zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Overwhelmed by the all embracing love you good folks have for the little beat group known as Van Halen, I have come to the conclusion that I need a learner's course in all things Van Halen!So, starting next week I intend to do some selective listening to endeavour to 'feel the love' ..... I need guidance!So -- Can you suggest 5 albums i should focus on? (5 or less ..... life's too short!)- Suggested listening order?- Stuff to avoid? All help appreciated ..... I feel i am missing out! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Overwhelmed by the all embracing love you good folks have for the little beat group known as Van Halen, I have come to the conclusion that I need a learner's course in all things Van Halen!So, starting next week I intend to do some selective listening to endeavour to 'feel the love' ..... I need guidance!So -- Can you suggest 5 albums i should focus on? (5 or less ..... life's too short!)- Suggested listening order?- Stuff to avoid? All help appreciated ..... I feel i am missing out!The first step with any problem, is admitting that you have a problem. So well done, Zepphead. The old saying is if you had to pick four people from Earth to combat the all-powerful Space Monsters, early Van Halen would be as good as anyone. Most people would agree that Classic Van Halen (CVH) - Roth, Mike Anthony, Ed and Alex - and their six albums between 1978-84 are what you have been missing, and anything between 1986-2012 is a lengthy aberration you can ignore. 3/4 of CVH did throw together another record in 2012 (A Different Kind of Truth) which I like a lot but isn`t as strong as the six-pack. Let`s pick ten tunes to start off, missing the ones you`ll know already (Jump, Panama, Hot For Teacher etc., which aren`t representative of their early omnipotence) - Unchained, Mean Street, Ain`t Talkin` `Bout Love, Little Guitars, Hear About It Later, Romeo Delight, Secrets, Blood and Fire, I`m The One, Everybody Wants Some I`m sure other people will pick a different selection but if you really don`t like these, there`s nothing I can do for you. **Or you could just buy Fair Warning, the greatest record of all time, and throw everything else you own in the fire :fury: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I agree with 99% of what IbanezJ said. I might pick some different songs and a different favorite VH album but the songs I’d recommend would all be from those first six albums anyway. Have a taste of this: http://youtu.be/YDsKGyu0F98 * Better Off Dead is a fun, silly 80s John Cusack movie worth checking out with a nice nod to Van Halen. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod in Toronto Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 He said five ALBUMS, not songs. Here:Van Halen IFair Warning19845150For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesweetscience Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Whenever you're going to take a trip it's always best to start at the beginning.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 He said five ALBUMS, not songs. Here:Van Halen IFair Warning19845150For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeThanks! ..... these 5 albums are my starting point .... which hopefully coincides with the tracks mentioned in the postings above. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 Just noticed on Rod in Toronto's list of 5 albums no sign of VH II , Women & Children First or Diver Down ..... are these weaker efforts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 (edited) Picking ONLY 5, I’d go with the first 5 albums. Edited July 24, 2020 by JohnnyBlaze 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 Picking ONLY 5, I’d go with the first 5 albums.Seems like a logical starting point 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 He said five ALBUMS, not songs. Here:Van Halen IFair Warning19845150For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeI didn`t see much point picking 5 albums when IMO, only 6 count 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IbanezJem Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Just noticed on Rod in Toronto's list of 5 albums no sign of VH II , Women & Children First or Diver Down ..... are these weaker efforts?No. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Picking ONLY 5, I’d go with the first 5 albums.Seems like a logical starting point Well, 1984 is the sixth album and it’s a damn fine album, not too different from imho what Power Windows is to Rush: a little bit too many keyboards for a rock band whose superpowers don’t lie in keyboards. You can’t go wrong with 1984 (or Power Windows) but I’d pick the earlier releases before that (them). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 Picking ONLY 5, I’d go with the first 5 albums.Seems like a logical starting point Well, 1984 is the sixth album and it’s a damn fine album, not too different from imho what Power Windows is to Rush: a little bit too many keyboards for a rock band whose superpowers don’t lie in keyboards. You can’t go wrong with 1984 (or Power Windows) but I’d pick the earlier releases before that (them).I think the first 5 is a sensible move .... and if I pass the induction course, I will report back for a phase 2 plan!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Just noticed on Rod in Toronto's list of 5 albums no sign of VH II , Women & Children First or Diver Down ..... are these weaker efforts? The first single off VHII: http://youtu.be/llfjDUB66Z4 The first single off 5150: http://youtu.be/STVcNX7anGU So what do you think? I know you’re talking about albums but the songs do make up the albums. So where else do you start other than with what was first released back when they were both new? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 In this order: Fair WarningVan HalenVan Halen IIWomen and Children First1984 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_hi_water._ Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 In order:Van HalenFair Warning1984Van Halen IIWomen And Children FirstDiver Down (if you are fine with covers)5150For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeBalanceA Different Kind Of TruthOU812 Only listen to Van Halen III if you have absolutely nothing to do with your life 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat 3 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Overwhelmed by the all embracing love you good folks have for the little beat group known as Van Halen, I have come to the conclusion that I need a learner's course in all things Van Halen!So, starting next week I intend to do some selective listening to endeavour to 'feel the love' ..... I need guidance!So -- Can you suggest 5 albums i should focus on? (5 or less ..... life's too short!)- Suggested listening order?- Stuff to avoid? All help appreciated ..... I feel i am missing out! ZH, I think you should give the first six albums a go. The longest of the lot is just over 35 minutes long. They are “Van Halen”, “Van Halen II”, “Women and Children First”, “Fair Warning”, “Diver Down” & “1984”. They span the years of 1978 - 1984, with David Lee Roth on vocals, and not a dud among them. If you dig them you can branch out to the Sammy Hagar years... ...also a fine group of albums, btw. Happy listening, how exciting for you to be able to discover, in depth, a great band like Van Halen. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_hi_water._ Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I put ADKOT low on my list because it opens up with "Tattoo," which is a song most people consider awful. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat 3 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 I put ADKOT low on my list because it opens up with "Tattoo," which is a song most people consider awful. I love “A Different Kind of Truth” and I think “Tattoo” is a great song. :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat 3 Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Only listen to Van Halen III if you have absolutely nothing to do with your life Only listen to Van Halen III if you are tied to a chair at gun point and unable to plug your ears. :) :) :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 I put ADKOT low on my list because it opens up with "Tattoo," which is a song most people consider awful. I love “A Different Kind of Truth” and I think “Tattoo” is a great song. :)Hahaha i love it!!! ....Music brings out differing opinions in us all!!! ..... Makes this forum a fun place to be! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 (edited) Only listen to Van Halen III if you have absolutely nothing to do with your life Only listen to Van Halen III if you are tied to a chair at gun point and unable to plug your ears. :) :) :)So you both aren't that keen on it then? :rfl: Edited July 24, 2020 by zepphead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_hi_water._ Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 Only listen to Van Halen III if you have absolutely nothing to do with your life Only listen to Van Halen III if you are tied to a chair at gun point and unable to plug your ears. :) :) :)So you both aren't that keen on it then? :rfl:it's okay to me, but almost everyone else despises it the album isn't accessible tho 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepphead Posted July 24, 2020 Author Share Posted July 24, 2020 In this order: Fair WarningVan HalenVan Halen IIWomen and Children First1984From previous posts elsewhere, you sir, appear to be the chief Van Halen aficionado ...... I must treat your recommendations with the utmost respect. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_hi_water._ Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 He said five ALBUMS, not songs. Here:Van Halen IFair Warning19845150For Unlawful Carnal Knowledgeno Van Halen II or WACF? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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