Spin: Every VH Album, Ranked From the Gary-era lows to the DLR-powered highs

[Rikk]

Yeah, I still love JUMP. I have to admit: I have never heard a live version of JUMP that I've liked as much as the studio version. The studio version is perfection. And some fans bitch about I'LL WAIT...but I even love that song.

I just love that throughout that album, you can just feel that Eddie is so excited to have his own studio...he has so much music just oozing out of him... He's so inspired. And I think it's hilarious that the band had to tell him to, "Stop writing music!!"

That album just sounds like a true artist finally able to make the music he wants to...in his own environment...with very few limits...

My only issue with 1984? Considering how much music they were writing/recording, I would KILL for that album to have been a double. Yes, I know...it would not have been nearly as successful if it had been two records. It would have been a less commercial statement. But I'm pretty sure Eddie had more than enough material for two records...and the album could have been kind of like his version of Prince's 1999 (also a double).

I'm not holding my breath...but I would go crazy if the deluxe box set of this LP actually had some of the outtakes the band also laid down (even if they didn't all have vocals).

[Van Squalen]

Squalen, OU812 above 1984, VH1 and VH2. Come on, man!

Yeah, that’s my personal guilty pleasure I admit. But if Ed had bothered to turn up the deep end, it’d have been Sam Halen’s magnum opus.

I still maintain Ed’s tone on OU812 was the closest he came to the brown sound since Diver…that, and Me Wise Magic.

[Van Squalen]

Cuda, I love your enthusiasm. And I agree with you on your opinion (and agree with Dreidel earlier stating that FAIR WARNING should not be at #7).

BUT...I maintain the same thing...music is subjective. People have their own reasons for loving certain music. I disagree with people a lot...but I respect their right to their opinions.

I have a lot of weird musical opinions:
. EMOTIONAL RESCUE is one of my favorite Stones albums.
. PRESENCE is my favorite Led Zeppelin album.
. I might like Mach III Deep Purple (David Coverdale & Glenn Hughes line-up) more than Mach II (Ian Gillan & Roger Glover)...still love both!
. I love disco.

I, personally, can't see someone digging OU812 more than 1984, the debut, VAN HALEN II (my 2nd-favorite), etc. But...people's tastes can be formed in strange ways. If somebody was listening on the car radio to Winger at the exact moment they first slipped off a girl's panties in the back seat of a Corvette, Winger might end up being kinda sacred to them...

That much is certain, we all form sentiment on specific albums in our coming of age. And def OU812, 5150, and Fair Warning fit that bill for me. Conversely, FUCK dropped at a low point in my life, so my lens there, along with the tour, suffered accordingly.

[Little Dreamer]

Yeah, I still love JUMP. I have to admit: I have never heard a live version of JUMP that I've liked as much as the studio version. The studio version is perfection. And some fans bitch about I'LL WAIT...but I even love that song.

I just love that throughout that album, you can just feel that Eddie is so excited to have his own studio...he has so much music just oozing out of him... He's so inspired. And I think it's hilarious that the band had to tell him to, "Stop writing music!!"

That album just sounds like a true artist finally able to make the music he wants to...in his own environment...with very few limits...

My only issue with 1984? Considering how much music they were writing/recording, I would KILL for that album to have been a double. Yes, I know...it would not have been nearly as successful if it had been two records. It would have been a less commercial statement. But I'm pretty sure Eddie had more than enough material for two records...and the album could have been kind of like his version of Prince's 1999 (also a double).

I'm not holding my breath...but I would go crazy if the deluxe box set of this LP actually had some of the outtakes the band also laid down (even if they didn't all have vocals).

Well, sorry to say, but Sammy's current version of Jump could almost be the best version of Jump ever played live. There's an added keyboard player, so you get the keyboard and the guitar part during the solo, which VH never did, plus Sammy now sings it straight like the record, without any change, and gives it his all. Only problem is they cut off the ending to go into the next song.

[Little Dreamer]

I really don't listen to Van Halen anymore. If I do spin any VH, it's usually the compilation disc Greenpaw made for me with all the Warner Bros. and Zero demos on it.

But for legacy's sake...

1. Fair Warning
2. WACF
3. OU812
4. 1984
5. DD
6. VH1
7. VH2
8. 5150
9. Balance
10. FUCK
11. ADKOT
12. VH3

VHI at number 6, that takes cojones.

[Little Dreamer]

Ehh. I cheerleaded that for a month, nobody committed. Seems like Gen X in their old age really don't do meetups anymore. Stranger danger, I guess.

Looking forward to Joe's takes on Summer Nights and Judgment Day, for sure.

