1984

F*ckin’ A!! Guitar riffs that spontaneously light your Marlboro red, and songs that rattle your IROC-Z. Obviously, there are at least 4 timeless hits that are in constant rotation on Nike Monarch radio, but the guitar work on ‘Drop Dead Legs’ and ‘Top Jimmy’ are ear tickling gems! And kudos to Michael Anthony and Alex bring the rhythm and groove (especially during Girl Gone Bad)!

Rips

When they went synth and their four album with all the notable hits

Van Halen’s debut was solid in my eyes, but also a really big turning point for hard rock. And it still remains as a defining record in a lot of people’s lives. Personally, I was more excited to hear 1984 for the first time. You can’t even really make the argument that they became sellouts later on in their career, because they always had mass appeal. They were always a big band during their prime years, and both the debut and this album make very high periods of success. And I’m so beyond glad that in the six years between these two releases, the band did not at all abandon what made them so good. In fact, it seems they delved even further into their own rambunctious madness. The lineup is entirely the same. And everything I enjoyed about the debut is still here, plus more. And it’s all turned up to eleven. Eruption might be an impressive solo, but I’ve never been that blown away by it. And it doesn’t compare to the best this has to offer. If Eddie somehow hadn’t proved himself by now, this is what seals the deal. This band very much lies in that same Red Hot Chili Peppers category, where the singer is often the one people blame. But Roth’s antics are somehow more tolerable here than I found them to be prior. Jump is an interesting song to start on, because when you combine it with the titular opener, you go almost 2 minutes without any proper guitar. Which, for a Van Halen record of all things, is pretty big. But it still ended being the band’s biggest hit, and it’s undoubtedly an iconic song. Panama is really where this takes off, and it’s a steady ride to the end. I specifically want to highlight one song as not only being my favorite on the album, but also my favorite Van Halen song period. If anyone else has ever had the pleasure of being in a car with a good stereo on a high volume when this song comes on, you will know how thunderously loud Hot for Teacher is. And it’s fucking glorious. Probably one of my favorite hard rock songs ever made. I never get sick of it. I could probably write a review nearly this long on just that song. But that’s beside the point. I’m genuinely impressed at how good this album is, and how much I enjoy it. As someone who generally doesn’t enjoy this glam metal infused stage of hard rock, this is exactly what I was looking for from the band. They managed to adapt their sound with songs like I’ll Wait, and also maintain their originality with tracks like Girl Gone Bad. And the sheer musicianship of every member makes each song a joy to listen to. Rating: 9/10

I HAVE THIS ONE ON VINYL

This album has 3 bangers (Hot For Teacher, Panama, and Jump) that have withstood the test of time. The rest of the album is great too. A fun mix of synth guitar, kick ass drums, and classic 80's style vocals. Honestly, I'm not sure what else an album can do to earn a 5/5. Peak Glam Rock and there really aren't many other projects from that genre/era that can compete with it.

This album is so saturated with its time period, but the musicians and the production is just fuckin flawless. Dave’s voice is peak on this one. They are firing on all cylinders. Deliciously self indulgent. Great sequencing. That’s a great ride.

One of the best 80' rock band. A guitar enthusiast's bliss.

Goddamn hit parade is what it is. It's gonzo and fun and undeniably a drug-fuelled menace.

Great Album

Some friends of mine just the other night went to hear this cool cat blow, they said he sang so good that the roof fell in and he didn't even stop the show. The ultimate car cruising partying album of the 80s. The last of the Diamond Dave era. These guys built their signature sound and showmanship like no other band at the time. If it weren't for Thriller, this would have been number one for a few months in 84. Remember kids, we couldn't stream back then.

Includes some all-time Van Halen hits including Jump, Panama and Hot For Teacher. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing their best and discovering some new ones too.

Hot for Teacher is a great fucking song and every one of you here knows it

This is not my favorite Van Halen album, but it is a great one. Eddie was such an amazing and creative musician. The guitar and keyboard hooks on this album are so catchy and stay in your head long after the songs are done. This is one of those albums that just stands the test of time. Definitely a 5/5 for me.

A triumph

I always thought “Jump” was such a departure in sound for Van Halen. I’m not exactly a fan of them or anything (though I did LOVE their debut album when it was handed to me for this project months ago), but what I know of their sound is so different from “Jump” that I honestly always assumed, when hearing it on the radio or in a show or movie, that it was some other 80’s band. So, seeing that it was essentially the lead track on this album, I was really curious to see if it set the tone for the whole thing or if it was a blatant single composition. Well, the answer is no it doesn’t really set the tone for the rest of the record. “Jump” is not, in my mind, entirely indicative of the rest of the album’s sound. And even after relistening, it isn’t even THAT poppy. It still has a killer guitar solo. But it definitely feels like a song arranged in such a way and put as the first real track on the album so that it pleases the record company as a lead single. And yet it’s still pretty good. The rest of the album feels really similar to their first one, though they seem to have reigned Eddie in just a little. That doesn't mean he isn't shredding throughout, because he definitely is. But they didn't give him his own track like they did with "Eruption" on the first album. Part of me feels like I shouldn't give this five stars solely because it does feel really similar to the first album is a lot of ways, and that lack of growth is a little disheartening. But in the end, I loved the first one and there is enough of a change in sound, albeit somewhat subtle, that I can still give it five. If you'd told me when this whole thing started that I'd be giving two Van Halen albums five stars, I would've thought you were crazy. But here we are. Standout Tracks: Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, Hot for Teacher, House of Pain

David Lee Roth was at his all time beat on this album. The willingness to experiment with Synth on this album shows VH openness to opportunity and experimentation. Great tracks Jump, Hot for Teacher and Panama just three.

5 booms BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪 BOOM 💪

I made the awful mistake of setting "Jump" as my alarm sound a couple years ago. Now whenever I hear it I want to kill myself. Great album though.

not a van halen fan but this is 33 minutes of lightning

First album bought!! BANGER start to finish. I love it as much today as the day I bought it. RIP eddie.

Well i grew up on Van Halens music so this is a biased score. not as good as their first album but allot of hits and a great sound overall. not to long album either so it don't get to repetitive in the sound.

Incredibly fun, can’t deny Eddie’s guitar, just easy to listen to hard rock. It’s ok to sit back and enjoy stuff like this, it doesn’t all have to be art rock.

