget Michael Anthony, maybe not the greatest bass man of all time, but he sure puts on an excellent live show and bass solo, and you have to love his Jack Daniels bass guitar, (it's a classic, just like Eddie's red, black and white striped guitar) plus he sings great harmony in his own right. And you can't leave out Alex Van Halen on drums. When you bring up Van Halen, everyone immediately talks about Eddie's unbelievable guitar playing, but Alex is one of the top ten drummers of all time as well. Just as Michael Anthony, Alex puts on an excellent live drum solo, it's just that he has been overshadowed by his brother's guitar playing...in any other band Alex would be the star.

Now wouldn't that be an awesome tour. The Van Halen brothers with Michael Anthony together with both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar doing all of their hits respectively in one live show. Now that would definitely be what you could call the "BEST OF BOTH WORLDS"!!!

POP HALEN.......2007-03-09

I cannot believe that I am the only one who gave this pile
of dump 1 star? All these rave reviews for this piece makes
you wonder,does anybody love hard rock anymore? Including
the band themselves. I am writing this review for the hope
that at least one person who reads this and does not know
the true essence of what made VH will find out. Please
whoever you are if your new to VH don't buy this,if you
really want the best of both worlds so to speak then I
recommend VAN HALEN,VAN HALEN 2,WOMAN AND CHILDREN FIRST
and FAIR WARNING,for Hagar I totally suggest the albums
MONTROSE,Sammy Hagar and STANDING HAMPTON. Although if you love broadway musicals and still
blowdry your hair then this is the heavymetal masterpiece
for you with such bone crushing classics like "JUMP" "RIGHT NOW"
and of course the very best for last "WHY CAN'T THIS BE LOVE"(c'mon
people shake your booty's clap your hands and repeat after me "It's
got what it takes") It boggles the mind to think people prefer 5150
over WOMAN AND CHILDREN FIRST??? C'mon everybody snap your fingers
"IT'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES"(P-EE-YUKE)

Good collection, decent packaging but cheasy liner notes, great mix up of songs, really the best of both worlds.......2007-02-07

I picked this collection about a year ago, and I played it again last night, and It really is a great collection. Best of Volume 1 was good, containing most of the radio hits, and the 2 new Diamond Dave songs, but this one gets their greatest radio hits and the radio staple songs such as poundcake, jamie's crying etc. It also features 2 new songs with Sammy as well, nice touch. Finally, it includes a couple of live songs from the sammy days as well of van halen classics, not bad, still not Dave on those songs. Sammy and Dave, I actually like both of the guys catalogs with the band, and in fact kinda prefer sammy. This collection covers them both though. I agree, the package notes were cheesy, mainly used to hype the new tour with sammy, and dave was not to find in the pictures. Finally, I think for completion sake they could have included a Gary Cherone song from van halen 3, at least "without you", But fans backlashed that album bad, so it's been swept under the rug for good. Oh well, this is the best one stop set for Van Halen songs, worth the money. It does lack "Ice Cream Man", I guess well have to wait for another collection to get that song included on it, I'll just have to get that album in the meantime.

complete best of.......2007-02-03

This greatest hits is better and more complete although the new hagar songs are not as good as the new david one on the other best of. Also of not I like the alternate ending on finsh what ya started better too. Awesome best of collection from an awesome band.

Average customer rating:

Strong but not Van Halen's best [4.5 stars]
The best
Like Van Halen 1 and thats a good thing
One of the Greatest Riffs Ever
VAN HALEN II IS A GREAT FOLLOW UP AND SEQUEL TO VAN HALEN'S DEBUT ALBUM!

Van Halen II
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004Y6O8
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

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Customer Reviews:

Strong but not Van Halen's best [4.5 stars].......2007-05-03

Van Halen II is a really good rock album. There's not a bad song on it. It's straight-forward rock with a pinch of funk in spots. The problem, for me, has always been that it was the follow-up to one of the best rock albums ever made. Several other albums in the Roth era were much stronger, particularly Fair Warning and 1984. VHII is certainly a worthy effort, it's just bookended by much better albums.

The best.......2007-03-04

Maybe the best Van Halen album ever. And to quote Dave. "It's like the guy says in that movie I Hate You. The best comedy ain't always funny". Van Halen is America's greatest rock band. If you don't have this cd buy it.

Like Van Halen 1 and thats a good thing.......2007-02-12

VH II is like a continuation of the first classic. It has the strong originals, Eddies solo(this time on acoustic) and the cover song, "you're no good". Good second album, no musical growth here, but still just as good as the first.

One of the Greatest Riffs Ever.......2007-02-07

I think Van Halen maintained the brilliance started on their first album with their second release. Not as many singles as #1, but just as good of songs. The real stand-out is "D.O.A." which features Diamond Dave and Eddie both doing what they do best (heck props to Alex as well). This album is an essential item if you are starting up your Van Halen collection, as if that really needs to be stated.

VAN HALEN II IS A GREAT FOLLOW UP AND SEQUEL TO VAN HALEN'S DEBUT ALBUM!.......2007-01-02

I will be writing a review on the legendary brilliant masterpiece follow up album simply entitled "VAN HALEN II" by one of Rocks greatest bands of ALL-TIME, I'm talking about the legendary great VAN HALEN! This legendary album was originally released in 1979 on vinyl/LP and cassette on the Warner Brothers Records label. I purchased the very first release of this album on CD and the matrix or ID number is 3312-2. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

What can I say about this legendary album and the legendary great band that recorded it all those years ago that hasn't already been said? Following the success of their popular self-titled debut album "VAN HALEN" from 1978, it was now time for the band to head back into the recording studio and record another great a*s kicking album that would be the follow up and sequel to the original! And VAN HALEN DID JUST THAT! Their follow up, "VAN HALEN II," released one year later in 1979 would be their delivery and result! "VAN HALEN II" would also answer and silent all the music critics questions and concerns in wondering if VAN HALEN could do it again and deliver a great follow up and sequel to the original! In my opinion, "VAN HALEN II" is an outstanding album and a GREAT follow up to the original! In my opinion, I'm still not quite sure if "VAN HALEN II" is as good as the original since I still believe that "VAN HALEN" kicks more a*s than "VAN HALEN II!" However, "VAN HALEN II" is still great and contains some a*s kicking Rock n' Roll moments on it that does resemble "VAN HALEN!" Every single song track contained on this legendary album is GREAT!

