Van Halen: Finish What You Started (1988)

Eddie Van Halen came up with the riff at 2am one morning. He woke up neighbor and band mate Sammy Hagar and the pair penned this song about unfulfilled sex. The song is about blue balls and is quite straight forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIlBeqM0mRE

Van Halen: Runaround (1991)

While David Lee Roth became a lounge act, Van Halen sold out arenas with Sammy Hagar. This song went to #1 on the rock charts. It also won a Grammy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKFp0QTGF8M

Sammy Hagar: Heavy Metal (1981)

"Heavy Metal" is one of Sammy Hagar's best works. It appeared in the movie of the same name and on the classic 1981 album Standing Hampton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQE1Q1NILfQ

Top 15 songs of 1999 (part 2)

My favorites...hope I did not forget one.

1. Whiskey in a Jar- Metallica

2. Mas Tequila- Sammy Hagar

3. Sleep Now in the Fire- RATM

4. Maria- Blondie

5. Smooth- Santana w/Rob Thomas

6. Learn to Fly- Foo Fighters

7. Back to Good- Matchbox 20

8. The Great Beyond- R.E.M.

9. Desert Rose- Sting

10. Bawitdaba- Kid Rock

Sammy Hagar: Eagles Fly (1987)

Sammy Hagar owed his label an album. So he recorded I Never Said Goodbye with help from his Van Halen bandmates. The album featured "Give to Live", "Boys Night Out", and "Eagles Fly." The song reached #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #22 on the rock charts. Hagar would not release another solo album until 1997.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuGboEKUOF8

Top 10 Songs of 2003

My favorites from 2003...

1. Like a Stone- Audioslave

2. Hurt- Johnny Cash

3. Stacy's Mom- Fountains of Wayne

4. Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes

5. Bad Day- R.E.M.

6. Dreams (Live)- Sammy Hagar

7. Brainwashed- George Harrison

8. Times Like These- Foo Fighters

9. Cochise- Audioslave

10. Bring Me To Life- Evanescence
 

Van Halen: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2007 part 3

Van Halen auditioned singers after Hagar bolted and Roth imploded. They settled on Extreme singer Gary Cherone.

Van Halen III (1998)

Fire in the Hole (1998): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QToAzhRYmTA

Cherone left in 1999 without incident and without completing the band's second album with the singer. Fans did not accept Cherone or they were tired of the lead singer carousel. Van Halen appeared dead.

Eddie had hip surgery in the early 2000s and Van Halen was silent. They worked briefly with Roth, but that fell through again. Hagar and Roth toured together in 2002, which led to a feud between the two. Hagar rejoined the band in 2003.

The Best of Both Worlds (2004)

It's About Time (2004): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_vr0-HqDg

The band toured again, but tensions between Hagar and Van Halen resurfaced. Hagar left the band again and Michael Anthony was replaced by Eddie's song Wolfgang. Roth joined the band yet again for an album and tour.

A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

Tattoo (2012): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfQ-hV3WtA

As of December 2013, the band is working on a new album. Hagar and Anthony work together in the supergroup Chickenfoot and on other projects.

 

Van Halen: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2007 part 2

Van Halen (1986-1996)

Sammy Hagar was a successful solo artist and was not sure at first if he wanted to join Van Halen. He did not know if he wanted to split the money four ways and was taken aback by their image. However, he soon agreed and began writing with Eddie.

5150 (1986)

Why Can't This Be Love (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK5zubdgf4Y

Dreams (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsXCs41DkWs

Best of Both Worlds (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDStPKHUbqw

Love Walks In (1986): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u3StTsVDD0

As a whole, albums produced with Hagar outperformed the Roth-era works.

OU812 (1988)

Black and blue (1988): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulWjBFJ48Dc

When It's Love (1988): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9thvSfq8w2o

Finish What Ya Started (1988): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsqywc7fnqE

Feels So Good (1989): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOp8TqPq7c

The band hit a higher plane of popularity in the early 1990s...

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

Poundcake (1991): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1GJxVmYv-E

Runaround (1991): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKFp0QTGF8M

Top of the World (1991): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYbJnGOhOqw

Right Now (1992): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCcLNmOpN3A

Then, a live album

Live: Right Here Right Now (1993)

Dreams (1993): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEuwyyCu0hQ

Balance (1995)

Can't Stop Loving You (1995): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYMcSHzHqxA

Then, tensions emerged between Hagar and Van Halen. They broke apart while working on a song for the film, Twister, and over the Best Of album.

Best of Volume I (1996)  

Human's Being (1996): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9e5fT8migI

and David Lee Roth came in to do some vocals.

Me Wise Magic (1996): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-DmFtryFY

Can't Get This Stuff No More (1997): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HHQ11HOZwM

Roth made an ass of himself at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards and was shoved to the side.

Van Halen: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2007 part 1

Van Halen (1972-85)

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/van-halen/bio/

Official Site: http://www.van-halen.com/

Van Halen formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. Eddie Van Halen played guitar, Alex Van Halen was on drums, and Mark Stone was the bassist. Eddie did the vocals for a time. David Lee Roth joined the band so they could save money by using his sound system. In 1974, Michael Anthony replaced Stone on bass and they changed their name from Geneisys because it was already in use by Peter Gabriel and the guys from Genesis. Gene Simmons of KISS discovered the band leading to a record contract in 1977. They released their debut album in 1978 and changed rock. Eddie Van Halen's guitar style was revolutionary and led to a million imitators. Van Halen was self-taught and his picking style was the dominant paradigm in guitar rock for 20 years.

