The 11 Best Van Halen Songs (Sammy Hagar)

When I first heard the news that David Lee Roth was leaving Van Halen and Sammy Hagar was taking over the vocal duties, I was crushed. It was like finding out my parents were getting divorced and my mother was marrying the guy who mowed our lawn. Not that I had anything against the guy who mowed my lawn…but he was the FREAKIN’ GUY WHO MOWED OUR LAWN?!?! How could they do this to me? We were so happy together. Everything was going great! We were planning to go to Disneyland that summer. Are we still going? Is the Lawn Guy going to be coming with us now? Am I going to have to ride the Matterhorn with Lawn Guy? That’s just creepy.

I’m not sure where any of this is coming from, my parents are still married. But you can understand how upset I was. There was no way the Sammy Hagar version of Van Halen would in anyway match the exciting Rock N Roll that David, Eddie, Alex, and Michael had given us. Well, I was wrong. Sorta.

Hagar’s Van Halen was nowhere near the bombastic energized craziness from Lee Roth’s Van Halen. But Van Hagar had heart and soul. And, to the world’s surprise, the guys managed to make some very excellent rock songs. Twenty years later, I’m shocked to hear myself saying this. But at the same time, I’m also very satisfied to say it, too.

Here are the 11 Best Van Halen Songs (Sammy Hagar):

1. Summer Nights (5150) – maybe the best guitar playing of the past 20 years. Eddie masters the Trans-Trem system, allowing his guitar to change keys without changing its sound. No one has matched this to this day.
2. Dreams (5150)
3. Feels So Good (OU812)
4. Can’t Stop Loving You (Balance)
5. Right Now (F.U.C.K.)
6. Why Can’t This Be Love (5150)
7. Humans Being (Greatest Hits 1)
8. Love Walks In (5150)
9. Dream Is Over (F.U.C.K.)
10. When It’s Love(OU812)
11. Aftershock (Balance)

I still haven't figured out a place to store MP3s. All the places seem rather expensive...any suggestions? Until then, the links will take to a place to hear the songs.

The 11 Best Van Halen Songs (David Lee Roth)

Sorry, for the delay in posting. The new blogger is full of more bugs than the amazon jungle.

In honor of the Rock N Roll hall of Fame induction this weekend, the entire week will be dedicated to the bands be inducted.The first Van Halen album I ever owned was Women and Children First. I know, I know, what the hell is wrong with me. Well, I was 10. I thought I was buying the album with "Unchained" on it. Boy, was I wrong. But being a 10-year-old and trying to look cool, I pretended I bought the album on purpose. I memorized all the songs and most of the lyrics. Sure getting through "And The Cradle Will Rock" was pretty easy but try looking cool while humming "Could This Be Magic?" I didn't catch up with the rest of the world until the release of 1984. Since I was the only one in the neighborhood with cable, the kids had to come to my place to see the "Hot For Teacher" video. That video was one of those videos from childhood that never leaves you. When ever it was on, every kid in the neighborhood ran into my house and packed themselves into my mom's room like Elton John packing himself into a pair of leather pants. Who didn't want to be one of those kid-versions of the band members? Who didn't want to have one of those teachers? And most importantly, who wasn't disturbed by that strange Waldo kid? And what the hell ever happened to him anyway?

Van Halen is set to be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Will they both perform? Will they kill each other? Either result will be well worth watching.

So until Sunday......I brought my pencil...give something to write on!!!

The 11 Best Van Halen Songs (David Lee Roth):

1. Panama (1984)

2. Unchained (Fair Warning)

3. Hot For Teacher (1984)

4. You Really Got Me (Van Halen I)

5. Dance The Night Away (Van Halen II)

6. Ain't Talking Bout Love (Van Halen I)

7. You're No Good (Van Halen II)

8. I'll Wait (1984)

9. Little Dreamer (Van Halen I)

10. Jump (1984)

11. And The Cradle Will Rock (Women and Children First)

I still haven't figured out a place to store MP3s. All the places seem rather expensive...any suggestions? Until then, the links will take to a place to hear the songs.