I will list and briefly review all the song tracks contained in this legendary album in their original exact running order as follows: (1.) "You're No Good," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! A great tribute version of the original Linda Ronstadt Rocker! This Rockin' version is done the VAN HALEN way, IT KICKS A*S! David Lee really belts this Rocker out with his blistering Lead Vocals! What a great way to begin this legendary album! Great song!) (2.) "Dance The Night Away," Outstanding! Brilliant! superb! Another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I love this Rocker!) (3.) "Somebody Get Me A Doctor," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I LOVE Eddie's guitar riff arrangements in this one! With Eddie's blistering guitar playing combined with David Lee's blistering merciless Lead Vocals, you have one hell of a GREAT ROCKER THAT CAN'T GO WRONG! SOMEBODY GIVE ME A SHOT! I love it dearly!) (4.) "Bottoms Up!," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S! David Lee and Eddie really gets into this Rocker! I love it!) (5.) "Outta Love Again," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I love Eddie's blistering guitar riff and solo arrangements backed up by David Lee's blistering Lead Vocals in this one! I love it dearly!) (6.) "Light Up The Sky," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S as well! Eddie and David Lee get into this Rocker as well! I love it!) (7.) "Spanish Fly," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This instrumental acoustic number is quite simply, M-R. E-D-D-I-E V-A-N H-A-L-E-N! Eddie really kicks a*s in this solo acoustic number! GREAT!) (8.) "D.O.A.," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I love Eddie's blistering merciless guitar riff arrangements in this one backed up by David Lee's blistering ruthless Lead Vocals! Great song!) (9.) "Women In Love..." (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER! I love Eddie's and David Lee's blistering contributions in this Rocker! This is a GREAT Rocker as well!) and (10.) "Beautiful Girls." (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER THAT KICKS A*S! A great and appropriate way to conclude this legendary album! Eddie and David Lee deliver another great blistering performance in this Rocker! I Love this rocker dearly!) Overall, this is one hell of an a*s kicking album that contains some great blistering song tracks!

As you can see, this is definitely one treasure album worth purchasing that he or she should definitely as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This album is a true classic and will definitely prove to persevere the test of time and get better like wine! This legendary priceless gem without a doubt will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many more years to come, NOW AND FOREVER!

In closing, the VAN HALEN legend does not end here! If anything, IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! Following the release and success of "VAN HALEN II," Guitar Player Magazine would vote VAN HALEN'S premiere Lead Guitarist and axman Eddie Van Halen BEST GUITARIST OF THE YEAR! This would be an award that Eddie would get accustomed to winning especially since he would win this award and honor for the next four years! However, there was still some greatness in the VAN HALEN legend that was yet to come! There would be new stories and chapters that would still need to be conquered and written! But that is something that you, my fellow readers and reviewers, will have to read more about! So stay tuned! Here's to you David Lee, Eddie, Alex and Michael! And as the saying goes folks, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong or need I say more? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN HALEN RULES! Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take care. Forever in Rock, J.L.

Average customer rating:

Relax, The Synthesizers Sound Great
The epitome of 80s hard rock
Extremely boring and forgettable
Van Halen goes '80s
Genius

1984
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Van Halen
Van Halen II
Women and Children First
Diver Down
Fair Warning

ASIN: B00004Y6O3
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

1984
Jump
Panama
Top Jimmy
Drop Dead Legs
Hot For Teacher
I'll Wait
Girl Gone Bad
House Of Pain

Amazon.com essential recording

1984 was a successful record not only because it contained solid, catchy hard rock, but also because it incorporated synthesizers into the mix, the first metal album to do so to any serious extent. Although the advances in electronic music make this material sound dated now, it's still a highlight of Van Halen's career. Songs like "Jump" contain a pop element that gave 1984 mainstream appeal, and David Lee Roth turned the frontman role into an art form on songs such as "Panama," "Hot for Teacher," "Drop Dead Legs," and "I'll Wait." To a large extent, it was 1984 that set the standard for '80s pop metal, and David Lee Roth who set the standard (or takes the blame, depending on your point of view) for the aggressively good-time attitude most pop-metal bands took for their own. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Relax, The Synthesizers Sound Great.......2007-07-09

Whenever you talk about synthesizers these days, most people remember the synth-pop sounds of acts from the 80's like Thomas Dolby and Information Society. Few of them recall (at least at first) Van Halen, who merged synthesizer sounds with sonic guitar solos on "1984." Van Halen made it okay for hard rock bands to use synthesizers. Sure, bands like STYX incorporated such instruments into their music, but they weren't considered rock gods on the same level as Eddie and Co.

With this album came the mega-hit, "Jump." It brought Van Halen's sound into the mainstream radio arena and exposed them to a lot of people who didn't listen to rock music up to that point. It also gave us "Panama," "I'll Wait," "Drop Dead Legs" and "Girl Gone Bad." Sure to remind us that these synthesizing boys still know how to be bad, Alex Van Halen hits the listener with a barrage of drums to open up my personal favorite on this album, "Hot For Teacher." This song is almost a kick in the teeth compared to the rest of the album. It's nothing more than dirty fun and pure rock n' roll.

This is definitely one of the best albums ever cranked out by Van Halen before Sammy Hagar took the frontman position. Heck, it's one of the best Van Halen albums ever. I highly recommend it to any fan of true hard rock music. It's a great album.