Jump :)

With three of their biggest hits plus additional tracks that show what Van Halen is all about, this has to be their finest work. Catchy hooks throughout, irreverent subject matter, and Eddie's game-changing guitar playing are on fully display on this record. There are a couple tracks that are forgettable, but everything else more than makes up for it in my mind. Notable Tracks: - Jump - essentially the opener and one hell of one at that - Panama - Drop Dead Legs - killer guitar solo - Hot for Teacher - probably my favorite Van Halen song - I'll Wait 9/10

Man, Eddie Van Halen is a monster. There are guitar sounds on this album that I still have no idea how he made. And all the other musicians are great as well, just a very cohesive, fun album. Truly a seismic shift for rock music.

Van Halen is so much better than I gave them credit for when I was younger. Part of that is certainly due to the fact that I became aware of them during the Sammy Hagar era. This album is so tight. It fits together perfectly, has a ton of great songs, and it never starts to fee samey. Fuck it, 5 stars 5/5

Let’s rock!

This was a really great album! I love the more synthy sound that they started to head toward in this album, and there wasn't a single moment where I was bored or wanting the song to end.

Eddie van Halen. Was für ein Genie. Jump begleitet mich seit 40 Jahren. Ein Stück das sofort die Sonne scheinen lässt. Auch an trüben Tagen.

Loved this, includes one of the best all time drum intros (hot for teacher). Reminds me of Saturday nights at the floral hall (midnight madness anyone?)

This is one the best party albums of all time. The length is perfect. Energy is high for all 33 mins except for Ill Wait - which was a really nice switch up and a successful single for the album. The synths were welcomed and not overly done. You could tell where the band was going with this sound. My only criticism is Girl Gone Bad is just a fluff track that added no value.

Teeters on cheesy but Eddie saves it every time.

I did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I have owned several VH albums in my lifetime, but not this one, probably because it was played everywhere. Van Halen jumps in to the synth saturated 80s, but still rocks. This album is a lot of fun.

cool! jump!

Beginning of 2 era Van Halen

One of the greatest rock albums ever. In Van Halen's discography, it is second only to their debut album.

This album rocked and was really solid all the way through. Haven't listened to Van Halen and didn't expect to like it so much. I instantly recognized a lot of iconic riffs/synth parts from songs like Jump and Panama, hadn't ever heard the songs all the way through. Loved the build up on songs like Drop Dead Legs and I'll Wait. The heavy guitar licks sounded awesome and made me want to crank the volume to 11. Favorite songs were: 2. Jump 3. Panama 5. Drop Dead Legs 7. I'll Wait 10/10

To preface, I have many years of loving Van Halen going into this. Long ago I was a stoned teenager learning guitar, and as such Eddie has been an idol ever since those early days. Van Halen is one of my go to "good time/good mood" bands, and 1984 hits that spot every time. We've been having a heat wave in the Bay, and my car's AC can't keep up. I was driving to work with all the windows down, the sunroof open, and Panama playing loud crossing the Bay Bridge and it was some of the most California I've ever felt. The guitar work on this album is incredible - I could go on about that forever but then this review would be too long. I never liked Jump, its definitely the weakest on the album. Every other song is a 4 or 5 star track though. Album cover: (A) I am not a fan of babies visually, and it loses points for having a baby. It gets those points back for giving the baby cigarettes. Overall I don't love looking at it, but its an arresting and iconic cover and it fits.

This album fucking rocks. Not sure there's a single weak track? The only thing that could make this album better is if I had a pack of smokes right now. Might go buy some Lucky Strikes tonight...

While I am not sure if it is Van Halens best album, that just goes to show what an incredible band they are. First and foremost, there is the musicianship. Eddies solos are insane, but I feel like he don't get nearly enough credit for his rhythm playing — much like Hendrix. Just listen to Panama, especially the mid section, or the riff to «Girl Gone Bad» or «Drop Dead Legs». Or the rhythm guitar parts on «Jump», for that matter. Then there is the rhythm section, and it is probably one of the most underrated of all time. Granted, Michael Anthonys bass playing is more virtuosic on other records, but it is still perfect for what is needed on this album. An Alex Van Halen truly reminds you that there isn't only one person behind that last name. Few drummers do so much to fill out a soundscape like he does. Bonus point: Eddies keyboard playing is wild. Listen to the comping for his guitar solo on Jump, it is wild. And obviously the solo right after is amazing. Then there is the songwriting. «Jump» is a cocaine rock anthem about a guy considering suicide, an intriguing idea with just enough of the macabre to make it interesting. I literally can´t listen to «Panama» while driving a car, cause I would be fined for speeding in an instance. «Hot for Teacher» and «Drop Dead Legs» are a bit sleazy in hindsight, but well-crafted rock tunes none the less. «Top Jimmy» is a fun throwback to early Van Halen, while «I'll Wait» is a beautiful anthem which hints at what's to come with Van Hagar. Speaking of Hagar, I actually prefer Sammy Hagar to David Lee Roth. That being said, he is still the perfect peacock-frontman and has a crispness to his delivery that would suit a band with a more lyrical focus. Speaking of vocals: Michael Anthonys and Eddie Van Halens range as background singers is insane. I love this album, not least because it reminds me of a time in my life filled with beautiful childhood memories. So yeah, five stars!

Musical DNA. Shut up. I don't care what you think. There is no better opening than Hot for Teacher. The middle finger extended as the high level virtuoso playing gets mixed with juvenile sexist puerile nonsense is sublime.. Isn't that what Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup, Duane Eddy, Chuck Berry did? In another life, Eddie Van Halen is Alan Holdsworth, changing the world of guitar . while playing to a tiny but devoted audience. The genius is David Lee Roth, he of the ok vocals, but massive charisma, and naughty lyrics. Alex van Halen was the perfect foil to his brother, and the secret sauce is Michael Anthony on bass and backing vocals. Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, the opening track.. musical DNA... just magic.

Oh. Music for a Walkman. You get me at a weak moment it seems. I honestly cant tell if I like it because I woulda liked it then, or if hearing now (First Time) I like it Ironically. What the hell is going on? Ever feel guilty or self aware for liking bad junk food (and this is junk). So I let out my belt, and put on a daiper, pulled up a keg of root beer, and turned my Focal headphoens up a bit too loud and enjoyed the soo cool and dated grainy humm of the Synth of JUMP! and was transported to a time when I could clock GYRUSS in an arcade parlour. (ah, exalting victory music elements - as if stolen form Toccata by SKY (1980), and the Gyruss rip off of that.) Its definitely fun in a retro , pumped up , dayglo airguiter way. I blame my vintage primary auditory cortex, meninges and hypothalamus for not knowing better. The catch ? Its also exactly the indulgent crap I thought Bill and Teds satirised as mindless. Which works on teenage boys. (*) I also liked Bach, George Thoroughgood, Timbuckthree and Corey Heart back then. The zone of proximal exposure hypothesis? Thsi is gonna be great music for vacuuming if the robots rebel.

