Question About 5150...

[broken9500]

For those of you that were mature/involved/aware of enough to remember, what was your immediate reaction to the album? Not the lead singer change per say, but the record itself? Obviously the switch in singer is intrinsically tied to the album, but for my benefit, try to focus on the album as a whole and the songs themselves...not any of the politics or backstage gossip and such...

Did this album rock right out of the shoot? Did it take some getting used to? As far as instrumentation, did you guys think it surpassed the previous albums or did you think it lacked? Did anyone see it as a "transition" album or did it come off as completely focused and polished right off the bat?

[Bugs Meanie]

I bought it the day it came out when I was at a highly impressionable age (spring of 9th grade). Without getting too deep, it had a profound impact on me. I was/am a huge Dave fan but I really got caught up in the sound of 5150 and the overall giddiness of the band when the album was released. I wore out a lot of 5150 cassettes that summer. I'm not sure if it's the best VH album in retrospect but I think that summer was the apex of the band's happiness and it translated.

[willy4pres]

I got it the day it came out as well, I was 13 at the time. For me it kicked ass the first time through and has never stopped kicking ass. I could have cared less about Dave though I obviously loved the band with him in it, I blamed dave for the breakup so he could kiss my ass at that point. Besides, im from St. Louis and we love Sammy, to me he couldn't have been a better choice. I don't like to get into "rating" stuff but I will say I listen to Fair Warning before all the other's, but right behind that is 5150.

I think growing up in St. Louis prior to the internet had a big effect on me concerning all of this 5150/Sammy/Dave/Van Hagar stuff. I didn't even know that people hated the idea of Sammy being in Van Halen, I heard stuff on MTV but that wasn't real to me. I didn't know or hang out with anyone that wasn't a Van Halen fan, and to us Dave was a jackass and Sammy belonged in Van Halen. Im not saying I feel exactly the same now as I did then, some thing's have changed while other's haven't.

Dont get me started about Sammy leaving Van Halen though, let's just say that I didn't go to work the day I found out.

Having said all this you might want to consider excluding anyone that grew up in St. Louis throughout the 80's. Let's just put it this way, back in 2000 KSHE 95 (biggest rock station in the midwest) did this rock band survivor contest thing. The idea was to start off with a bunch of famous bands and to have people call in to vote off a band each week (I think the premise was who would you like to listen to everyday if you were stranded on a deserted island). They had bands like Lez Zepplin, The Who, Bon Jovi, Lyndard Skynard, Van Halen, and Sam. Basically every popular rock band ever, guess who won. Not Sam era Van Halen but solo Sam!

[broken9500]

I don't like to get into "rating" stuff but I will say I listen to Fair Warning before all the other's, but right behind that is 5150.

This is very interesting to me. Many people have expressed this same preference to me: Fair Warning is their favourite Van Roth album and 5150 is their favourite Van Hagar album. Is there anything specific that makes you appreciate 5150 over the other albums on which Hagar participates?

[willy4pres]

This is very interesting to me. Many people have expressed this same preference to me: Fair Warning is their favourite Van Roth album and 5150 is their favourite Van Hagar album. Is there anything specific that makes you appreciate 5150 over the other albums on which Hagar participates?

I think timing had a lot to do with it and the fact that it was a solid effort. I can understand how it might not be somebody's cup of tea but I can't understand how anyone would think that any song on it was bad. I like 0U812, FUCK, and Balance (not that much really) but 5150 holds up much better for me. I think a lot of people cared less about VH albums after 5150 and only cared that they were going out on the road and that they were going to get to see them live. I liked all the other VH albums after 5150 but they all seemed to lack something to me, and that probably has something to do with me expecting something from them instead of just listening and enjoying the experience. When 5150 came out I didn't expect anything I just wanted to like it, after that I wanted them all to kick ass like 5150, only different.

[Raldo]

The electronic drum sound really caught my attention. For the 80's, that was something a lot of artists used. I did like the new sound of having Sammy sing lead. Sounded fresher.

[ZORBA5150]

I didn't like it when it came out. I hated the electronic drums too. It grew on me with time. I also appreciated it more once I saw LWAN. It's still one of my least favorites simply because of the bad mix and the drums

[Greenpaw]

I got it the day it came out as well. Absolutely loved it. Is still my favorite VH record. The tour was awesome, LWAN is awesome. Like Willy said, timing had a lot to do with it for me.

Only minor problems I have with it is that it could use a remaster to boost the sound a bit, and I wish Al wouldn't have went that route with the drum sound, but it's not that bad.

[RevolutionMan]

the only thing i didnt like was the song The Inside. it wouldve been cool to see i want some action or something different in its' place. aw well...

the elctronic drums are fine. hey if people dont like em then shit you must have not liked the 83 and 84 tours cuz he was using them then anyways. just not too much on the records until 5150.

also who cares about comparisons the guy is asking a question about one single record. geeeeeezus.

[smithjc]

Wow the memories!

I loved it. It was new VH for corn's sake! That first song set the tone for what was to follow. The whole album rocked! I knew then that there would be more VH to come despite the departure of the Diamond One.

Didn't think that it'd end the way it did tho. That was a rude awakening for sures.

[Spool]

To be honest, I had heard the single first and liked it alot it was an extension of jump, so when I bought the record I really was not impressed by it.

There was a change at the time, VH was everywhere and the impression I got was VH was now in the same boat as Simple Minds and a bunch of other bands at the time, where as b4 they where extremely UNIQUE sounding and this record brought them to the center of main stream sounding music.

Becasue of this it really brought them to the main stream pop culture record buying public and being just outta my teens there was a whole anti pop teen culture I tried to avoid.

Over the years I have come to apreciate the record for what it is even though a couple of tracks on thre really bug me, it still gets played but no where near the others.

VH redeemed themselves with me with F.U.C.K and then Balance and I was thinking oh shit here we go again there getting heavy and agressive, then BAM 1996 happened and we are where we are today ... left wondering and hoping for more harder edged VH to come to life once again.

[extreme red roth]

I loved 5150 and got it the day it came out. I played the shit out of it for 5 years...at least...

Ironically, it is one of the albums that gets the least play out of my entire collection. It has a very dated feel to me. As mentioned, the electronic drums, the dated keys sound, and the lack of bass are glaring problems for me.

Having said that...I'm really into Best of Both Worlds lately...but I listened to various live versions I have of the tune rather than the 5150 version.

[sickman]

I bought it the first day it came out. I was 14 and way into VH. I was excited just to hear something new. I was not so sure of Love Walks In and compared to 1984 it was a little bit of a let down. It also didn't help that the new singer had a Ronald Mcdonald hairdo.

[Ain't Talkin' Bout' Love]

Even for a younger guy like me it sounded inspired when I bought it. I think it has a lot of depth, and it really illustrates the excitement surrounding the band. Just read the interviews with Ed from 1986, he was in the clouds.

[Double Down]

I bought it the day it came out...I was 18. I liked it right away. It had a different sound to it but I really did like it. It wasn't long before I loved the friggin' thing.