The epitome of 80s hard rock.......2007-06-17

What is probably the most creative Van Halen album, and certainly their best, 1984 is the hands down epitome of 80s hard rock, and all 80s music in general. There isn't an ounce of filler to be found on the record, and the intro to the album, the title song, really provides the listener with an idea of the mood of the album and a sample of what they're going to hear. The follow up to this song, the famous [and infamous] "Jump," also finds the band at the peak of their creativity. It features guitarist Eddie Van Halen on a synthesizer keyboard, and though he plays this throughout almost the entire song, there is still an awesome, underrated guitar solo within it. The speeding power chords of "Panama" are also what represent Van Halen's masterful performances/songwriting. Said song has a sweet and very memorable main riff, and some of the best lyrics you'll ever hear. The guitar solo is also one of Eddie Van Halen's finest pieces, and ever since the release of this album the song has become a concert staple with current singer Sammy Hagar. "Top Jimmy" is really a standout from the album--the gloomy, eerie beginning guitar licks surprise the listener as the song sets into a humorous atmosphere, with yet another awesome Hendrix-esque guitar solo to boot. "Drop Dead Legs" also shows what an excellent guitarist Eddie Van Halen can be, as the awestriking solo takes up nearly half of the song. Of course Van Halen's final album with original lead singer "Diamond" David Lee Roth wouldn't be the same without the sixth track, "Hot for Teacher". The song starts out with heavy bass drumming by Eddie's brother Alex, and then goes into a guitar attack, coming close to the masterpiece solo "Eruption" from Van Halen's first album. The song's first minute leaves you with an imprssion of a skit and then strikes you with more memorable verses and choruses by Roth. It is also another powerful song by the foursome. The experimental "I'll Wait" is another creative hit, with an intro of brass instruments and efficient vocals. "Girl Gone Bad" also deserves major credit, for without it, the album as a whole wouldn't have such a unique sound as it does. The finishing song, "House of Pain," is a very powerful and affective finish to the album. What was a leftover from the recording of the first album, it has an awesome intro of deep power and bar chords, and a clean, fade-into-the-distance ending. Overall, Van Halen's sixth studio album and final album with their original singer is a classic in every way, and is one of the top 100 greatest albums of all time, in my opinion. You'll have a very memorable and hard-rocking good time listening to this record.

Extremely boring and forgettable.......2007-05-29

This is the most overrated Van Halen album. Lot's of the songs are simply boring, way too _________ poppy. ALl of the songs including Hot For Teacher are extremely overrated. 1984 was a weak collection of filler songs, filled with lame guitar riffs, Roth's worst lyrics and voice, ______ bass guitar, and pointless show-off _____. Alex Van Halen did some good drumming on Hot For Teacher and House of Pain, but that's it.

1984 has not stood the test of time. It's just a collection of pop songs. It's pointless, and it shows how self-indulgent a band can get. I just can't reccomend this cd at all. This is just as pointless and forgettable as other ________ cd's from that era, like Back In Black and Shout At The Devil. Van Halen was turning into a pop rock band, nothing else. It only got worse when Sammy Hagar showed up. Van Halen was completely ruined.

Want a better Van Halen cd? Both Van Halen 1 and 2, Diver Down, Fair Warning, and Women and Children First are all way superior to this overrated pop piece of ____. Or you could just click no and disagree.

3.5/10

Van Halen goes '80s.......2007-03-19

I have this album because no real Van Halen fan should be without it, but I honestly don't like it as much as the others from the classic (David Lee Roth) era. It's cool that Edward wanted to do something different or experimental by introducing a synthesizer to the band's sound, but making it more radio-friendly or poppy just didn't really do it for them. Diamond Dave's vocals have lost their luster by now and become less unique and more like yelling.

1984--A woozy synthesizer solo as an introduction to the album. It kind of says, "Welcome to the '80s". I don't otherwise see any value to this track.

Jump--One of the band's best-known, most popular songs ever, but one of the fluffier ones. Catchy and light enough to be allowed onto pop radio with one uninspiring guitar solo from Edward. Alex's drumming sounds too bland or like a drum machine.

Panama--Great song that would go very well on one of the first two albums. Alex pounds out a rhythm that lends itself perfectly to jumping up and down and punching the air in a concert setting. This song is a great combination of sex rock and allusions to fast cars, complete with engine sound effects during the very suggestive spoken-word bridge. Definitely the best song on the album.

Top Jimmy--Good old American punk-rock 'n' roll. One of a few songs that makes the band sound more punk-like but kind of a fun one.

Drop Dead Legs--A good struttin' song with good woogity, heavy distorted guitar and a deliberate, heavy drumbeat. The normally good vocal harmonies are weak here.

Hot For Teacher--One of the other punk-like songs that starts with a mad drum solo and continues into guitar shredding. This one is a lot of fun, as the title suggests, and includes a few vignettes recorded to sound like a few rowdy teenage boys acting up in a school setting.

I'll Wait--Sounds a lot like "Jump" but perhaps even fluffier. Heavy in synthesizer and the drumming is similarly boring.

Girl Gone Bad--Fast head-banging metal with some unexpected stops and starts; a better-planned, more interesting song than others on the album. It kind of reminds me of "Hot For Teacher". The emphasis seems to be more on interesting music than lyrics, which is fine.

House of Pain--Another song that's more musically progressive, with the lyrics and lead vocals kind of getting lost in the shuffle. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. There's a great, fast, wild instrumental section that helps to balance out the fluff of earlier tracks. The song fades out on this instrumental part, which is more like a jam by this point.

Genius.......2007-03-01

I love all the tracks on this disc. Cant really say anything bad about "1984" because everything is well done. They deserve their classic status. My favorite track is "Hot for Teacher" with its creative drum opening and furious Eddy guitar intro. It's juvenile, but the other tracks get into really interesting stuff like "House" and "I'll Wait."

Average customer rating:

Nothing really does stay the same...a brilliant, dark masterpiece
Rocked my little 11 year old world!!!
Great Album
Good Time Rock From The Halen's.
The tension album

Fair Warning
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Women and Children First
Diver Down
Van Halen II
Van Halen
1984

ASIN: B00004Y6O7
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

Mean Street
'Dirty Movies'
Sinner's Swing!
Hear About It Later
Unchained
Push Comes To Shove
So This Is Love?
Sunday Afternoon In The Park
One Foot Out The Door

Customer Reviews:

Nothing really does stay the same...a brilliant, dark masterpiece.......2007-06-29