5 st

Great

I love Eddie, he is a real maestro. And in general pretty good album. Mind-blowing solos and distinctive 80s style. I did not really like some lyrics tho, but overall I would listen to this album again and again!

Classic Rock with amazing synth sound. Cool!!

The nipples are like liquorice all sorts ??

Oh yes

4.5/5 I love the beautiful, atmospheric synth intro before Jump begins. Then the synths themselves slap hard and the pre-chorus is a thing of beauty. The instrumental break is fantastic and it has a such a fun, optimistic vibe. Panama's intro is so great, and the song holds together well, helped mainly by the breakdown, though the pre-chorus is weak. Top Jimmy has an infectious repeated motif, which has such an engaging quality, even if the rest of the song is fairly basic. Drop Dead Legs is a straight banger, simple as. Then Hot for Teacher, with its iconic messy intro leading into a La Grange-eque tune, doesn't really slap that hard for me. The synths come back for I'll Wait, and with a bang. The unrelenting synth pulse is awesome. It sounds like Jump's cooler, edgier, older cousin. Girl Gone Bad has such a massive opening, but the vocals aren't great, and the song doesn't develop very well at all until the spoken word section amongst the heavy guitar, when it sounds nice. House of Pain has an amazing hard rock riff, and is a great finish to the album, and of course a complete departure from the light synth start of 1984/Jump. Overall, I love this album, despite a few inconsistencies. Jump 5/5 Panama 4.5/5 Top Jimmy 5/5 Drop Dead Legs 5/5 Hot for Teacher 3/5 I'll Wait 5/5 (FAV) Girl Gone Bad 3/5 (LEAST FAV) House of Pain 5/5

Van Halen is one of those bands that don't need much of an introduction, as they were one of the biggest hard rock and heavy metal acts from the late 70s into the 80s. They had an impressive run of albums in their first stint with frontman David Lee Roth, with 1984 being the one where tensions were highest. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen wanted to incorporate more keyboards into their sound. In contrast, David and their producer Ted Templeman wanted the band to stick with their formula. Not helping matters was that the band's label had them pump out another quick album in Diver Down with a subsequent tour to boot, exhausting members. Out of all that turmoil, 1984 came out and it was surprisingly good. I can't think of a bad song off this album, as it was banger after banger in terms of the cheeky 80s hard rock they came to be known for. The synthesizers were a welcome touch on "Jump" and "I'll Wait", Alex Van Halen's drum solo opening "Hot for Teacher" is wildly impressive, and the rest of the album is filled to the brim with guitar-driven kick-ass cuts like "Top Jimmy", "Panama" and "House of Pain". Sure, there is the intro title track that noodles around with the synths, but it's only for a minute and doesn't take long before you're "Jump"-ing right into the album proper. I know Van Halen would continue onward with another singer after this, but if 1984 was a swansong album for the first David Lee Roth era then boy what a closer. Check it out!

masterclass of 80s rock n roll

I very much enjoyed this album! love David Lee Roth

Very solid, wish I grew up when this was cool

Catchy, interesting tunes. Burning solos. Sometimes silly. Excellent fun.

Pretty fun time. Goes against their debut pretty well

This is one heck of a rocking album. It’s just too bad that David Lee Roth left the band after this album. He was so much fun and gave this band an edge. It might be because he kept everyone else on edge and had one hell of an ego…but it helped the band and made them more interesting. Great album!!

Tons of fun. If you don't find yourself tapping your foot, check your pulse

So many classic tracks, and not a down track. 4.5 stars

The end of an era with Roth leaving after this album.

Yussss I am hot for teacher

great album, multiple bangers

Great album all the way thru

This album came out my first year of high school and it completely engulfed us at the time. It was absolutely everywhere. Today it made me feel the excitement and anxiety about being a teenager again. I loved it.

I really wasn't a big fan of Van Halen at the time of this album, but I tolerated the singles. Listening today was a blast!!!

I was, of course, familiar with this since you couldn’t swing a prairie dog without hitting a track off this in high school. How remarkable to hear Eddie Van Halen go 80s synth on some of the songs on this album and somehow stay true to the Van Halen sound. I can’t imagine everyone in his orbit was thrilled when he said “I think I’ll play synth.” Just look at what he wrought!

Hell yeah

I had this on cassette back in the 80s and this is the first time I listened to it in well over 30 years. Love it!

This one made me Jump as though I was in the year 1984!

Because Van Halen!

OH BABY LETS GO

Just a bloody great album No notes

Hair banger rock at its finest. It’s pretty impossible to not get pumped listening to this and it manages to keep the energy up throughout the album without it feeling one note or getting old. Only 33 mins long but I enjoyed every minute.

Fuck yeah!!!

Absolute classic

Great classic rock album!! Several great songs

This was released my senior year of high school. Been a minute since I listened to the whole thing. Great album that has held up. Huge Eddie Van Halen fan!

fucking fuck yeah bitches

I wish this website allowed replies and downvotes. Nothing but absolute shit comments that are prisoners of the moment with no appreciation for the construction of the history of music. This album was fantastic for its genre and features one of the most mimicked and imitated guitarists of all time. His phrasing is fantastic and his technique was unique. Diamond Dave was also an enigma and VH captured the right vibe of that era.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't help but love cheesy 80s rock. It's my guilty pleasure that I don't feel guilty about loving at all. I already adored this album and another listen through on this project has made me appreciate the gorgeous guitar tones even more. Just great from start to finish.

5/5

Such a good album - still as fresh and energetic as when it came out

When I started listening to this I got the same feeling I get when I start watching the Karate Kid. Goddamn I am just so excited about what's ahead of me. Same brain space.

Jumps prelude was as good as Jump. It's just hype song after hype song. Top Jimmy resembles the walk this way cover of Run DMC for some reason. Girl gone bad's intro is perfection. The snob in my ear tells me 4 stars, my hearth says 5 tho.

