Van Halen
Ep. 313 Women and Children First & 5150
The first musician that I recall liking was Elton John. Not only were his songs amazing, but he was also eccentric… even by 1970s standards. I may not have known the word “eccentric” when I was a kid, but I did know the guy with big glasses and sparkly clothes who played the piano and wasn’t Liberace; that guy made great music.
And that made me smile.
My interest in other acts followed:
Fleetwood Mac (but it would be another decade or so before those songs registered)
Steve Miller (consistently excellent)
Kansas (I grew up in the Midwest, whadda ya expect?).
I tried to like KISS, but even as a ten-year-old, I knew the music wasn’t great… not as great as Elton John… or Kansas.
Of course, I will stop dead when I hear the first few bars of “Back in the New York Groove” by Ace Frehley. Even as a corn-fed Midwesterner, I knew that song was special. Besides, it’s got a helluva…well, groove.
And then I heard “You Really Got Me” by Van Halen. My first thought was: “WTF is this?!”
Like everyone else of a certain age who listened to Van Halen I for the first time, my brain exploded.
Yes, Van Halen was rock and roll. But it was catchy, not sludgy. And it was fun; it didn’t make you wanna stick your head in an oven. Oh sure, lyrically, it was a bit incoherent, but the band was never about the lyrics.
David Lee Roth could’ve been singing the Muppet’s “Manamanah,” and with Eddie shredding, it would have been amazing.
Van Halen I was unlike anything at the time, and Van Halen sounded like it was the first band just for us. It may be about as close to The Beatles as Gen X would get.
In 1978, Van Halen wasn’t creating a new genre. Well, not really. One could make the argument for “pop-metal” or some shit. Van Halen bridged the gap between Black Sabbath and, I dunno, Toto. This is to say, Van Halen brought a much-needed edge to pop music… without losing any of the fun.
By making hard rock music that appealed to both men and women, they weren’t just the soundtrack to the party; Van Halen became the party.
More than just corrupting young teenage boys and girls, Van Halen was melting the minds of every guitar player and air guitar player with the insane playing of Eddie Van Halen.
If you need evidence of how significant Eddie is to music, look for a Van Halen reaction video to “Eruption” on YouTube. Watching someone discover Eddie’s talent takes me back to the first time I heard it. I’m almost envious of the folks watching Eddie for the first time because I’ll never have that feeling again.
Then came the second album, Van Halen II. It was a bit rushed, and you can hear it. Although, the album’s saving grace is “Dance the Night Away” and “Beautiful Girls.”
When Van Halen’s third album, Women and Children First, was released in 1980, I was bullish on the band like every other 12-20-year-old. This album wasn’t just a return the form of Van Halen I; this was the first album the band began to stretch a little. I’m only speaking of the growth in music. David Lee Roth’s lyrics were still… David Lee Roth lyrics.
By 1980, you either got Van Halen, or you didn’t.
I got them.
There is nary a bad song on Women and Children First.
Fair Warning followed in 1981, and while it took me a few years to cotton to the album, over the years, it has slowly crept up to become my second favorite Van Halen album - Women and Children First remains number one.
Diver Down was next in 1982. A mix of covers and originals, many fans consider this a throwaway album. I do not.
Then came the juggernaut 1984.
Then came the fracture.
Then came the split.
Then came Sammy Hagar.
I’ve always liked Sammy, and I still consider Standing Hampton one of my favorite albums. Well, if I’m honest, it’s just that first side.
Sammy was a great artist in his own right, but stepping in to fill the shoes of one of the most dynamic frontmen in rock and roll… and my favorite band? To call me (and most of the rock and roll world) skeptical would’ve been an understatement.
Then I heard 5150.
The album picked up where 1984 left off… just through Sammy’s lens, lyrics, and voice. And it didn’t suck. It turns out Hagar in Van Halen were a solid pairing.
On this final episode of Abandoned Albums, for both the season and the year, I’m joined again by The Muffs bass player Ronnie Barnett and frequent Abandoned Albums contributor, Blip guitarist Geoff Calhoun.
The three of us are unabashedly Van Halen fans.
Naturally, I thought it would be fun to discuss one thing that has plagued Van Halen fans for decades now - was Van Halen better with David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?
I picked a couple of albums to chat about - both benchmark albums in the incarnation of each band. For Roth’s Van Halen, I selected Women and Children First, and for Hagar’s Van Halen, I went with 5150… and ignored Cherone's Van Halen for the benefit of all.
Neither of these albums would or could be considered “abandoned” - Women and Children First has sold three million copies, and 5150 six million. Does that difference make Hagar’s Van Halen better?
Could Dave have sung any of those songs on 5150, and could Sammy have sung any of those songs on Women and Children First? It’s safe to say we know neither would, making this episode pure rock and roll conjecture.
Here is my conversation with Ronnie and Geoff…
LISTEN HERE:
Abandoned Albums will return on Wednesday, January 11, 2023.
LINKS
Sammy and The Circle on Howard Stern (2019)
Kids’ Reaction Video to “Eruption”
David Lee Roth on Good Morning America (1985)
Dave Pissed Off at Van Halen (1986)
David Lee Roth Interview with Steve Rosen (1980)
Absurd TV Performance of “And the Cradle Will Rock” (1980 - American Bandstand)
David Lee Roth’s Vocal Track from “Runnin’ With the Devil”