Van Halen is the type of band that can satisfy somebody with high expectations. The interesting thing about them is that while they certainly have a sound of their own, it seems like experimenting is a high priority for them. Between the hair-metal of "1984", the half-moody, half-good time "Van Halen 2" and the unstoppable monster of their debut album, "Van Halen", (all of which had their share of popular tunes), it's easy to see how something less commercial or experimental would tend to go unnoticed.
Unfortunately, that's the case with "Fair Warning". A brilliant album, yes, but the truth of thematter is that it wasn't remembered for high-on-the-chart singles such as "Jump" or "Panama". However, what it lacks for in commercial success it more than makes up for in clever songwriting and an overall dark tone. On a positive note, it's probably one of their overall greatest albums.
"Fair Warning" is the type of album where each song can flow pretty well into the following, even if the styles are a bit different. In addition, "Fair Warning" overall paints an easy-to-see picture. You can almost imagine a movie being made in the scenery that's painted by the rebelliousness of "Unchained" or the third-world neighborhood of "Mean Street". It's a land of murky tales and strange situations that's just so interesting and quite dark that you are brought in without hardly knowing. The imagery on the album covers, front and back, hint at what such a place might be like; twisted days where people go wild, uncertain events pop up out of nowhere, and all is portrayed by the soundtrack, a hard-rocking, moody masterpiece that is "Fair Warning".
All right, so more to the point, the music on this album is quite unique and interesting. Even in all the murky emotions, the sing-a-long choruses and anthemic displays of power show you that while this album may prove to be a change of pace, Van Halen is basically the same. Eddie Van Halen displays more exciting stunts on his guitar, while David Lee Roth erupts like a volcano with his comments and amusingly entertaining performances. Michael Anthony's basswork is quite present on this album, too, and Alex Van Halen's "what kind of drums is that man playing on?" drumming is top-notch, too. Overall, this album is yet another display of Van Halen's both incredible talent and catchy songwriting.

"Mean Street": The first, thirty seconds are Eddie Van Halen's progressive dual-handed tapping, a technique so unusual that when my guitar teacher showed me a long, long time ago, I was drawn in and bought this album. The main riff is so awesome it makes you wanna turn the power all the way up. The closing solo is very impressive as well, and basically, everybody is at the top of their game here. An instant classic.
" 'Dirty Movies' ": Wow, in just four minutes, Van Halen plays one of the most unpredictable songs I've ever heard, in a GOOD way. There are a lot of changes in this song, and random things occuring, such as David Lee Roth's spoken word, "Hey, you remember when that girl was prooom queen? Oh, wow.", and "Take it off! Take it all off!!!", and the cheering, this is a great song full of surprises.
"Sinner's Swing!": A fast-paced rocker that contains a very explicit lyric, especially for a VH song, but this is an awesome three-minute hard-rock blast.
"Hear About It Later": OK, a little time-travel here. Remember VH's debut? A song on there, "Feel Your Love Tonight"? I CANNOT TELL YOU how much this track sounds like a murky, love-gone-bad version of that song. Even so, it's still original with an anthemic sing-a-long chorus and some interesting, opening guitar work.
"Unchained": Alongside "Mean Street", this is probably my favorite song on the album. It opens with a huge, loud, crunchy guitar riff, the fast, fade-in drums, and DLR's, "ALL RIGHT!", shout. Great soloing and another funny DLR performance inside.("One break, commmming uppp!".)
"Push Comes To Shove": A very unusual VH song focused around a funky bassline and more basic drumwork. This song makes me thing about walking along the suburban streets of New York City, bundled up in the autumn, thinking about everything that's going on in your life. With such lyrics as, "Seems like forty days and forty nights since somebody's called me by my first name/ Including you", this is an introspective song that's an absolute delight, served up Van Halen style.
"So This Is Love?": The complete opposite of "Push Comes To Shove", this song has the swing and groove of an early Black Sabbath tune (one of Tony Iommi's guitar heroes was jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt). Along with an original VH sound and for some reason, a Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe, this is yet another great rocker.
"Sunday Afternoon In The Park": A slow, sludgy, two-minute instrumental with some of the wildest guitar playing I can recall hearing from Eddie. The riff starts and stops with some slow but cool drum fills of his brother Alex, and then, fading in is a hot, nasty guitar riff that leads into the closer...
"One Foot Out The Door": The killer riff continues here with Alex Van Halen's trademark, fade-in drumming, and DLR and Michael Anthony both kick in. The song and album close with yet another blazing guitar solo, and thus ends it all.

There you go, the dark, underrated masterpiece that is "Fair Warning". Although not the most commercially successful release, it's among Van Halen's very best. So if you want an album with massive talent but still packs the anthemic immortality that Van Halen displays so well, "Fair Warning" can almost undoubtedly get that taken care of. If you like this and want to explore more VH, I'd strongly recommend checking out, at least, "Van Halen (1)" and "1984", which both show these guys at the top of their game. Have a good time with this one, and until next time, peace!

Rocked my little 11 year old world!!! .......2007-06-19

I believe I was in 5th grade, a big AC/DC fan. These were the days of LPs; big album covers and sleeves you could hold and admire, a little bit of crackle before the first notes hit, 2-sided albums where you took a quick intermission to turn to the second half. This was the early 80s where things had not become so cheesy.

I remember listening to it the first time with my best friend who was the yin to my yang; me the AC/DC fan, my friend, the Van Halen fan. I had enjoyed Halen very much - how could you not? VH I, II and Women and Children were all wonderful albums and in the good old days radio had an array of tasty singles to choose from. I miss early 1980s radio - good times...

But back to the first listen; the cover was a bit intimidating and as Eddie's intro to "Mean Streets" crept up on me, it was a surreal experience. Not nice but irresistible. After the punch in the face of "Mean Street", Dirty Movies is the perfect follow up - again probably more than I could understand at my age at the time, but that probably made it more fascinating. This was probably the first or second album that had a mysticism to it, along with amazing songs. This and Pink Floyd's "The Wall" were both albums I could not get enough of. Albums we would listen to over and over and discuss to no end.

This would be a long review if I talk about every song. I love them all - but "Push Comes To Shove", "Mean Street", "Dirty Movies", "Sinner's Swing", and "Unchained" are my favorites. I'm still amazed at 11-year's old I was listening to this kind of music but I did have older siblings so I did get introduced to quite a bit.

My only complaint is there aren't enough songs on "Fair Warning". Obviously VH was MAJORLY inspired in the studio for this one. There's an angst in the performances and the lyrics - but not some sort of rocker/punky angst. This Eddie Van Halen exploring his playing without much thought to commercialism and it really adds to the mood of the album. Same thing for Dave Lee Roth. I'm very sad they didn't squeak out several more songs - actually a double album would be preferred.

Great Album.......2007-05-24

This is a great VH album to own. It has the same musical "cool factor" as their self-titled debut and 1984. If for nothing else, you'll be able to play the cool instrumental "Sunday Afternoon In The Park" over and over again.