This album is incredible. Just so finely tuned rock tunes that clocks in at a perfect time, 33 minutes. Doesn't overstay its welcome at all, and leaves you wanting so much more. Has Van Halen's biggest hits on here as well. EVH is a demon on the guitar but lets not forget the excellent drumming from AVH and the great complimentary bass playing from Michael Anthony. David Lee Roth's charismatic vocals is the cherry on top

Excellent

a classic! I love Drop Dead Legs :)

Well, this is a classic! I'm feelling like 16 again! Jump was my clock alarm every morning when i was in highschool and Panama was the Bus Anthem! Even though I'm drowning in this feeling of nostalgia, there's something about this album that brings a sense of youth to whoever listens. Because it's fast and quick hahahaha. Jokes Apart. This album has never gotten old. This still smells like teenage spirit, full of pimples and horny! Exactly how I once was.

I did not expect to love this album but I did. I wouldn’t have found this album any other way. I’m so glad I did.

Such a fun album. Are some of the lyrics shallow and questionable, sure. Are the songs relatively simple and lack real musical depth and complexity, yeah. Is the David Lee Roth the world’s greatest singer, no, no he is not (but he is a superb frontman). But do they have one of the greatest guitarists of all time? Absolutely without question. Eddie is an absolute beast. “Hot for Teacher” and “Girl Gone Bad” have some seriously underrated licks on them. “Panama” is just such a fun song along with “Jump”. The lyrics may be meh in places but Eddie more than makes up for it.

Absolutely massive. I've probably listened to this album a thousand times. It's perfect.

One of a couple Van Halen albums that could also function as a greatest hits album

Great album that I have heard a million times and still think it's great. The guitar is superb and innovative for the time. Really enjoy this one and I'm sure I will listen to it a bunch more.

The last 80s Van Halen album to feature Diamond Dave and nothing but hits again. While at the end of their run, Van Halen still put out some of their most recognizable tunes. Jump and Panama are probably the biggest tunes but I defy anyone to listen to the opening drums of Hot For Teacher and not instantly know what they are listening to. 10/10 One of the most iconic albums of the 80s Would listen to over and over(and I have).

Kickstarted my love for VH.

Wow I really enjoyed this. Sure, the lyrics are a little dated/shallow in places but I absolutely had a good time. Not all music has to be so serious! Made me want to dance around (but I didn't because I'm still recovering from a procedure this morning, another time!). Guitar riffs that made me want to close my eyes, and drum beats that had me bobbing my head. Vocals matched well with the vibe. Of course I already knew Jump and Panama because I have seen a movie from/set in the 80s before. Most of the rest of the album was just as fun to me. Drop Dead Legs was the weakest imo but even that I wouldn't necessarily skip on a relisten.

See what happened was - I was at the racetrack all day & my team won & I had a few whiskeys outside once arriving back home & I was about done w the last one to go to bed bc fauuuck I'm sunburnt & then I saw it was 1984 & only 33 mins... And that is how I got blackout drunk in the driveway soaking up the moonlight. It was a 5 star experience! RIP EVH!

Loved it!

This is the peak of Van Halen, and the peak of glam metal (if you can even call it such). The album is just banger after banger for a solid half-hour, which is great. It doesn't linger long enough to overstay its welcome. Spin it twice!

Solid rock album. Eddie Van Halen's guitar work alone could earn this a 5 but the songs are good, too, and I enjoyed the extra notch they took it up on the last track.

I believe I got this album right around when it came out on cassette tape. Must have been about 10 or 11 at the time and loved it. Haven't listened to the entire album in decades, I'd wager. I still love it.

My, this band is very tight! 4.6

Not a long album, but pretty much everything on it is top notch.

Best album in the career of arguably the best band of the 80s. Seeing them reunite in 2007 will be a top-10 concert highlight of my life.

Where to begin? When the video for Jump made it's debut it was a shock to the system. Eddie playing keyboard?!? But where egregious keys had taken down other rock bands of the era, Eddie was so talented and revered that he emerged victorious. Hot For Teacher ("I don't feel tardy") - smokin'est guitar and drums you'll ever hear Panama - every high school metal band formed between 1984-1990 played this song I'll Wait - the closest we'll ever get to hearing an introspective Diamond Dave and a soulful Eddie. These are songs I'll pull over for. As albums go, it's on the shorter side and the songwriting peters out toward the end, but the first 20-25 minutes are peak 80s. Not my favorite Van Halen album, but the one that should be in the Smithsonian for sure.

Brilliant. Love the tension and build up. Great album to just lose myself in.

Another rock classic, how can you not rock out to Panama and Jump. Drop Dead Legs is probably one of my fav Van Halen songs.

In the year 1984 this album was so present. This album was bigger news than Michael Jackson's head on fire (forgot that one?). 1984 is legendary and sounds just as fun now as it did 40 years ago. Awesome to hear guitar god Eddie bringing his magic to the keyboard. Not all the songs are fantastic, but the album as a while has an infectious energy and attitude.

Such a fun, energetic album

absolutely banging. guitar playing excellent ofc but i also really enjoyed the songwriting. vibes 5/5

cool

Can Halen at their best

i'd never listened to this album all the way through but it kinda slaps. the songs are often cheesy and juvenile but they're also just plain fun. the album flows really well, like 1984 segueing into Jump, Jump leading into the first word of Panama being "jump", Panama flowing nicely into Top Jimmy (feels kinda like the daytime and nighttime versions of the same song to me), etc. and of course, absolutely insane guitar and drums on this album. van halen are truly in their prime here. in terms of subject matter and lyrics, this album hasn't aged super well, but the music is still spot on. favorites: jump, panama, top jimmy, hot for teacher, i'll wait

Classic 80s Rock...works for me :)

It Is a great album to listen while you are driving.

This album has so many classics (or potentially just one of my dads favorite albums!), but I don’t think I’ve ever listened all the way through before. Really good album, I added the whole thing. Favorite song is Hot for Teacher.

Yeah boy

Great album from start to finish. The introduction of synthesizers was the perfect bridge from the David Lee Roth era to the heavy synth use of 5150 with Sammy Hagar as frontman.

I unabashedly love this. You’re a fool if you can’t admit this is chock-full of bops. It’s a certified SCC (stone-cold classic,) if you will.

I Love ❤️ Van Halen!! Eddie Van Halen is IMHO one of the top 5 greatest guitar players of ALL time!!

