Released 40 years ago today: 1984!!!

[dmbrocker]

Where does this one rank for you overall, Sludgers? More importantly, what does Wolfie think about it?



For me it’s a goddamn classic!

[Psychobolia.com]

It ranks somewhere in my top 6 VH releases.

The last great VH album.

[Bono Nettencourt]

The last great VH album.

That's it right there. They went out on top.

[maninblack]

Ill wait is a great track off there.

[pieceofme]

Probably around 5th when it comes to Van Halen albums

[maninblack]

My favourite van halen album is fair warning. As soon as I heard unchained, it was wow! So many good tunes on that album, all are good. It wasnt the first album I heard, I heard VH1 first, which was incredible wow! and I was young then.

[DangerZone]

#1 or 2, with fair warning

[whiteowl yesterday]

great album.
my favorite van halen album.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Saw this tour, summer 1984 in Wisconsin... maybe Madison (?) I forgot.

I was new to this music, literally only a few months into it, and was blown away by Roth.

Oddly, before this release, I was basically oblivious to VH, knew almost nothing about them, and couldn't have picked out any of them in a crowd of 5 people.

But, after "Jump" and "Panama" overloaded my brain, along with the rest, I was on a path.

I vividly recall Roth stopping the show, talking some smack to a guy in the crowd, and then telling him "I'm going to F#@k your girlfriend" and the arena roared.

He could have taken a shit on stage and ate it with a fork, and people would have applauded and thought it was cool.

I too was mesmerized, and felt Roth could do no wrong... for about 2-3 years... but soon after, by 1988 ish, I saw the cracks in the armor, and realized some things.

Oh well... I respect the band, their music, and what they accomplished, which was a lot.

But once on the other side of the fence, inside the industry, you see things, hear things and experience things first hand, that tell the story.

Being a kid, or fan or young person on the outside, you're sold a bill of goods that is a little bit Reality and a lot of Fantasy, which is all coated in Fairy Dust.

The same can be said for all or most artists and entertainers in the Music and Movie industry.

$tEvil

[BDG135]

Bon Jovi's first album was also released January of '84.

[Mister Freeze]

Just read Ted Templeman's book. This was the first VH album recorded in Ed's studio, which turned out to be a huge mess and a catalyst for the original band breaking up.

They also "forgot" to give Michael McDonald a writing credit on "I'll Wait," after he basically saved the song. Awkward vibes all around.

Great album though.

[MetalSludgeCEO]

Just read Ted Templeman's book. This was the first VH album recorded in Ed's studio, which turned out to be a huge mess and a catalyst for the original band breaking up.

They also "forgot" to give Michael McDonald a writing credit on "I'll Wait," after he basically saved the song. Awkward vibes all around.

Great album though.

"""""""""""""""""a huge mess """""""""""""""

I was at 5150, in 1991 ish... and I concur, it was a HUGE mess in that studio!

But, amazing at the same time!

$tEvil

[TravisBicklesMohawk]

Not one of my faves, but it does have a some great moments.

I don't know . . . it just didn't feel like a Van Halen album to me. Was it the keyboards, the dumb music videos?

Something was definitely off.

[SterileEyes1]

Tough for me to pick a favorite Van Halen album but this one is obviously up there.

Hot For Teacher is probably one of my Top 5 favorite songs. Like not just Top 5 Van Halen songs, but Top 5 songs by anyone. Just unfuckwithably awesome on every level and there hasn’t been anything like it before or since.

1984 also probably has my favorite drum sound of any album ever. Alex is my favorite drummer, and this is a big part of why.

[factchecker]

Bon Jovi's first album was also released January of '84.

Not exactly a Runaway success though was it?

I'll get me coat.