Unfortunately, I'm very disappointed that in this "digitally remastered" version the record company did not fix the sound level problems in a couple of the songs. These problems also appeared on the original vinyl record. The volume in "So This Is Love?" goes up an down several times, which is very noticeable and annoying. And it was/is not an artistic flare. The song starts at a good level with the bass line and drums, and then they are turned down for the guitar and vocals. Not a good effect. It seems like a poor editing decision. It would have been better to have all the music and vocals at the same recorded volume. The same volume "errors" happen on the next song, an instrumental -- "Sunday Afternoon In The Park." But I suppose on that song that you could want it to get louder from time to time as an effect. It's very abrupt, though, and, as a result, not that impressive. They should have spent a little time with some digital audio software and fixed the problems. However, it is faithful to the original.

Even with the audio issue on a couple songs, you should have this album in your VH collection. I still give it 5 stars. "Mean Street," "Unchained," and "So This Is Love?" are classic songs. "Dirty Movies," "Sinner's Swing," and "Push Comes To Shove" add to the cool-factor of the album. I think I can speak for everyone who heard this album for the first time in the 80s, that "Sunday Afternoon In The Park" was an instrumental that just blew us all away because it was so cool and different; everyone talked about it at one time or another.

Good Time Rock From The Halen's........2007-03-08

This album rocks,and it is a classic.Takes me back to my high school years of the early 80's.

The tension album .......2007-02-12

The fights among the band are starting here and it shows, the music is very angry and Ed's playing is full of fire like the first album. Some of the best albums in history were made under tense conditions and this is one of those great albums that was worth the hell they went through to record it.

Average customer rating:

Look I'll pay ya for it what the F**k?
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST
Worst Roth-era disc...
Growth
THE VAN HALEN LEGEND CONTINUES WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST!

Women and Children First
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Fair Warning
Van Halen II
Diver Down
Van Halen
1984

ASIN: B00004Y6OA
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

And The Cradle Will Rock...
Everybody Wants Some!!
Fools
Romeo Delight
Tora! Tora!
Loss Of Control
Take Your Whiskey Home
Could This Be Magic?
In A Simple Rhyme

Customer Reviews:

Look I'll pay ya for it what the F**k?.......2007-07-20

Classic line as Everybody wants some fades out.
Similar to The Babys Union Jacks, Ahhh, I really want to F**k you!

GREAT 8 Tracks!

WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST.......2007-05-13

I shouldn't have to convince anyone of the musical genius that is Van Halen. The music on this CD will stand the test of time, and will never lose it's value to those who appreciate rock.If you don't have this, you should. You will have made a wise choice.Feel good about that.

Worst Roth-era disc..........2007-03-12

By far. Can't beleive all of the glowing reviews for this one. Well, i guess thats what this page can do sometimes. Just a lousey, confused effort in my book. Love VH too, favorite band of all time, but just could never warm up to WACF. "CRADLE" and "EVERYBOY WANTS..." are decent VH staples and fine in their own right, but the REST! Much of the material on this album sounds like B-side and outtakes! "LOSS OF CONTROL" "COULD THIS BE MAGIC" AND "TAKE YOUR WHISKEY HOME" are just failed experiments. WACF is just a weak, limp-wristed transistional album for the band. It still gets two stars because this is atleast better then III and much of the dreck put out under VAN HAGAR.

Here is the 3 best VH albums;

(1) "Fair Warning"
(2) "VH 1"
(3) "Diver Down" (the most underrated VH album)

Here are the 3 worst;
(1) "OU812"
(2) "Women and Children First"
(3) "VH III (everyone loves to bash this monstosity)"

Growth.......2007-02-12

The short 20 second song after "in a simple rhyme" is the uncredited/unfinished "Growth", and that symbolized this record, big improvement from VHII, better songs and ed's first Keyboard song "...and the cradle will rock" done on a distorted electric piano through a flanger.

THE VAN HALEN LEGEND CONTINUES WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST! .......2007-01-07

I will be writing a review on the legendary brilliant masterpiece album entitled "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" by one of Rock's most ALL-TIME greatest legendary bands ever, I'm talking about the GREAT LEGENDARY V-A-N H-A-L-E-N! "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" was originally released in 1980 on the Warner Brothers Records label in association with Van Halen Productions Inc. I purchased the very first release of this album on Compact Disc and the matrix or ID number is 3415-2. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

WOW! What can I say about this legendary album and the great legendary band that recorded it all those years ago that hasn't already been said? Instead of writing and adding my own personal notes, I will quote word for word what is written on the inner sleeve album notes as follows: "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" was Van Halen's third album and third consecutive multi-million best seller. Released in March of 1980, it contained nine original songs including such instant Van Halen classics as "And The Cradle Will Rock...," "Tora! Tora!" and "Everybody Wants Some!!"

The Netherlands-born Van Halen brothers were originally trained as concert pianists. When the family relocated to Los Angeles, Alex (drums) and Eddie (guitar) joined forces with Midwestern-bred vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony to form Mammoth. After changing its name to VAN HALEN, the group became a club favorite and was signed to Warner Brothers Records in 1977.

Van Halen's first two albums and the group's legendary live performances on two sold-out world tours established the band as a premiere rock attraction. Returning to the studio in 1980 with producer Ted Templeman, they recorded "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" in two and a half weeks. The album raced into the Top 5, where it remained for more than two months and became a certified Platinum seller.

As you can see, this is definitely a great legendary treasure album worth purchasing that he or she should definitely own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This legendary album will also prove to persevere and endure the test of time and will get better with age like wine. This legendary priceless gem will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many more years to come, NOW AND FOREVER!

In closing, As we all fully well know, the VAN HALEN legend does not even come close to ending here either! If anything, IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! VAN HALEN would continue to release many more great albums that were still yet to come that lied ahead. There would also prove to be more tales and stories in the VAN HALEN legend that would still need to be conquered and written in chapters. But that, my fellow readers and reviews, is something that you will have to stay tuned and read further on at a later date. Here's to you David Lee, Eddie, Alex and Michael. Keep Persevering! Keep The Faith! And as the saying goes folks, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong or need I say more? Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN HALEN RULES! Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock n' Roll, J.L.