Yes. Nothing much to say other than one of the most influential albums of all time and a real good one.

short: Epic party album. Epic guitar hero album. Pure fun rock album. long: I'll pull the age card here and state that as a teenager in the 80s there was nothing like the spectacle of Van Halen. Nothing. Eddie and Dave were the coolest duo (never mind their toxic relationship and all the ugliness that we learned about later, when you're 12 you do not give a shit) in rock, in entertainment, in pop culture - everywhere. The anticipation for this album was only exceeded by the quality, shock ("keyboards???"), and absolute phenomenon that the album and band were in the year 1984. They were my first concert that spring and I'm sure nothing could ever have topped it afterwards - Dave coming out screaming and they kick into "Unchained" ...? game over. Yeah the album 1984 is all that and everything else. Van Halen were never taken "seriously" by the un-fun button-downed, (self-appointed) "serious" music critics but beneath the bluster, egos, and pomp and circumstance these guys were (mostly) more self-aware than they were given credit for. And WAY more talented than anyone else in the genre not to mention what/who they may have wrought... I mean, Van Halen the band (and guitarist) probably unwittingly spawned much (most?) of the terribly-boring to downright-awful so-called "hair metal" bands of the 80s - almost every one of them kinda sucked and were *nothing at all* like Van Halen - yet sometimes VH still gets lumped in with the dull/guitarpop/all image/schlock of the 80s. My hard rock loving era was intense but very brief in high school yet this album STILL fking rules and somehow sounds even better all these decades later. Maybe *because* of how much Van Halen completely lapped the field back in the day. Even though this was their final album (you heard me) they would always be the last ones of that era standing and to me still are. There was a time where/when I think I forgot how holy shit good this was and ignored it - I fell into the trap of this being more flash than substance in my moody 90s/2000 era but it's both flash AND substance and what rock was always supposed to be - fun. Favourite song? Impossible. But I'll go off the board a little and name "Drop Dead Legs" that shows the groove side of Ed's playing. Bottom line: this is goddamned genius rock and roll. 10/10 5 stars.

Shit is so awesome

33 minutes of in your face, guitar shredding, fun rock and roll. A great ride from start to finish! I've heard this album a few times before, and it never lets you down.

One of the all time great album covers! Saw Van Halen at Cobo Hall as a teenager and Van Halen will always be a band that will have a place in my heart until I can longer listen to music. I love all their albums, but always felt this album never got the recognition it deserved. Best song on the album is Drop Dead Legs. Love the "sloppy" guitar, but never loses control of the song. Panama will now forever remind me of the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at the Forum. Love the lyrics to House of Pain. Hell, the lyrics are great throughout the entire. Great from start to finish. Some iconic songs, with great lyrics and just being Van Halen = a solid 5 for listener. 5

5/5

One of the Greatest Albums of All Time by One of the Greatest Bands of All Time. ‘Nuff Said.

Really rock 🎸

Great

As much as this album might sacrifice substance for style, you have to admit, absolutely no one does it better than VH. The use of pure talent to create the most intriguing and sexiest rock songs of the decade is something special. This is the band at their peak, and while it would all be downhill from here, it’s a hell of an ascension.

My pops didn’t raise no fool, and he sure as hell didn’t raise his son to give MCMLXXXIV anything less than a V.

5/5

Yusssss!!! All hail our sexy 80s gods, the Van Halen boys and David Lee Roth. And that other guy, I guess. Fuck yeah! I had this CD in high school and I listened to the absolute hell out of it. This record is an epic tour de rock force that slaps you in the face with its big meaty dick and makes you beg for more. I love it. I FUCKING love it!

A Classic!

This album blew me away in 1984. And while I'm a bit tired of it after all these years, it's still just amazing how they managed to pack so many hits onto one album.

Another album I know. Dad educated me well. Great songs. Can’t go wrong with “Hot for Teacher.”

If you enjoy consuming your albums at a blistering pace, this is one to throw in there. Fastest 33 min album of my life. What a ride! Always have to pay respect to EVH, one of the best to ever do it. These solos and riffs are killer and always above par. I don't know the drummer off-hand, but I think he's highly underrated. It just makes you want to move. The whole thing screams fast cars, hot weather, and beautiful women. It's a little bit same-y, a little too breakneck, and I'm not a big fan of the misogynistic lyrical content, so drop it down a level. But a solid 4 for sure and not a bad song on here. Fav tracks: Panama, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait

Excellent They integrate the synthesizer really well

Insane guitars. Classic rock sound

Classic

Can't not give this album a 5. Classic songs, and music is a power house. Great guitar sounds, and great drumming, especially on Hot for Teacher.

Nothing quite like them before, and nothing quite like them since. Eddie completely changed the game with what is possible with guitar and inspired so many after him. The band kind of feels like they are always on the edge of disaster with their off/odd timing sections but always pull it back together. Great choruses, creative songs, fantastic guitar.

If you like guitar-oriented album rock, this is for you. Superior musicianship across the board and clever, albeit juvenile, lyrics that extol the virtues of that rock musician lifestyle. I feel like they were able to capture a live rock sound/show/energy in a studio album.

Knew the hits, and liked the rest as I listened.

Hot for Teacher just might be the best hard rock song ever written.

This is the easiest five stars for me so far. I love it. I love Eddie's guitar riffs and solos. I love the way David Lee Roth can leap in the air and yelp. I love how Alex Van Halen can whack a drum. I love the way Michael Anthony can play a bass in the shape of a bottle of Jack Daniels. And after listening to Joy Division, this was mood altering in the best way. 1984 is a positive recipient of the Whigfield Effect, in that it IS music I grew up with, or at least loved as a teenager. Also it has a song about how great someone called "Jimmy" is, which is a huge bonus point from me. Can you give an album 6/5? "Jump" is the famous track of this album (and also the cheesiest). "Hot for teacher" is pretty famous. But "Panama" is my favourite, and also the first song I heard / video I saw from them, with the band mucking about on stage, partying and having a good time, Eddie Van Halen blowing smoke rings whilst playing piano and so on. It just seemed like a positive vibe, in the same way that Bill and Ted are just sort of gormless upbeatness. They seemed to be cheeky rather than sleazy. Also, whilst Eddie is known for his crazy guitar solos, he writes great songs and riffs. He's not a Satriani or a Vai putting out entirely instrumental noodle fests. Love it.

Perfect combo of drum & guitar! Rock beat seamlessly blended with synthesizer.

1st album purchased as a kid- one of many great albums

Banger after banger, then the last two songs dip slightly. Yes there are more technical, more thoughtful albums but this one is just too fun. Still reminds me of driving too fast in my dad's tundra

meni top

‘Jump’ is always a classic. Just pure 80s song. ‘Panama’ was okay/good. These fast hard rock songs really get me. And their natural talent is just great. A pleasant experience.

