REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: van halen (Page 3 of 3)

VAN HALEN – Zero Demos

Back in the mists of time, well 1976 to be precise, Van Halen were just another struggling band trying to make it in Pasadena, and the occasional foray into Hollywood where the band had a decent local following. Gene Simmons claims he found them whilst playing one of these shows, and offered to record a demo with the band and he would shop it to labels. Of course, he had a slight ulterior motive as he saw the hot shot guitar player as a replacement for Ace, who Kiss were having a few problems with at the time.

The most interesting thing about these demos, as well as listening to the original versions of these songs before Ted Templeman waved his magic, is that Eddie hadn’t yet evolved the tapping technique fully yet. First track, On Fire, is not far off from the version you here on the first album. Woman In Love, although having the same title, is nothing like the version that would end up on VH2. House In Pain, as we all know, had a slight name change to House Of Pain and would finally make it on to 1984. I actually really like this version. The other thing you notice is that way back in ’76, they had tunes nearly fully formed that would not make it to album some 8 years later. Runnin’ With The Devil is not too different from the first album, even Ed’s solo. She’s The Woman is the last track on the first side and would not make it to an album until A Different Kind Of Truth, and again, is nearly all there and this version is better imho.

Side 2 carries on with Let’s Get Rockin’ that was never fully released – except for a couple of snippets. Big Trouble is another tune that wasn’t released, and it’s not up to the band’s usual standard, but it does have an interesting middle section with some great guitar. Somebody Get Me a Doctor is just about complete structure wise, but would benefit huge from Templeman’s magic. Babe Don’t Leave Me Alone is just a straight up 70’s American rock song, that bands like Angel would put out. Last track is Put Out The Lights and is just another ok tune.

In my opinion, there is still enough great tunes on here to have got the band a deal at the time. No record company bothered until Ted Templeman saw them nearly two years later, by which time Ed had the full arsenal of tricks.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

VAN HALEN – II

After the success of the first album (if you read my review is definitely one of the best albums of all time), Warner Brothers wasted no time in getting the band back in the studio to record a follow up. Into Sunset Recorders they went, and 6 days later (yes you read that right) out popped baby number two. Again all killer and no filler!!! You are pretty much going to get the same review from me for the first six VH albums as they are genre defining albums.

Album opener is You’re No Good, a cover of a Linda Ronstadt tune (Dionne Warwick before her). What a killer opening tune with the phased bass, Dave’s screams, and Eddie’s killer guitar. Ladies and germs, we have a winner! The first single, Dance the Night Away, has that infectious, ear worm chorus. Then boom… Somebody Get Me A Doctor, with that irresistible riff and swagger. Bottoms Up – Dave’s tribute to all the ladies is almost a boogie. Outta Love Again closes Side 1, and another pop/rock masterpiece with a great chorus and melody.

Light Up The Sky gets things rolling on the flip side, and an absolute monster it is. Hell, the middle 8 and solo are worth the price of admission alone. Eddie’s acoustic showpiece Spanish Fly is next, a sort of Eruption for acoustic lovers. Then the downright dirty groove of D.O.A. blows us all away. Women in Love, and the other single from this album, Beautiful Girls, close things out – both loaded with melody and a sing-a-long chorus.

Just over 30 minutes in length, and every second is pure quality. Only when CDs came in is when albums went to 70 + minutes, and name me one that long where the quality goes all the way through?! Van Halen II is another one that every self respecting rocker should own.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

VAN HALEN – S/T

Let’s get this out of the way straight away!! VH1 (as its affectionately known), is the greatest album of all time, if not, then it’s surely the greatest debut album of all time.

Right that’s got that out of the way!!

Let’s travel back into the mists of time way before internet, social media, cell phones and all that nonsense. I was living in the UK and information about new bands and music was scarce to say the least. Hell, we only had 3 TV channels!! I know! Positively caveman. I used to get my fix of weekly music news by reading Sounds music paper, wherein there was a column written by someone called Laurel Canyon or Sylvia Simmons – can’t remember which but it was one of them. She kept mentioning in her column about this band from LA called Van Halen who was going to melt my face off. We used to read that about bands all the time from the US that they said that about, and 9 times out of 10 it wasn’t the case.

Cut to a Saturday afternoon album show on Radio 1 by Alan Freeman and he announced next a new track by Van Halen. Well my 17 year old brain was not ready from what came out of the radio that day. He played Eruption and You Really Got Me. The sound of the guitar alone had me thinking what the hell was that?! I had never heard anything like it before, and boy was I hooked. Immediately I went to the local record store and bought me some of that.

I’m sure most of you will have heard this album before but go on do your self a favour. Go down to your decks of doom and give this a spin very loud.

There is not one bad song on this album. From the opening distorted car horn at the intro to Runnin’ With The Devil through to the close out track On Fire, there is not one second that is not pure brilliance. Not only is this a great rock record but nearly every song could have been a single – the melody on each track is killer. Atomic Punk is just freaking insane the guitar sound alone is worth the price of admission.

Ladies and Germs, this is the album that launched the whole LA scene and 10,000 copy cat guitar players. I love every minute of this record and everyone should own one.

1,000/10 from The Grooveman. Did I go over the top there?! HELL NO!!

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