Average customer rating:

Most Underrated VH CD.
Rushed Effort!
Where have all the good songs gone?
DIVER DOWN IS PRE-1984 IN DIAPERS!
Covers Are Weak

Diver Down
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Women and Children First
Fair Warning
Van Halen II
1984
Van Halen

ASIN: B00004Y6O6
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

Where Have All The Good Times Gone!
Hang 'Em High
Cathedral
Secrets
Intruder
(Oh) Pretty Woman
Dancing In The Street
Little Guitars (Intro)
Little Guitars
Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)
The Full Bug
Happy Trails

Customer Reviews:

Most Underrated VH CD........2007-07-08

Okay, so maybe "Diver Down" isn't as important as "Van Halen I" to hard rock history but this CD is just plain fun. As DLR once said about "Diver Down": "It may not be Van Halen's best LP but I guarantee if you play it at a party no one's going home crying." Exactly, this is just a fun, good time CD. I had kinda overlooked this CD in the Van Halen catalog until about 16 years ago when I took a three day weekend trip to the beach with the guys. One of my good friends had brought "Diver Down" along with him and we popped it in and then I realized how good of a CD this is. Whenever I listen to it now it reminds me of that great beach trip. "Pretty Woman" and "Dancing In The Streets" are the hits but some of the other tracks such as "Where Have All The Good Times Gone", "Secrets", "Little Guitars" are the ones I enjoy more. Tell me "Big, Bad Bill..." doesn't bring a smile to your face. And as far as sheer rocking out "Hang 'Em High" and "The Full Bug" rock as hard as anything in the VH catalog. As far as the complaint from some reviewers about the cover tunes...remember VH had recorded a new album and toured every year since '78 when this came out in '82. Warner Bros. were pressuring the band to release a new lp so the band was pretty much forced to include alot of cover tunes in order to get this released.

Rushed Effort!.......2007-04-14

Before Diver Down was recorded, the band was in desparate need of a long awaited break from touring, recording and from Dave. They went none stop since 1977 without any rest. After the Fair Warning tour ended, the band recorded and released ONLY 1 song (Dancing In The Street) just to give the public a little taste, while they we're getting ready to take some much needed time off. Guess what? Dancing In The Street was an instant hit in 82 and Warner Bros pretty much ruined their vacation plans by making the band go back into studio to record a complete album asap. Diver Down was a rushed effort to catch the public's momentum of the 1 song release (which backfired the bands time off) and back on the road to support it as well. I honestly believe if they had a small break and then gone back into the studio to record, it would have had less covers and more energy. It's Eddie's least favorite recording. Still worth a purchase though.

Where have all the good songs gone?.......2007-02-12

1/2 cover songs , 1/2 originals. The Dave vs. Ed saga continues. Dave wants to do an album of cover songs and Ed dosen't, this is the uneven result. However, it works and plays like any classic VH and is one of their most popular efforts among the fans.

DIVER DOWN IS PRE-1984 IN DIAPERS!.......2007-01-08

I will be writing a review on the legendary masterpiece album simply entitled "DIVER DOWN" by one of Rock's most ALL-TIME greatest legendary bands ever and one of America's most favorite son's, I give you the great legendary V-A-N H-A-L-E-N! "DIVER DOWN" was originally released in 1982 on vinyl/LP and cassette on the Warner Brothers Records label in association with Van Halen Productions Inc. I purchased the very first release of this album on Compact Disc and the matrix or ID number is 3677-2. This Compact Disc album was made in West Germany by PolyGram Records. As always, if I hear any new information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

WOW! What can I say about this legendary album and the great legendary band that recorded it all those years ago that hasn't already been said? At this point in VAN HALEN'S glorious career, the band was now enjoying the rewards and fruits of their fame and fortune that the good life had to offer. With the extremely huge successes of their four highly critically acclaimed best selling albums "VAN HALEN," (1978) "VAN HALEN II," (1979) "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST" (1980) and "FAIR WARNING" (1981) already under their belts, it was now time for VAN HALEN to return back to the recording studio and record the follow-up to the "FAIR WARNING" album. It would be on this next album that VAN HALEN'S music would go through some major changes. It would also be on this album that synthesizers would play an important role in VAN HALEN'S career which would result in Eddie demonstrating a more controlled role in playing his guitar and handling more synthesizer duties. In my opinion, "DIVER DOWN" is PRE-1984 in diapers! I also truly believe that "DIVER DOWN" is an outstanding album! This album may not be as great or as hard as it's predecessors, but this album does have some great moments on it which kicks a*s!

I will list and briefly review all of the song tracks contained in this album in their original exact running order as follows: (1.) "Where Have All The Good Times Gone," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is a great way to begin this legendary album! This is a GREAT Rockin' tribute version and great rendition of the original KINKS Rocker! This Rocker kicks a*s! I love this Rocker!) (2.) "Hang 'Em High," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is a GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER THAT KICKS A*S! I love it dearly!) (3.) "Cathedral," (This is a great synthesizer number requiring the talents of both Eddie and Michael! I love it!) (4.) "Secrets," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is a GREAT MELLOW VAN HALEN ROCKER! It is clearly evident in this mellow Rocker that VAN HALEN'S music is going through some changes. In my opinion, "Secrets" would singlehandedly set the stage for the "1984" album which is only a year away. I still love this Rocker!) (5.) "Intruder," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKIN' INTRO THAT KICKS A*S! This Rocker does contain alot of synthesizers in it! Eddie does kick some a*s with some great guitar riff arrangements and solo. I love this Rocker! This song would eventually lead into...) (6.) ..."(Oh) Pretty Woman," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is a GREAT ROCKIN' TRIBUTE and RENDITION OF THE GREAT ROY ORBISON CLASSIC! This Rocker really truly kicks some serious a*s! I love this Rockin' version! I know that Orbison was proud of this version!) (7.) "Dancing In The Street," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This song is a GREAT TRIBUTE VERSION AND RENDITION OF THE MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS ORIGINAL CLASSIC SONG! In my opinion, VAN HALEN'S synthesizer sound was clearly evident here as well. I still love this song!) (8.) "Little Guitars (Intro)," (This beautiful song is quite simply, M-R. E-D-W-A-R-D V-A-N H-A-L-E-N! Eddie kicks a*s in this acoustic solo number! I love it so dearly! This intro would then lead into...) (9.) ..."Little Guitars," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, this is another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER THAT KICKS SOME SERIOUS A*S! Eddie does remind you in this Rocker that he can still play a mean guitar! I love this Rocker as well!) (10.) "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)," (WOW! Where did this song come from? Who would have ever believed that VAN HALEN would do a swinging tribute to the Big Band Era? In my opinion, this is not a bad song! VAN HALEN really showed their flexibility and versatile side in experimenting and exploring different music styles. I still love this song!) (11.) "The Full Dog" (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Breathtaking! NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! This is another GREAT VAN HALEN ROCKER THAT KICKS SOME SERIOUS A*S! All four band mambers were running on all eight cylinders when they performed this Rocker! I love this Rocker so dearly!) and (12.) "Happy Trails." (WOW! Another big surprise! Who would have ever believed that VAN HALEN would conclude this legendary album with a Roy Rogers and Dale Evans classic? VAN HALEN really surprised me with their angelic harmonies in this one! I still love it!) Overall, this album kicks a*s! This album does have some great moments on it that does resemble some of their last four albums.

