5150 - Van Halen

...hard rock band) This album 5150 was the first offering from new Halen.

Hagar did not have Roth's persona but there was little doubt he was a more accomplished singer, he also brought more depth when writing the lyrics willing to turn away from the straight rock songs of the past and write love songs. Eddie Van Halen responded by throwing away the live sounding guitar driven production values and opted for more in depth musical arrangements ...
...keyboards.

Incidentally 5150 is the Los Angeles police code for an escaped mental patient. It was a number Eddie Van Halen took to heart naming his home recording studio and his line of amplifiers after it.

GOOD ENOUGH
It is fitting Sammy Hagar leads the charge with a playful "Hello Baby" before Eddie Van Halen breaks out into tapped harmonics which in-turn lead to an energetic rock song where the band ... more

Van Halen's impact on rock music should not be underestimated. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen influenced guitar playing possibly more than any other player in history using his two hand tapping technique and virtuoso approach. He also revolutionised the way guitars are built and set up. Couple this with lead singer David Lee Roth's hugely engaging persona and energetic style and you had a recipe for massive success. Van Halen changed the direction of rock music, gone were pondering "epics" of the prog rock scene or depressing heavy metal lyrics and in was good time songs about partying, and girls delivered in an accessible way. This accessibility brought more women into the fan base; rock on the whole was still a mans world. Van Halen didn't hate the world and had a good time, this helped inspire a new wave of music, and the hard rock scene of the 80s although not born of Van Halen was raised by them.

David Lee Roth left Van Halen in 1985 after the biggest album of their careers "1984" fuelled by hit singles "Jump," "Hot for Teacher," and "Panama". Michael Anthony (Bass), Alex Van Halen (Drums), and Eddie Van Halen moved quickly to recruit a new singer, former Montrose singer Sammy Hagar was the man brought in to join Van Halen on the next stage of their career. (Montrose were a major influence on Van Halen and are considered the first 80s style hard rock band) This album 5150 was the first offering from new Halen.

Hagar did not have Roth's persona but there was little doubt he was a more accomplished singer, he also brought more depth when writing the lyrics willing to turn away from the straight rock songs of the past and write love songs. Eddie Van Halen responded by throwing away the live sounding guitar driven production values and opted for more in depth musical arrangements with layered guitars (utilising Hangars proficiency with the guitar) and keyboards.

Incidentally 5150 is the Los Angeles police code for an escaped mental patient. It was a number Eddie Van Halen took to heart naming his home recording studio and his line of amplifiers after it.

GOOD ENOUGH
It is fitting Sammy Hagar leads the charge with a playful "Hello Baby" before Eddie Van Halen breaks out into tapped harmonics which in-turn lead to an energetic rock song where the band are clearly enjoying themselves.

WHY CAN'T THIS BE LOVE
The first hit single off the album opens with Eddie playing a synthesiser set to sound like a sitar in a staccato fashion. It is clear why this was the lead single, it is catchy without being sickly, and the hook lines aren't obvious giving the song a really good flow. Already the Van Halen sound shows itself to have more textures than its previous incarnation.

GET UP
Chaotic and frantic guitar and drums opening the song are continued through with Hagar throwing himself behind the lyrics in a similar way.

DREAMS
A magical uplifting song built on exquisite hook lines and musical breaks of the very highest order. The intro of acoustic guitar and keyboards is subtle and melancholy while the lyrics are inspirational. The guitar solo is brilliant, seemingly losing its way and breaking off in different directions Eddie Van Halen however pulls it all together; the final guitar solo is emotive. This has since become a Van Halen standard.

SUMMER NIGHTS
The title of this song says it all. With the most astonishing guitar intro giving way to a sitting on a beach drinking atmosphere, a relaxed tone that carries through the song. "Summer nights and my radio, that's all we need don't you know" with lyrics like these this song is firmly in the party rock song and evokes a summer spirit admirably.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
A crunching, stomping guitar riff opens to the more easy going lyrical arrangement, only picking up again on interludes and choruses. Yet another catchy rock song.

LOVE WALKS IN
Maybe surprising to know, but this song was written By Sammy Hagar about an alien coming into his room at night and him feeling so close to that alien. Although inspired by strange origins this is a pretty normal rock ballad; words like "contact" and "silver lights" to feature but the alien theme is pretty much hidden. This allows for a truly haunting keyboard intro and economic guitar work coupled with an exceptional melody to make this a standout track.

5150
The title track off the album. Having already explained the nature of this number it may come as a surprise to learn this is a mid paced rock song with heart felt lyrics introduced by an outstanding palm muted guitar intro. Yet again stupendously catchy.

INSIDE
A plodding bass intro leads to a chaotic song again where the hook lines are not obvious which gives the song an edge. A decent closer for the album.

It is ironic that David Lee Roth's best Van Halen album was his last, and Sammy Hagar's best was his first. Hagar defiantly brought something different to the Van Halen party; it is clear the band found a new freshness and was clearly enjoying themselves. Eddie Van Halen is an absolutely remarkable guitar player and musician, his sound is all over this work, and Hagar allowed him to branch out more that Roth's pure rock restrictions. The result is one of the best Van Halen albums, yes some people prefer the earlier sound and some prefer this but both in their own right deserve merit.

MEMBERS
Eddie Van Halen
Michael Anthony
Alex Van Halen
Sammy Hagar 

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