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1978
  Van
Halen's masterful debut record, released in
February, 1978. Produced by Ted Templeman at
Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood. In only 18
days, Van Halen recorded 25 songs from their live
set and one new track, "Jamie's Cryin',"
which was written during the sessions. It cost
$40,000 to make. The group recorded all the songs
live in the studio, and only overdubbed
instrumental tracks on three numbers. Production
had to be rushed, because Ed mistakenly let the
band Angel hear "You Really Got Me."
Both bands rushed to put the song out.
Eddie Van Halen, 22 at the time of the recording,
won his first of five consecutve "Best Rock
Guitarist of the Year" awards from the
readers of Guitar Player magazine.
Van Halen, although it took three months to chart,
reached #19 in the States and #34 in the U.K. (a
great showing for an American hard rock band).
This landmark record changed the face of guitar
rock, and redefined the hard rock genre. The album
still remains the highest selling of any Van Halen
record, a tribute to its timeless significance.
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Gold
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Platinum |
Multi-Platinum |
Diamond |
| 5/14/78 | 10/10/78 | 10/22/84
(5x) | 3/16/99 |
| | | 2/01/89
(6x) | |
| | | 9/29/93
(7x) | |
| | | 7/11/94
(8x) | |
| | | 8/07/96
(10x) | | | | | | |
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Check out
our CD Covers page to download and print out these
CD-size covers:
Front
Back
Inside
CD
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Released
on 2/10/78
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| Copies
Sold: 10.3
Million (US) |
| Peak
Position (US): 19 |
| Weeks
on Chart: 169 |
| Recording
Time: 3 weeks |
| Peak
Position (UK): 34 |
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| Producer:
Ted Templeman |
| Engineer:
Don Landee |
| Recorded
at: Sunset Sound Recorders,
Hollywood |
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| Reviews |
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| Singles |
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You Really Got Me, Running With
the Devil, Jamies Cryin', Aint Talking 'bout Love
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| Special
Thanks |
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Gene
Simmons, Rodney Bingenheimer, Dee Dee, Clara, Elmer Valentine, Bill Gazzarri,
Liz Wiley, Dr. Roth
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Runnin'
With the Devil (3:32)
"Runnin'
With The Devil" contained one of the few guitar
overdubs Eddie did for this album. The car horns at the
beginning were taken from the band's own cars and linked
them together with a battery. The band used the effect
at early live shows, and it was slowed down for the
album. The band also used the horns as a transition
between "Runnin'" and "House of
Pain" on the Gene Simmons demo. Dave got the
lyrical inspiration for "Runnin" from an Ohio
Players' song, "Running From The Devil."
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Eruption
(1:42)
"Eruption"
was one of Eddie's warm-up exercises. Ted Templeman was
so impressed when he heard it, he told Ed to record it
for the album. He did it in one take and to this day, he
explains that he didn't play it well and made a glaring
mistake. The long decending growl at the end was created
using a Univox EC-80 echo unit housed in an old WWII
practice bomb that Ed found in a junkyard.
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You
Really Got Me (2:37)
"You
Really Got Me" was a classic Kinks' tune, one of
the hundreds of cover tunes Van Halen had performed
during their club days. It became their first single,
and put the band on the rock and roll map. It was
recorded on Ed's Ibanez Destroyer "Shark." For
years this has been a Van Halen concert staple, usually
performed as an encore.
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Ain't
Talkin' 'bout Love (3:37)
"Ain't
Talkin' 'Bout Love" was written by Eddie at the
same time he wrote "Loss of Control," to poke
fun at the emerging punk rock scene. He only used two
chords, Am and G. He felt this song was the
"lamest" song he had ever written. It took him
six months to work up the nerve to show it to the rest
of the band. This song has remained a Van Halen concert
staple ever since.
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I'm
the One (3:44)
"I'm
The One" was originally titled "Show Your
Love," and was a Van Halen staple during the band's
club years. Eddie very rarely played the same solo twice
on this song.
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Jamie's
Cryin' (3:30)
"Jamie's
Cryin'" was written and recorded live in the studio
during the band's quick three-week session. One of
Edward's guitar parts was overdubbed. The rhythm track
was recorded on his Ibanez Destroyer. Alex identified
this song as his least favorite Van Halen tune.
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Atomic
Punk (3:00)
"Atomic
Punk" is a rare tune in that it contains no backing
vocals, a trait so often identified with early Van Halen
choruses. Ed rubbed his hand back and forth across the
strings while kicking his MXR Phase 90 to produce the
scratchy-sounding riff so prominent in this track. The
same effect was later used on "Everybody Wants
Some."
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Feel
Your Love Tonight (3:40)
"Feel
Your Love Tonight" was an early Van Halen concert
staple. On the early tours, Alex would incorporate his
drum solo after Eddie's guitar solo in this song.
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Little
Dreamer (3:22)
When
"Little Dreamer" was demoed for VAN HALEN,
Dave ended the song by asking, "Are you
experienced?"
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Ice
Cream Man (3:18)
"Ice
Cream Man," a blues song Elmore James co-wrote with
John Brim, contained the last of three overdubs Eddie
recorded for this album. Dave regularly performed an
acoustic version of this song at the Ice House in the
band's hometown of Pasadena. Legend has it that when
Eddie and Al heard Dave's performance of this, they
decided to ask him to join their group. The solo on this
song is perhaps Eddie's most electrifying on this
record. The acoustic guitar intro was recorded by Dave
and played live by Dave
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On
Fire (3:01)
"On
Fire" was the song that Van Halen used to open
their concerts during their first world tour. Early
versions of this song, have both Mike and Dave sharing
the lead vocals. Eddie has also remarked that his guitar
solo was totally spontaneous, he actually had no idea
what key he was even playing in.
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