Launch Song Anatomy of "You Really Got Me"

[Grover]

Here's a good recap of the song and recent VH History. PLUS NEWS OF A BOX SET IN THE STORY.

From Launch

SONG ANATOMY


VAN HALEN--"YOU REALLY GOT ME"

Writer: Ray Davies
Producer: Ted Templeman


Recorded: 1977 at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California
Released: January 28, 1978


Players:
Edward Van Halen--guitar
Alex Van Halen--drums
Michael Anthony--bass
David Lee Roth--vocals


Album: Van Halen (Warner Bros., 1978)
Also On: Van Halen Live: Right Here, Right Now (Warner Bros., 1993)

Brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen formed Van Halen in 1974, after their previous band, Mammoth, was transformed by the addition of frontman David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony.

The group changed its name to Van Halen after it was discovered another band was also calling itself Mammoth. They also considered using the name Rat Salade for a time.

Van Halen gained notoriety for gigs at backyard parties where they learned their craft playing everything from Led Zeppelin to KC & the Sunshine Band.

Written by Ray Davies, "You Really Got Me" was a Number Seven hit for his band, the Kinks, in 1964.

Van Halen's cover version, the band's first single, peaked at Number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, but became an FM rock staple in part because of the song that preceded it on the album, Eddie Van Halen's guitar showcase "Eruption."

"You Really Got Me" wasn't the only cover song to hit for Van Halen. The group also scored with versions of Roy Orbison's "(Oh) Pretty Woman" and Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancing In The Street," both in 1981. The group also covered another Kinks song, "Where Have All The Good Times Gone?"
The Van Halen album sold more than 10 million copies and peaked at Number 19 on the Billboard 200.

FAST FORWARD:

Roth's debut solo EP contained a pair of hits that were also cover versions: the Beach Boys' "California Girls" and the oft-covered "Just A Gigolo," whose arrangement was copied from Louis Prima's version.

Eddie Van Halen married actress Valerie Bertinelli in 1981. The couple separated last year.

Eddie's trademark guitar, the Peavey brand "Wolfgang" model, is named after the couple's son Wolfgang.

Roth left the band in 1984 and was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who parted ways with Van Halen in 1996 and was replaced by Extreme frontman Gary Cherone.

Cherone was ousted from the band in November 1999. No replacement has yet been named, although rumors have swirled about a reunion with either or both Roth and Hagar.

The group's subsequent "reunion" with Roth was short-lived, resulting in two tracks, "Can't Get This Stuff No More" and "Me Wise Magic," which were released on the group's greatest-hits album, Best Of, Volume 1.

Roth released his autobiography, Crazy From The Heat, in 1997.

Eddie Van Halen has made more headlines in recent years for his health than for his playing, as he's undergone hip-replacement surgery and successfully battled cancer.

Van Halen has been on hiatus for the past few years. The group did record some music with Roth, although the future of these songs is uncertain.
Van Halen amicably parted company with Warner Bros. in December 2001. There's no news on where the band will wind up.

Roth and Hagar united for a successful tour last year, which featured Anthony on many dates.
Hagar and Roth did not get along on the road, and the prospects of any further work together appear slim.

Anthony told The Tennessean newspaper last year, "I would really like to see if we could pull it off, a reunion with Dave and Sammy," before adding, "The whole thing is really frustrating. You know, unfortunately, some things that seem like they should be so easy to fix become kind of difficult. Of course, it would be great to do something again with Sammy or Dave or both of them...maybe just kind of put a cap or a final ending on this whole era."

For his part, Roth says he's not averse to some sort of reunion, but he has continued to take verbal potshots at the Van Halen brothers.
Work has begun on a Van Halen boxed set, but a Warner Bros. spokesperson says it likely won't be released for some time.

Eddie Van Halen was a surprise guest at a Mountain show at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles last year, where he joined the group for a run-through of the song "Never In My Life," which is featured on the 1970 album Mountain Climbing! Van Halen and Mountain singer-guitarist Leslie West are old friends.

Anthony is a charter member of Planet Us, the supergroup that also includes Hagar and Journey guitarist Neal Schon and drummer Deen Castronovo. The quartet is working on an album, although no release date has been announced.

In December, Roth filed suit against his former bandmates and their record company, Warner Bros., for unpaid royalties, claiming conspiracy to convert property, breach of fiduciary duty, and accounting. Roth alleges that in 1996, Van Halen signed a contract with the label to raise the royalty rate on the band's catalog without his knowledge, and that he has not been paid properly since then.

Twenty-five years ago today (January 18, 1978), Van Halen's debut single, "You Really Got Me" b/w "Atomic Punk," was released.

[ January 28, 2003, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: Grover ]

[EUX4Life]

VAN HALEN BOX SET?!?!?!?!

[GMAN5150]

Originally posted by EUX4Life:
VAN HALEN BOX SET?!?!?!?!

I'll believe it when I see it..Until then I'll keep..... [img]graemlins/brickwall.gif[/img] ...............

[Grover]

"Work has begun on a Van Halen boxed set, but a Warner Bros. spokesperson says it likely won't be released for some time."

It would explain a.) what Eddie has been doing and b.) what Warner Brothers gets to close out the VH contract.

[GMAN5150]

Originally posted by Grover:
"Work has begun on a Van Halen boxed set, but a Warner Bros. spokesperson says it likely won't be released for some time."

It would explain a.) what Eddie has been doing and b.) what Warner Brothers gets to close out the VH contract.

Uh...maybe...but I wouldn't bet the farm on it

[Grover]

I'm gonna bump this, cause I think all lot of folks have missed that boxset line.