This had awesome energy and was surprisingly very good.

One of the best rock albums of all time.

I bought my pencil...Gimme somethin' to write on! Van Halen I is still probably their 'best' record but 1984 has always been the most fun and my personal favorite. My older brother had a copy of this when I was growing up and it was the first album I listened to in its entirety. And I listened to it A LOT. Every guitar solo, every beat of Alex's toms, every pervy DLR aside. This record is coded in my DNA.

In my opinion, the best version of Van Halen. The synthesizers mark this as an 80s pop rock album instead of a more timeless guitar-driven heavy rock album, but it all works. "Jump" is just a timeless earworm, as are "Hot for Teacher" and 'Panama," but the whole album is fun. As an 80s kid, the videos that accompanied this album are burned forever in my brain, and there is no greater embodiment of the rock n' roll frontman than David Lee Roth. And Eddie Van Halen's guitar work is justifiably legendary.

Pure rock!

Absolute Classic!

Jump alone puts this at five stars

Great songs.

An absolute classic. This album came out when I was in 8th grade. It was everywhere all the time. VH was a band at its peak. The musicianship is top notch. The soundtrack of my youth album. 5 stars all day.

Solid 5. No bad songs, only songs played too much on radio.

Great album. 5/5

Such an unbelievable album. So good.

EVH was a boss.

Loved reading the description and learning about Eddie Van Halen and the technical aspects that went into this album. The descriptor about how all of the showy aspects had a purpose- to drive the melody- gave me an appreciation and new framework for looking at music.

Love me some Van Halen with David Lee Roth.

Never listened - great production, loved it

I got this tape on my 13th birthday and listened to it for days! One of their best albums by far!

Classid

The first album here that i knew before . I Like it!

I love Van Halen.

It’s not their debut but it’s a good farewell for DLR. Jump is overhyped but stuff like I’ll Wait and the other hits are great

A fav from my youth

GREAT! A good flashback to younger years

MFC! Mother F. Classic! 1984/Jump, Panama, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait... the list goes on....Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs,

One of the best guitarists, drummers and vocalists of all time make an almost perfect hard rock album.

Standouts: 1984/Jump, Panama, I'll Wait, Hot For Teacher, Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, 4.5

Wait a second, man What do you think the teacher's gonna look like this year? Oh yeah, teacher stop that screamin' Teacher don't you see? Don't wanna be no uptown fool Maybe I should go to hell but I am doing well Teacher needs to see me after school I think of all the education that I've missed But then my homework was never quite like this Got it bad, got it bad, got it bad I'm hot for teacher I've got it bad, so bad I'm hot for teacher Hey, I heard you missed us, we're back! I brought my pencil Give me something to write on, man One of the greatest of all time. Literally a perfect album in every way. 5/5

Classic

My husband’s favorite !!

Good energy nice rizz. Enjoyed the album

That played like a greatest hits album. Classic, classic album.

5/5 Didn’t think I’d like it this much, but the instrumentals were really on point for me!

Wonderful

Hot

Amazing Wonderful Iconic

I love Van Halen, so I'm a little biased. You're either a David Lee Roth or you're not & I am, so I love this album.

Been listening to this since high school!

Just a banger of an album. Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher are all such great songs, and the rest of the album doesn’t fumble the five star.

So many great songs on this album, hard not to rock out to this one!

1984 - 0/5 Jump - 5/5 Panama - 5/5 Top Jimmy - 4/5 Drop Dead Legs - 4/5 Hot for Teacher - 5/5 I'll Wait -5/5 Girl Gone Bad - 4/5 House of Pain - 4/5

really good

Great stuff.

Absolute jam

10/23/23 10:30 S Tier————————— Jump Hot For Teacher Panama I’ll Wait A Tier————————— Top Jimmy Girl Gone Bad House Of Pain Drop Dead Legs B Tier————————— 1984

Monday 10/23/23 10:28 Working (Office) S Tier————————— Panama Jump I’ll Wait Hot For Teacher A Tier————————— House of Pain Girl Gone Bad B Tier————————— Top Jimmy Drop Dead Legs 1984

Van Halen… duh!

Rocks my face off.

Very good

If anyone ever asked me what Van Halen album they should listen to, this would probably be the one I would recommend most. It's an album of them doing what they do best!

Fun rock album

This album marked the beginning of high school for me. It was a time I was shifting from mainstream to alternative in musical taste. However, this album still evokes fond memories with several of the songs being iconic of the period for me.

A great soundtrack of the time and the culture loved it

classic.

classic jams. hot for teacher #1 VH song

Bangers

Das war tatsächlich ziemlich nice!

TEEEEEEEEEEMAZOS

This is one of my childhood go-to albums. I remember looking at my older brother’s cassette tape cover looking at the baby with a heater. Great album all around.

yes

Solid

Holy shit

Wow, when did I start enjoying glam metal so much? I enjoyed this one a lot. Some stone-cold classics here, from the uplifting and motivational energy of Jump to the fast and aggressive heavy metal of Hot for Teacher. Plus at 33 minutes it doesn't overstay its welcome, and frankly I wouldn't have minded a longer album. Very very good. Favourite: Jump

Great album, I mean 'Jump' is a great song

There’s a reason my friends don’t call me Hard Rock Andy. Mainly because my name isn’t Andy, but also because I’m not really a fan of hard rock. With Van Halen it’s something else completely. The songwriting is brilliant, Lee Roth is a complete singer, Anthony plays extremely well - and then there’s the brothers. Their playing is sublime and especially Eddie is flashy without ever letting it overrule the underlying song. This is simply the perfect hard rock line-up. Also - who really cares about lyrics? Well I do. But I can easily let it slide for half an hour.

5/5 this is a great album. Jump is by far my favorite track on the album but obviously hot for teacher is no slouch either. Top Jimmy is the weakest track on the album. I will be listening to this again. I've definitely slept on Van Halen up till now.

These guitar solos are awesome. The one on “Top Jimmy” stood out to me. It’s kind of rough and sloppy and wild but you can hear that Eddie Van Halen is also a brilliant musician. Some of these solos sound like free jazz but played on top of hair metal. That’s so badass! First time listening to a Van Halen album straight through and I’m impressed. I think I always dismissed them as a goofy band but they’re pretty awesome. I know the big hits off this one from classic rock radio but it’s been long enough since I’ve listened to them that I was able to hear how great they are again. I’m glad this was a Friday album because I had a chance to play it a few times — while working out, driving, in the background at home — and it gets better and better. I’m more and more convinced this is a classic and I’m looking forward to spending more time with it.

