Van Halen (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Van Halen
Type = Album
Artist = Van Halen


Released = February 10, 1978
Recorded = September/October 1977
Genre = Hard rock, heavy metal
Length = 35:13
Label = Warner Bros.
Producer = Ted Templeman
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hrk9ikl6bbc9~T1 link]
*Robert Christgau (C) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=van+halen link]
* "Rolling Stone" "(1978 review)" [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanhalen/albums/album/174478/review/6212308/van_halen link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanhalen/albums/album/315785/review/6591139/van_halen link] |
Last album =

This album = "Van Halen"
(1978)
Next album = "Van Halen II"
(1979)

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

ignificance

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 five other rock bands: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, 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.Fact|date=January 2008

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

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

Track listing

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

ide one

#"Runnin' with the Devil" – 3:35†
#"Eruption" (Eddie Van Halen) – 1:42
#"You Really Got Me" (Ray Davies) – 2:38†
#*small|(originally performed and recorded by the Kinks)
#"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" – 3:49†
#"I'm the One" – 3:46

ide two

#

"Jamie's Cryin'" – 3:29†
#"Atomic Punk" – 3:03
#"Feel Your Love Tonight" – 3:42
#"Little Dreamer" – 3:23
#"Ice Cream Man" (John Brim) – 3:19†
#"On Fire" – 2:57

† denotes a single

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

Charts

Album

Billboard (North America)

ingles

Billboard (North America)

=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