Dude I'm game for it. I don't plan shit a month in advance, that's why I was slow to respond, but Cuda's up for it I think, and who knows, maybe even the Emperor could pop by.

[Little Dreamer]

1. Fair Warning/1984 (tie)
3. VHI
4. 5150
5. VHII
6. FUCK
7. WACF
8. DD
9. OU812
10. Balance
11. ADKOT
12. VHIII

Remarks:
OU812 has unfinished lyrics (SOI) and no bass, hence can't be high on the list.
Balance could've been a great record with Crossing Over replacing CSLY.
I recently listened to 5150 again in the car with my son and thought Sammy's vocals were produced wrong by Mick Jones, it sounds too clean. Despite that, the songs mean a lot to me, probably because of the time in my life I heard them.
FUCK, summer of 1991 was glorious, so I'm biased.

[Rikk]

Well, sorry to say, but Sammy's current version of Jump could almost be the best version of Jump ever played live. There's an added keyboard player, so you get the keyboard and the guitar part during the solo, which VH never did, plus Sammy now sings it straight like the record, without any change, and gives it his all. Only problem is they cut off the ending to go into the next song.

Not even going to dignify this...

Just...NO! (If I gave this a real response, I would get too worked up...)

[Little Dreamer]

Not even going to dignify this...

Just...NO! (If I gave this a real response, I would get too worked up...)

I think you haven't listened to it then. Also please note I said "almost."

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[Naked Wake]

Yeah, I still love JUMP. I have to admit: I have never heard a live version of JUMP that I've liked as much as the studio version. The studio version is perfection. And some fans bitch about I'LL WAIT...but I even love that song.

Funny you mention "I'll Wait" because that's my favorite song on 1984. Well, technically 2nd because I LOVE "PANAMA" more than just about anything in the VH catalog other than "I'm the One" and their version of "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?"

[Van Squalen]

VHI at number 6, that takes cojones.

VH1, I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a groundbreaking barn burner. Loved it for decades. But it just got sooooooooo played out, not just by me personally, but by the radio. It's nearly a non-entity for me. I could easily go the rest of my days without spinning RWTD, YRGM, ATBL, and JC ever again. Ever. So played.

If ITO comes on Sirius/XM somewhere, I'll listen to it solely for the barbershop breakdown.

The only track that managed to accompany me long term in my old age in terms of relistenability, is On Fire. That track seems to be ageless for me. Ed's shredding so hard on that bad boy. Never gets old.

On another note...I probably will never spin VH2 again. Another played out record. Total wash. Just so much of it.

I can see myself spinning FW, WACF, the 4 originals on DD, and half of '84...Top Jimmy, DDL, GGB, HFT.

Conversely, I doubt I'll ever spin FUCK, Balance, or 5150 again. Which is kinda why I'm stoked to see Joe and Mike and Sam play some of that stuff live this Monday.

Legacy is a funny thing when it comes to music. These days, I'm more about blues-based rock, and new stuff preferably. Bonamassa. Gary Clark Jr. Loved the new Stones album earlier this year.

I haven't spun a Rush record in totality since Neil passed either.

[Van Squalen]

Dude I'm game for it. I don't plan shit a month in advance, that's why I was slow to respond, but Cuda's up for it I think, and who knows, maybe even the Emperor could pop by.

Well, I was gonna have my gal get off work early for that cocktail hour, but nobody pulled the trigger on tickets, so she didn't. We'll be driving longer than any of you Angeleno-based folk, so we'll be getting there right around showtime, though I doubt we'll bother to catch the Loverboy opener. I have to grab a tee for our old pal Greenpaw, so I def need to hit the merch stand beforehand.

[Rikk]

I think you haven't listened to it then. Also please note I said "almost."

Think what you want...that makes me smile.

Detroit...week or two ago. I heard it. YouTube. Really did not like it.

[Little Dreamer]

Think what you want...that makes me smile.

Detroit...week or two ago. I heard it. YouTube. Really did not like it.

Could you explain why?

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[Rikk]

Could you explain why?

I can...but if I do (and I'm asking this respectfully)...is this just going to turn into another fucking back-and-forth on who is right/who is wrong about Sammy with regards to JUMP (or Dave's songs in general)? I mean it...I could write three paragraphs on why I dislike not only Sammy's take on JUMP but also what I particularly didn't like about his recent version of JUMP.

But I don't have to tell it...and I don't want to if it's going to turn into another "How dare you not like Sam?" fight. I don't want anyone to get the sense I'm telling them they're wrong or their taste sucks or any of that shit. I'm just honestly past the whole Sam vs. Dave fight. But if you want me to tell you why I don't like it, I will.