Van Halen Album: “1984”

Van Halen's last, and one of the best albums done with Diamond Dave. While the hit 'Jump', and MTV staples 'Hot for Teacher' and 'Panama' may have sold this album already, check out the over-looked rockers 'House of Pain' and 'Girl Gone Ban'. The solos on 'Drop Dead Legs' and 'I'll Wait' are Eddie at his best. No need for the skip button on this album.

I was nineteen years old and sophomore in college when this album came out. It blew me away then, and still does today. Twenty years have gone by, but they absolutely do not cut them like this anymore -- there is no comparison! You take this trash off the shelves today that they shove down your throats and compare it to this album and it blows you away. Panama, Jump, I'll Wait, Hot For Teacher, Girl Gone Bad, these guys were absolutely genius. I remember seeing (Rothized) Van Halen in concert in Pullman, Washington during their "final" tour, -- I was absolutely floored, blown-away, you name it, it was amazing! Twenty years have gone by, I listen to all types of music today: jazz, classical, country, but after a few stiff ones, I come back to these fellas and this album. The genius of Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth, they wrote the book on "American" hard rock and no one since has even come close. I think back to those years gone by and thank the lucky stars above -- I was at the perfect age when this album came out. Do yourself one helluva favor and listen to it (you'll wonder what planet you've been on). Now Noah, where to put that hammerhead shark?!

1984 was the year for Van Halen to release such a magnificent collection of recordings. This entire album is full of hits from Hot For The Teacher, and Panama, Jump, I'll Wait. If you really love Van Halen then this warner Remasters series would soothe you by all means. Their is a really cool jam titled Drop Dead Legs which I just think is the coolest guitar song from my point of view including a great guitar solo from the great Edward Van Halen. Alex Van Halen plays a great drum intro on Hot For The Teacher, and Michael Anthony lays a great bass rythem including backing vocals very good for such a great band. I think Van Halen was the best with the vocals with David Lee Roth would truely made VAN HALEN be themselves in many ways. Without David Lee Roth their would be no 1984!!!!Now dont get mad about that because everyone knows Edward Van Halen is the most known and I know he is the best member. Anyways im going to stop rambling and just say this is really a great album no matter what the reviews say this album 1984 is the best!!!!

I remember the 80's with rock stars with the big teased long hair, the earrings, pastel loud colors (and that's just the men/male rock groups for starters). Van Halen during this time represented why a lot of young guys musically inclined had dreams of becoming rock stars and making it big some day... While many fans and critics hailed Van Halen for being a good old American metal or hard rock band I always thought the original lineup was inventive and innovative. Not many groups of the time could combine synth-technology with real drums and electric guitars; They could. 1984 proved they could and did with great finesse and success.Still love that drum intro-solo to Hot For Teacher (as well as the video). The other amazing and noteworthy underlying element was David Lee Roth's rock/soul throaty vocals which lended an underlying & faint blues-like sound (remember his solo effort and the re-make single I'm Just a Gigolo)...Despite it's commercial overplay on radio back then it has remained as one of my all time favorite Van Halen albums not to be repeated again by them or any other group trying to imitate them...By the way commendations to the artist for the album cover of the airbrushed cherub smoking the cigarettes;It's one of the more memorable and excellent album concept art covers for the decade (maybe 20th century) !...

What can I say, I'm a huge Van Halen fan. This record got me started. When I listened to it, I had to have all the others previously made. This one is still my personal favorite. "1984/Jump" and "Panama" still enjoy heavy play on the radio, which is not only a sign of popularity, but of accomplishment as well. My personal favorite from this record is still "I'll Wait". It still sounds new to me after all these years. This whole collection is extremely progressive in rock evolution. The incorporation of electronics into their music proved that not only was technology successful in hard rock, but ultimately transcended the boundaries that hard rock had created for itself. Quite a few bands have Van Halen to thank for their success. That is why the 1984 record holds a permanent position in my personal rock "Hall of Fame".