Van Halen (album)

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Van Halen
Studio album by Van Halen
Released	February 10, 1978
Recorded	October 1977
Genre	Hard Rock
Length	35:13
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (C) link Rolling Stone (1978 review) link Rolling Stone link
Van Halen chronology
Van Halen (1978) Van Halen II (1979)

Van Halen is the self-titled debut album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1978.

[edit] Significance

Recorded in 1977 and released in February 1978, it is considered to be one of the most famous debut albums by a hard rock/heavy metal band in history along with such albums as Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin, The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Are You Experienced, Boston's Boston, Black Sabbath's Black Sabbath and Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction.

The album has sold over ten million copies in the United States alone and is considered to be one of the most successful debuts by a hard rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original (not a greatest hits) albums with Diamond status in sales -- a feat achieved by only six other rock bands: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Boston and Def Leppard

From a technical perspective, Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo, "Eruption", was hugely influential on many guitarists. The cadenza near the end is generally regarded as seminal in the development of fretboard tapping, a virtuosic style of solo guitar playing which became popular in the 1980s. The solo's "dive-bomb" pitches also led to the wide-spread use of bridge tremolo bars. "Eruption" was added to the album when producer, Ted Templeman heard Eddie warming up with the instrumental. Eddie told Ted that it was just a solo piece he played live.^{[citation needed]}

The album cover was shot at the world famous Whisky a Go Go.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 415 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

In 2006, the band's cover of "You Really Got Me" appeared as a playable song in the music video game Guitar Hero II.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Anthony, Roth, Van Halen and Van Halen, except where noted

[edit] Side one

1. "Runnin' With the Devil" – 3:35†
2. "Eruption" – 1:42†
3. "You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies) – 2:37†
   • (originally performed and recorded by the Kinks)
4. "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" – 3:49†
5. "I'm the One" – 3:46

[edit] Side two

6. "Jamie's Cryin'" – 3:30†
7. "Atomic Punk" – 3:01
8. "Feel Your Love Tonight" – 3:42
9. "Little Dreamer" – 3:22
10. "Ice Cream Man" (John Brim) – 3:19†
11. "On Fire" – 3:00

† denotes a single

[edit] Personnel

• David Lee Roth – vocals
• Eddie Van Halen – guitar
• Michael Anthony – bass
• Alex Van Halen – drums

• Producer: Ted Templeman
• Engineers: Donn Landee, Peggy McCreary, Kent Nebergall, Logan Jervis
• Project coordinator: Jo Motta
• Art direction: Dave Bhang
• Design: Dave Bhang
• Photography: Elliot Gilbert
• Typesetting: Jodi Cohen

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Billboard (North America)

[edit] Singles

Billboard (North America)

[edit] RIAA Certification

• Gold: May 24, 1978
• Platinum: October 10, 1978
• Multi-Platinum:
  • October 22, 1984 (5x)
  • February 1, 1989 (6x)
  • September 29, 1993 (7x)
  • July 11, 1994 (8x)
• Diamond: August 7, 1996