What 5 years was VH at their best?

[Dont disturb my Paradise]

Let’s not make this a heated debate please. Just a question for you guys what you personally think were VH’s best 5 years when they were at the top of their game, musically on a chemistry level. At their peak so to say, not in popularity. If it was popularity I’d be going for 84-88, cause “1984” really brought them into the mainstream with “Jump” through to “When it’s love”.
But musically and chemistry wise live I’d be going for 88-92. They were cookin’ on the 5150 tour, but it was more a fun vibe, “the honeymoon” so to say and they were smilin’ and groovin’ like newly weds. On the “OU812” tour they got down to business, and more tighter. By the “F.U.C.K” tour, especially mid way through they were at their musical peak. The jams in between songs, doing the random cover songs at times. I loved that. The RHRN tour was awesome too, terrific setlist, but the tour is not quite as good as the previous year. Just my opinions.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

From 1978-1982, Van Halen released 4 of their best 5 albums and were at their peak as a live group. The end.

[Nostalgia Act]

Let's not make it heated?

Come on man...you've been here a minute. You know how this place works.

But yeah. 1978-1982

[Van Squalen]

From 1978-1982, Van Halen released 4 of their best 5 albums and were at their peak as a live group. The end.

Pfft. All you are saying is that Ed, Al, and Mike's live musicianship went downhill from '78. You know damned well it didn't, just the opposite.

Anybody who watched the band year after year could clearly see the power trio at their highest synchronicity and live prowess between '91 to '93. And I fuckin' HATE that gawdawful third Sam album, and its subsequent live version. But there's little denying what was obvious onstage in those three years. They were on point...I'd say virtually the same thing about '95 and '98. They weren't as fucked up as they were in the early 80's, so they played better. Ed's chops only improved each subsequent year since '80, until the travesty of '04, obviously.

)Practice makes perfect.

And there's little point in denying the live deviations between Dave and the power trio post '81. There was no synchronicity. There was the power trio backing the rogue frontman who was hit and miss both in skill and sobriety depending on what night it was.

[Brett]

I’d say as a complete package from 78-82 and then 86-92.

I know that’s more than five years with Sam but I’m kind of going by the tours.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Pfft. All you are saying is that Ed, Al, and Mike's live musicianship went downhill from '78. You know damned well it didn't, just the opposite.

Anybody who watched the band year after year could clearly see the power trio at their highest synchronicity and live prowess between '91 to '93. And I fuckin' HATE that gawdawful third Sam album, and its subsequent live version. But there's little denying what was obvious onstage in those three years. They were on point...I'd say virtually the same thing about '95 and '98. They weren't as fucked up as they were in the early 80's, so they played better. Ed's chops only improved each subsequent year since '80, until the travesty of '04, obviously.

)Practice makes perfect.

And there's little point in denying the live deviations between Dave and the power trio post '81. There was no synchronicity. There was the power trio backing the rogue frontman who was hit and miss both in skill and sobriety depending on what night it was.

The original question was What 5 years was VH at their best? How did you come up with me saying that Ed, Al, and Mike's live musicianship went downhill from '78 when I said their best 5 years were from 1978-1982? Their first 4 albums are arguably their 4 best (one can make a strong argument for 1984, also) and I think most of us who were there would say that their live performances with Dave peaked around 1981. Their live performances with Sammy probably peaked in the early 90s, but, I, like you, do not consider For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge to be one of their better albums.

[Invasion 1980]

Pfft. All you are saying is that Ed, Al, and Mike's live musicianship went downhill from '78. You know damned well it didn't, just the opposite.

Anybody who watched the band year after year could clearly see the power trio at their highest synchronicity and live prowess between '91 to '93. And I fuckin' HATE that gawdawful third Sam album, and its subsequent live version. But there's little denying what was obvious onstage in those three years. They were on point...I'd say virtually the same thing about '95 and '98. They weren't as fucked up as they were in the early 80's, so they played better. Ed's chops only improved each subsequent year since '80, until the travesty of '04, obviously.

)Practice makes perfect.

And there's little point in denying the live deviations between Dave and the power trio post '81. There was no synchronicity. There was the power trio backing the rogue frontman who was hit and miss both in skill and sobriety depending on what night it was.