Van Halen (1978)

Eruption: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lwocmL9dQ

You Really Got Me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg1UG0GwIKc

Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuyvT8nFMLY

Van Halen II (1979)

Dance the Night Away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEvpreZcAfI

Women and Children First (1980)

And the Cradle will Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHXbi1bC9T4

Fair Warning (1981)

Mean Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Gk79FazKs

Diver Down (1982)

Little Guitars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2eHaBUemjM

Where Have All the Good Times Gone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CHbFI2Ovc0

In 1983, they set a Guinness Book record for highest-paid performance by a band when they received $1.5 million to appear at the US Festival.

US Festival (1983): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY3vt-48Zzk

They were an extremely popular rock band in 1983. In 1984, they became superstars with the release of 1984.

1984 (1984)

Their first and only #1 hit song:

Jump (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq0lYB3iSM

The amazing summer continued...

I'll Wait (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegvworoMX4

Panama (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0

Then, came a ground breaking video, which led to thousands of imitators....

Hot For Teacher (1984): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4GZFbCqx18

Roth hated the keyboards and fought with Eddie over the band's direction. On top of this, personality conflicts ripped the band apart. Roth went solo in 1985 and Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen as the new lead singer.

Montrose: Bad Motor Scooter (1973)

The song begins with a guitar emulating a motorcycle. Ronnie Montrose came across the sound accidently while a tape inadvertently rolled. As a result, the band captured the intro which they felt the song desperately needed. The song has since been a staple of Sammy Hagar’s live performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk52nGxF-jc

Steve Douglas: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2003

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/steve-douglas/bio/

Steve Douglas was a member of the vaunted Wrecking Crew session band. He worked with The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Sammy Hagar, and the Ramones.

Clup Your Hands:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4i6MHelFH0

Van Halen: Judgement Day (1991)

“Judgment Day” is the second track off For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The album initiated Van Halen’s second peak. They originally peaked in 1984, switched singers, remained popular, but 1991-92 brought renewed fandomania. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPMB9g0qzbM

 

Chickenfoot: Oh Yeah (2009)

Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony fell out with the Van Halen boys and formed their own all-star band with Joe Satriani and Chad Smith. The song is about old blues artists. “Oh Yeah” is a fresh, stark contrast to Van Halen’s latest work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKkxxLEBwBo

Van Halen: The Dream is Over (1992)

Van Halen had two peaks. The first came under David Lee Roth in 1984 and the second from 1991-1992 with Sammy Hagar. "The Dream Is Over" is featured on the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album. That album was a greatest hits compilation of sorts. It is doubtful with today's industry that a band will put together an album like it again. Van Halen won't as they are now a shell of their former selves.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxQzw9aswrA

Greatest Songs of the 1980s part III

The third and final installment of my favorite songs of the decade.

One Hit (to the Body)- The Rolling Stones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUy8Ydq-oUA

Welcome to the Jungle- GnR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1tj2zJ2Wvg&ob=av3e

Eminence Front- The Who

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV5-DaI5ULg

I Can’t Drive 55- Sammy Hagar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k&ob=av2n

Photograph- Def Leppard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5bS3_BCDs

　

Greatest Songs of the 1980s part 2

Some more of my faves...

Synchronicity II- The Police

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbQd3jxth5k

Comfortably Numb- Pink Floyd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrOQC-zEog

Dreams- Van Halen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwi8m4SIejE

Born in the USA- Bruce Springsteen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St_ppgWT8I4

Message in a Bottle- The Police

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbXWrmQW-OE&ob=av2n

Van Halen: Tattoo (2012)

Van Halen released it's first new song with David Lee Roth in 16 long years. Roth fronted the band from 1972-85 before being replaced by Sammy Hagar. Hagar lasted until 1996 when Roth returned. The band dumped Roth and replaced him with Gary Cherone from 1996-99. Hagar returned in 2003 and lasted until 2005. Roth returned for a third tour in 2006. Van Halen's last single with Roth was 1997's "Can't Get This Stuff No More." In 2004, the VH released two songs with Hagar.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfQ-hV3WtA&ob=av2e

Sammy Hagar: VOA (1984)

V.O.A. stands for Voice of America and Sammy Hagar takes the acronym and runs. This is classic Cold War rock. The music video plays into the theme as Sammy battles America's enemies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c51qJ3Ad_4&ob=av2e

Sammy Hagar: Give to Live (1987)

Sammy Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985, but still owed his record company an album. In 1987, he released I Never Said Goodbye, which featured the hit singles "Give to Live" and "Where Eagles Fly." The two songs became part of the Van Halen live show and later Sammy's solo shows. "Give to Live" peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the rock charts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y0QtTWG_vc

842. Can't Stop Loving You by Van Halen (1995)

"Can't Stop Loving You" is a nod to Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You." Sammy Hagar even mentions Charles in the song. The beginning of the video shows a man with a gun. The end shows his wife and son waiting for him when he leaves prison. Everything in between is in the video for "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxgfyrP3CNc