As you can see, this is definitely one great legendary treasure album worth purchasing that he or she should definitely own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This legendary album will also prove to persevere and endure the test of time and will get better with age like wine. This legendary priceless gem will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many more years to come, NOW AND FOREVER!

In closing, the VAN HALEN legend does take an unexpected turn at this point. David Lee's constant partying and showing up to concerts extremely drunk would effect his future with VAN HALEN! Tensions between David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen would escalate and eventually take its toll on the band. As a sad result, VAN HALEN would only record one more album with the charismatic David Lee Roth. There would also prove to be more tales and stories in the VAN HALEN legend that would still need to be conquered, told and written in chapters. But that, my fellow readers and reviewers, is something that you will have to stay tuned and read further on at a later date. A LATE NOTE: As of today, Friday, January 26, 2007, David Lee Roth is now back with VAN HALEN. VAN HALEN is said to be getting ready to tour this year. Here's to you David Lee, Eddie, Alex and Michael. Keep Persevering! Keep The Faith! And as the saying goes folks, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," am I wrong or need I say more? Enough said. Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. VAN HALEN RULES! Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock n' Roll, John L.

Covers Are Weak.......2006-10-20

Love Van Halen (not Hagar), but I hate covers in general anyway. The music is not that bad but I really just don't like covers. If you are looking to start listening to Van Halen stay away from this one. Get Van Halen, 1984, Van Halen II, or Fair Warning. They are much better.

Average customer rating:

One of the best with Sammy
A great rockin' rush!!!
Gotta Love It For The Cover Alone
All but "Inside"...
A small step backward

5150
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

OU812
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
1984
Balance
Diver Down

ASIN: B000002L99
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Good Enough
Why Can't This Be Love
Get Up
Dreams
Summer Nights
Best Of Both Worlds
Love Walks In
'5150'
Inside

Amazon.com essential recording

As original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth quit the band to pursue a solo career, or was fired (depending on who you believe), Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony carried on by hiring Sammy Hagar. Hagar was a middling artist on his own, but he proved to be a powerhouse when placed in front of hard rock's most muscular and innovative instrumental unit. On 5150--the title is police code for "escaped lunatic"--you can hear the band's excitement at having struck a winning combination. Songs such as "Why Can't This Be Love," "Dreams," "Best of Both Worlds," and "Love Walks In" combine to make this the early high-watermark of the Van Hagar era. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

One of the best with Sammy.......2007-06-17

Brings back a lot of good memories... the songs from this album have energy and the sound is timeless.

A great rockin' rush!!!.......2007-06-13

If you've never listened to this album before, buy it and skip to "Get up". Songs like this, based on Sammy Haggar's experience as a boxer, just aren't written anymore. A total energy blast, there isn't a single energy drink that can give a kick like this song. The other songs on this album deliver as well.

One aspect I've enjoyed about the Sammy Haggar invasion is that Van Halen's tunes don't seem to brood as much as they did with David Lee Roth. With Haggar, we get to hear more of Eddie Van Halen's talent in 5150 which previewed in "Jump" with Roth. More keys, more complex harmonies, more fast songs which in my estimation resulted in more music making make this album a great one.

5150 is probably Van Halen's greatest album ever. Though some may contest this, I can't help but constantly deem this valid when listening to the older and sadly less than exceptional following albums.

Great rock is just that, great. 5150 is great rock!

Gotta Love It For The Cover Alone.......2007-05-24

I remember when Van Halen had David Lee Roth but even as a kid I just thought he was a circus clown. I love a lot of the early songs but when Hagar came in he brought substance. This was already a heavily talented group but to make that kind of transition at your peak and end up getting more well known for it!! That pretty much never happens. Musically they just took off on this album my only problem with it is it could of used a couple more songs to fill it up. Good times.

All but "Inside"..........2007-05-13

I loved 1984. Loved it. I thought Van Halen had reached its peak, and then, poof! David Lee Roth was gone. When I heard that Sammy Hagar would replace DLR, I was skeptical, but figured I'd give it a chance.

What a good thing that I did!

Sammy greets the listeners for the first time with a hearty "Hellooooo baby!," and then the rocking starts. The mix of songs is fantastic, and all are perfectly placed on the album, save for the one throwaway song, "Inside." The new Van Halen showed all the elements of a solid rock band, from power to subtlety to just plain old good time fun music.

My personal favorite song is the title track, "5150." I have no idea why this still isn't recognized as one of their best efforts. Sammy's vocals are spot on, and really convey the angst of the song. Eddie, of course, weaves his magic as dramatically as ever.

To me, this is one of the finest albums I own. It's still a rocker, and it holds up very well.

A small step backward.......2007-05-08

I remember skipping school to listen to the brand new Van Halen tune fronted by Sammy Hagar, "Why Can't This Be Love?" Man was I disappointed. A year after losing David Lee Roth to a failed attempt at a movie career, Van Halen should have blown their fans minds with something incredible like...well...just about anything on 1984. Instead, they introduced "Van Hagar" to the public with a song that sounded like Journey.

Once the entire album was released, the future of Van Halen seemed much brighter. Rockers like "Get Up," "Best of Both Worlds," "Summer Nights" and "Good Enough" proved that Van Halen still wanted to rock. The title track was, and still is, amazing, one of the best songs in the VH catalog. "Dreams" and "Love Walks In" seemed contrived, strained attempts at expanding on the pop success fueled by "Jump." Lacking the edge or bite of "I'll Wait," the synth songs on 5150 suggested the band might be moving away from its bread and butter, guitar-driven rock. Thankfully, during the rest of Hagar's tenure with the band, poppy keyboard songs were limited to two songs per album.