Yes mega!!!

One of my all time favourites! I always get hyped up when a song by Van Halen gets on. This band had so many talent, especially in this line-up. And the addition of synths to some songs is a great one but they did not take away from their core sound! Amazing work by an amazing band! 9,5 out of 10

Mark Knofler, wie was dat ook weer? Gitaarhelden, maak plaats voor 's Neerlands trots, Eddie van Halen met zijn broer Alex op de drums. Heerlijk deze stevig aangezette virtuositeit, zonder de donkere zoniet satanische ondertoon die vaak aan dit soort muziek moet hangen. Niks dood en verderf, leve het leven en gaan met die banaan. 33 minuten vlammen.

Mainstream heavy metal met scheurende gitaren en vibrerende synths. De enige Nederlandse inbreng in deze 1001-lijst? Of zie ik wat NL roots over het hoofd? Het is bombastisch, Eddie van Halen is een absolute virtuoos. Ik heb hem gewoon nog een keer opgezet en er weer van genoten. Ik zit er zelfs aan te denken om voor de 3e keer op rij de maximale score te geven. Hop, gewoon doen!

Man this just rips. Panama is so sick, I love those little guitar squeals. EVH’s rhythm playing is so nasty too. I learned on wiki that Michael McDonald co-wrote one of the songs?? Lol

Hot for Teacher is obviously the best. Very cool record

Wow! Great album! Took me back to jumping and kicking!

Classics all the way. Always loved the piano use in Van Halen.

Not much more to say other than eddies tone makes you feel like he’s in the room there playing through a small amp.

uuuuu

One of the most fun bands of all time delivers one of the most fun albums of all time. Favorite track: Panama

HELL YES VAN HALEN 10"1 STARS

Wow, fantastic album. Non stop bangerz. I have never listened to this whole album, but pretty knew every song. Easy 5. TBz 1. I’ll Wait 2. Hot for Teacher 3. Panama 4. Drop Dead Legs 5. Jump

Great album. Hard Rock royalty, here.

Decade-defining rock contrasted with completely unserious lyrics? Great

I really like this album especially the song jump

1980's rock standard. Not much more to say.

Loving the sound of this whole album, some classic rock sounds all throughout with the iconic track ‘Jump’. No filler to this album at all, straight to the point with some incredible instrumentals and overall quality set of songs, loving it

Best driving song ever: Panama Best song of the 80s: Panama Best snare drum sound of the 80s: I’ll Wait Most iconic keyboard intro of the 80s: Jump Most iconic drum intro of the 80s: Hot for Teacher Most juvenile song of the 80s: Hot for Teacher Best drum fill of the 80s: Drop Dead Legs (at 1:30) Happiest guitarist of the 80s: Smilin’ Eddie Van Halen Best album of the 80s: 1984 This is not thoughtful, melancholy, brooding or complex in any way. It’s just fun. Perfect 80s soundtrack.

I know this album and have been listening to it for years but I can't remember the last time I listened to it all the way through. Love all of these songs.

This album punches through every song for a rapid driving classic full of excellent guitar and drum solos. Short and sweet but will never disappoint!

Definitely one of the all time greats.

My first concert ever was Van Halen (the Gary Cherone edition), so I have a soft spot for this band. What gets lost in some of the presentation and reputation is that VH was a killer pop band with great hooks and they could write killer tunes. And this is their intentional blockbuster. The 1-2 punch of Jump and Panama is undeniable and if you're not rocking by the engine roars you need to check your pulse. I'll Wait is a favorite deeper cut of mine, Hot For Teacher is so stupid it brings a smile to my face and the remaining songs all have their moments. I love this album.

A quick anecdote to illustrate the nature of Van Halen. At their height, Van Halen made perhaps the most notorious request ever included on a rider: they insisted that the venue provide a bowl of M&Ms. That doesn’t sound so decadent, except that in a different section of the rider, they also stipulated that the brown M&Ms be removed from the bowl. This demand became an exemplar of the spoilt, immature behaviour indulged by the archetypal rockstar, but on this occasion Van Halen were the genuine wise guys. Riders not only contain the band’s demands for Hennessey and beef sandwiches, but also include the technical information for the band’s equipment, and thus contain important details pertaining to safety and performance. After one of their roadies was electrocuted and nearly died due to a particular venue’s lackadaisical adherence to the rider, Van Halen concocted the M&M proviso in order to give them a swift means of checking that the venue had fulfilled their requirements. If they saw no brown M&Ms, they could proceed with assurance that the technical aspects were fit to their needs. If they spied a brown M&M, they would demand that the venue double-check the equipment, and the band could also have recourse to cancel the gig for breach of contract if the situation became untenable. Along with this, Dave Lee Roth knew the value of such an extravagant legend, and happily let the press run with the story they wanted. The impression I get from that story is of a rather canny band who knew when to be dumb, because this is rock after all, not serialist opera. Along with this, we all know that they were a highly temperamental band, who somehow managed two of the most acrimonious break-ups in rock history: firstly, Dave Lee Roth quit after this album, ostensibly aggrieved at the direction the guitarist Eddie Van Halen wished to take the group, and secondly Diamond Dave’s replacement Sammy Hagar walked out/was fired (delete according to your sympathies) in 1996. Focusing on the first line-up (1984 is the last album from those particular dudes, after all), it’s pretty impossible to designate especial blame onto either Eddie or Diamond Dave, not least because neither man proved the world’s easiest collaborator (though they did prove they both had egos the size of Neptune). This break-up would prove a real tragedy though, because the classic incarnation of Van Halen FUCKING ROCKED. Explaining the greatness of Van Halen amounts to no effort: they were a fantastic hard rock band who, with Diamond Dave’s messianic showmanship, embraced all those wonderfully ridiculous elements of rock and, with Eddie’s virtuosic axehandling, showed they were no novelty, but a genuinely fierce band underneath that spandex. Yes, the music from their golden period is firmly anchored to the period from whence it came, the early 80s of Reagan, MTV and the death of John Lennon. But I say Van Halen avoid the standard pillorying thrown against other 80s rock of their era (who can recall a single song by Ratt? Who would want to?), by knowing how to balance the pomp of rock with the skills, thus falling into neither empty theatrics nor empty shredding. So onto 1984’s 1984, Van Halen’s sixth album. The opening reveals the tensions stewing in the band, as it starts with an Eddie instrumental (not unusual), but on keyboard (a bit unusual). Eddie, being musically ambitious, wanted to explore synths on 1984. Diamond Dave (yes, I’m calling him that throughout), concentrating on how he could sell it to the crowds, was apprehensive over Eddie’s new enthusiasms. The two egos compromised, allowing Eddie his precious keyboards within the context of a Van Halen hard rock album. Commercially, Diamond Dave’s fears proved unwarranted, as 1984 and the lead single Jump became the biggest hits of Van Halen’s career to that date. However, the synths on this album are basically restricted to the first two tracks and I’ll Wait. As a child, I was rather sniffy about Jump; it seemed to me the emblem of all that was tasteless and gauche about the 80s. I have softened towards it, but mainly because I softened towards Van Halen when I hit the age of 35. I suppose the curious conclusion is that I needed enough maturity to appreciate the immaturity of Van Halen. Anyway, Jump still remains as much an oddity as a song. One can see exactly what the song is trying to achieve, and it feels hard to say that it doesn’t succeed in its attempt. But is what it does worthwhile? I suppose so, even if it’ll never be anything close to my toppermost Van Halen Track. The other synthy song, I’ll Wait, is much more to my taste. With ever so slightly proggy keyboards, I’ll Wait gives us some John Carpenter vibes, and we all love us some early 80s John Carpenter vibes. But to be blunt, who buys a Van Halen album for the synths? They don’t spoil the album, but when you listen to Van Halen, you want Eddie playing all the notes in existence whilst Diamond Dave does the splits whilst hollering about singeing the minge of a 17-year-old blonde who only ever wears bikinis. And thankfully 1984 doesn’t scrimp on the Van Halen meat. Maybe 1984 isn’t Van Halen’s best album, but the hit-rate of the Diamond Dave era was shockingly high, and being third-or-fourth-best album among a crop of 5-star albums ain’t that mockworthy. Like everything from Van Halen’s golden period, 1984 has remained a treat. Panama and Hot for Teacher are two of Van Halen’s most raucous and therefore best singles, and the rest of the album delivers that trademark Van Halen hard sleaze. Hey, at least Diamond Dave, unlike a thousand 80s hard rock chancers, has actually seen a lady naked (and it was probably your mum). Rest in peace, Eddie. NoRadio, signing off.