Reading comprehension isn't your strong point.

I see some things don't change around here - you're still a World Class douchebag.

[Invasion 1980]

Let’s not make this a heated debate please. Just a question for you guys what you personally think were VH’s best 5 years when they were at the top of their game, musically on a chemistry level. At their peak so to say, not in popularity. If it was popularity I’d be going for 84-88, cause “1984” really brought them into the mainstream with “Jump” through to “When it’s love”.
But musically and chemistry wise live I’d be going for 88-92. They were cookin’ on the 5150 tour, but it was more a fun vibe, “the honeymoon” so to say and they were smilin’ and groovin’ like newly weds. On the “OU812” tour they got down to business, and more tighter. By the “F.U.C.K” tour, especially mid way through they were at their musical peak. The jams in between songs, doing the random cover songs at times. I loved that. The RHRN tour was awesome too, terrific setlist, but the tour is not quite as good as the previous year. Just my opinions.

1978 - 82 IMO. It was also their most productive period as well - 5 albums in 5 years.

[Van Squalen]

Reading comprehension isn't your strong point.

I see some things don't change around here - you're still a World Class douchebag.

I'm still climbing the ladder. Someday I'll get to your galaxy class if I work hard and stay true.

[Al Van Bundy]

Music: 1978 to 1982

Live: 1993 to 1998

[Van Squalen]

The original question was What 5 years was VH at their best? How did you come up with me saying that Ed, Al, and Mike's live musicianship went downhill from '78 when I said their best 5 years were from 1978-1982? Their first 4 albums are arguably their 4 best (one can make a strong argument for 1984, also) and I think most of us who were there would say that their live performances with Dave peaked around 1981. Their live performances with Sammy probably peaked in the early 90s, but, I, like you, do not consider For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge to be one of their better albums.

It's a stupid debate for Dave only guys, 'cause they're never gonna cede superior anything to the post Dave era. Dual era fans can be more objective.

But you're arguing semantics. Again.

The original question was mainly referring to their 'live' game, not studio musicianship. Read the OG poster's post again if need be. Why would I be touting the early 90's VH when I can't stand that album? He was talking live chops. Not albums.

But if we're including albums...nothing beats WACF and FW. Nothin' at all.

[Nostalgia Act]

It's a stupid debate for Dave only guys, 'cause they're never gonna cede superior anything to the post Dave era. Dual era fans can be more objective.

But you're arguing semantics. Again.

The original question was mainly referring to their 'live' game, not studio musicianship. Read the OG poster's post again if need be. Why would I be touting the early 90's VH when I can't stand that album? He was talking live chops. Not albums.

But if we're including albums...nothing beats WACF and FW. Nothin' at all.

I dunno VS. While I certainly see Dave only guys turning this into, "Sam was the inferior second singer", I'm a fan of both era's, but actually like the classic years a lot more than Sam's time with the band. A lot more. Now having said that, Samuel Roy Hagar is my all time favorite singer of satan's music. He's my second favorite singer of the satanic music from Van Halen though. Not an ounce of passive aggressiveness in my post with regards to Sam's time in the band. I'm glad they choose him.

[Wildman]

1974 -1979. Anything of value they did after were just left overs from those years. :P

[Van Squalen]

I dunno VS. While I certainly see Dave only guys turning this into, "Sam was the inferior second singer", I'm a fan of both era's, but actually like the classic years a lot more than Sam's time with the band. A lot more. Now having said that, Samuel Roy Hagar is my all time favorite singer of satan's music. He's my second favorite singer of the satanic music from Van Halen though. Not an ounce of passive aggressiveness in my post with regards to Sam's time in the band. I'm glad they choose him.

I'm the definition of a dual era fan, but there's nobody or nothing on the planet that'll ever convince me Van Halen's studio peak wasn't 1980-1981, and their live peak wasn't 88-95. TBH, I kinda think it's self evident, but whatevs.

I try not to hear Satan's voice in the background when When it's Love comes on the radio.

[Nostalgia Act]

I try not to hear Satan's voice in the background when When it's Love comes on the radio.

If you still have the vinyl...play it backwards from the end of, When It's Love.

*shudder*