The straight-ahead rock songs still sound good 21 years later; the synth songs sound schmaltzy and dated. There is enough good -- and some great -- work on 5150 to make it a must-have album. If you're just getting acquainted with the band, 5150's probably not the best place to start.

Average customer rating:

for 20 years old......pretty damned good stuff
Van Halen finish what they started, their last classic and best VanHagar
4 and a half stars????wtf
The weakest of the Hagar discs
some experiments and some pop

OU812
Van Halen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Guitar Gods | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

5150
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Balance
1984
Diver Down

ASIN: B000002LEM
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Mine All Mine
When It's Love
A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)
Cabo Wabo
Source Of Infection
Feels So Good
Finish What Ya Started
Black And Blue
Sucker In A 3 Piece
A Apolitical Blues

Amazon.com

Having proven its Sammy Hagar-led lineup a success with 5150, Van Halen followed that effort with OU812, an album that, despite its cheesy title, is every bit its predecessor's equal, burning with balls-to-the-walls hard rock that never leaves its pop sensibility far behind. From the sweeping power ballad "When It's Love" and the full-on rocker "Finish What Ya Started," to the stringbending showcases "A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)" and "Cabo Wabo" and even an uncharacteristic cover (of Little Feat's "A Apolitical Blues"), Eddie, Alex, Michael, and Sammy play with abandon and a palpable sense of fun. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

for 20 years old......pretty damned good stuff.......2007-06-13

Let's face it folks. The crap our payola ridden media force feeds us now would have never exposed to the public the likes of any Van Halen album. When is THE LAST TIME any guitarist has had the notoriety of Eddie Van Halen? Luckily, during the 80's after David Lee Roth left and Haggar assumed the position of chief rabble-rouser, our media kept VH's norotiety intact and offered us 0U812.

Yeah, "When it's Love" is a bit gooey, but musically, I can't find anything comparable to it in this genre. If you have to take the lyrics of a VH song seriously, then you've seriously missed the point. 0U812 is fun, adrenaline pumping rock. I've always enjoyed how Alex Van Halen knows when to place a cymbal crash and Eddie's guitar solo in "Mine All Mine" is one of his best ever.

0U812 is a great album but it's also an orange compared to the Van Halen apples of the 70's. Some acquaintences of mine were pretty hyped about digging this album out of their collections to blast it again not only because of Sammy Haggar's pipes, but also because of that classic Van Halen sound.

Van Halen finish what they started, their last classic and best VanHagar.......2007-02-12

The last classic VH and the best Hagar has ever sounded anywhere! Good album that has aged well. Al smartly went back to playing real drums.

4 and a half stars????wtf.......2006-09-10

this album is a great album i think its superior to 5150
the opening song mine al mine is a great inspirational song with religion in its veins very good when its love is classic sammy vh afu naturly wired fast paced rocker very fun song black and blue has one hell of a catchy guitar and vocalsa feels so good is an interewsting pop love song so thjis is a very underated rocker yes the synths are a little to much here but still great album

The weakest of the Hagar discs.......2006-05-12

I have been going through a renassance as of late really getting back into Sammy. I had this disc when it first came out, sold it, so I rebought it recently. I had made myself a copy of the songs I liked which was only 3*, so I thought maybe after all these years the others would grow on me; well, yes and no.

1. Mine All Mine- a good opener, glad to have this song again! Really weird sound through out. The lyrics are forced but can be clever. 8/10

2. When It's Love- In a word, yuk. This song is in the vein of Dreams and Why Can't This Be Love, sadly it pales in comparison and has the disadvantage of just being to slow to be the second song. Should have been nearer the end, it drags down this cd set! Regardless, still isn't a winner. It WOULD be good if the chorus wasn't so damn sappy. 5/10

3. A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)- This one is fun but sort of unfocused. I'm not moved but I wouldn't skip it either. 7/10

4. Cabo Wabo- I'm going against the grain here but I really hate this song. It's WAAAAY toooo long and says the same thing over and over. IN fact you have heard all it will say in the first minute of this SEVEN minute song. Never dug the whole "Mexico drinking scene" the Halens got into either. 2.5/10

5. Source Of Infection*- Kick it! Blow out! Still love this one! Eddie is almost in 1984 form and Sammy is in there riff'n. Love IT! 8.5/10

6. Feels So Good- This one was a pleasant surprise I really like this song. I had forgotten all about it. Love the riff Eddie does through out, MUCH better song than When It's Love. 8/10

7. Finish What Ya Started*- Instant classic. Strange about this incarnation of VH. There isn't much in betweens with songs either they work or they don't. This DOES!! Eddie is all over the place, the style is memorable too!! 10/10

8. Black And Blue*- Another winner here. Another classic. The lyrics tend to be a bit on the silly side but man, the groove will knock you OUT if you aren't paying attention. I reccommend this while driving:) 9/10

9. Sucker In A 3 Piece- Instant throw away. It is "fun" and Eddie does jam it up, still the song is like something a high school kid would write. Sammy has done MUCH better. 6/10

10. A Apolitical Blues- were they under contract to have 10 songs? This song not only is no good but it is difficult to make it through it. I remember hating this one way back when but I thought maybe time would be kind. It wasn't. 0/10.

Whoever decided to list the songs in alphabetical order (and not how they APPEAR!) should be shot!! Overall though this was 99 cents well spent:) (plus $2 shipping).

some experiments and some pop.......2006-04-04

Wee bit strange record with some highlights.
1 Mine all mine - it's synth driven song with strong Hagar's voice. Strange guitar effects all way long. Not best opener. 6/10
2 When it's love - ballad with synthetizers again 7/10
3 A.F.U. - first hard rock track,and the best, nice intro, nice riff, good tempo changing... 10/10
4 Cabo Wabo - pop rock track, quite too long maybe 7/10
5 Source of Infection - Total madness, this song is just an excuse for Eddie to play crazy solos and for Hagar to yell 10/10.
6 Feel so good - pop song with keyboards. 6/10
7 Finish What You started - pop song with acoustic guitar as main instrument. 7/10
8 Black and Blue - Nice rocker with great riff, quite infectious. 9/10
9 Sucker in a 3 piece - mid tempo hard rock with nice vocals nd some guitar effects. 8/10
10 A apolitical blues - sloooow blues, very nice for ending CD. 10/10

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Music Track

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