I'd say this is an album that I'd make sure to put into a bunker.

Man, 9 tracks and 33 minutes. Though 3 songs i might consider filler, they still have the eddie and alex sound that makes those interesting as well (with that dose of a synth sound... but not too overdone to not fit in). The rest are pretty much a greatest hits list. Stellar stellar album.

total classic. Yeah!

The thing people don't realize about this record is just how revolutionary it was at the time it came out. For all of the knockoffs and wannabes in the later 80s, this album was a significant nexus between pop and hard rock. The history of the production of this album is also fascinating, with Templeman and Roth working in a WB studio, while Eddie the Van et al were working in EVH's home studio, which he built b/c he was so pissed about how many covers they forced him to do on Diver Down. Also, if you listen to that quiet little melodic line at the end of Jump (c-b-c-a c-b-c-g c-b-c-c), you'll hear what would eventually become Top of the World.

80's awesomeness!

Bro is a wizard with the guitar how does he do these things

Amazing

Classic

Two quick stories that underscore why this album is such a goddamn easy 5 for me. Summer of 1984, my second concert ever at the second of back-to-back Van Halen shows in Omaha, NE. Your humble narrator was all of 14 years old and thrown into what could only be described as a bacchanal extravaganza. Between songs, someone threw a bra up on stage because of course they did. Without missing a beat, Diamond David Lee Roth dances right over to the bra, holds it up for the audience's pleasure, then turns to his wunderkind guitarist and says, "Hey Eddie. Valerie left this in my room last night. Would you mind giving it back to her?" Needless to say, the crowd lost their collective shit. Diamond Dave might have sniffed the bra, too. All Eddie could do was flash that famous smile of his that was all over the Jump music video. What was there to be upset about? Van Halen's music was EVERYWHERE that summer. Of course, behind the scenes, Eddie had just about enough of Roth's shit, and soon it was all Hummala bebhuhla zeebuhla boobuhla Hummala bebhuhla zeebuhla bop for Diamond Dave. Maybe "Valerie's" bra was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Which is just a travesty. In the summer of 2004, I had second row seats at a Van Halen concert. At least it was supposed to be a Van Halen concert. It was more like watching a horrible Van Halen cover band. Oh sure, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony were there, and whatever version of Eddie that could come crawling out of a bottle was there suffering through just an abysmal performance. And the lead singer was someone less charismatic than Diamond Dave. Van Halen had reunited, only with the wrong lead singer. Van Hagar opens up the concert by playing...Jump? Yes! For whatever your opinion is of Sammy Hagar as lead singer of Van Halen, that version had a slew of hits. They couldn't have opened with one of Sammy's tunes? It goes without saying that Sammy just butchered it, even throwing the microphone over to Michael Anthony for a verse. It didn't help that Eddie Van Halen was too busy searching for another bottle of wine instead of shredding his guitar. It's well known that this was a horrible time for Eddie, and I'm sure opening each show with one of your signature songs butchered by the wrong singer wasn't doing him any favors. The point is that Diamond Dave and Eddie Van Halen were magic together, and pretty much lost publicly without each other. Jump doesn't work let alone hold up without both of them. Jump was Van Halen's only song to top the Billboard Hot 100. It's got the insane Roth lyrics inspired by a guy threatening to jump off a building, along with Eddie showing off his guitar and keyboard skills. The rest of this album is loaded with hits, from Panama to Hot For Teacher to I'll Wait. I can't imagine how much bigger Van Halen would have become had they found a way to continue with Roth. All I know is few bands capture blissful magic like Van Halen did on 1984 in 1984.

"Hot for Teacher", "Jump", and "Panama", along with incredible Eddie guitar and David Lee Roth vocals all throughout. What's not to love? 9/10.

great!

The best Van Halen album. Jump, Hot For Teacher, and Panama are all classic songs.

Absolutely fantastic hair metal. Soaring guitars, killer vocals.

TRop Bon et trop classique, toutes les chansons sont bonnes et bien faite. C'est vraiment un top album ! 5

First things first: Van Halen was never the same after He Who Shall Not Drive 55 replaced David Lee Roth. For further information, please refer to Nerf Herder's "Van Halen." Now that that's out of the way, anyone with at least one working earhole should recognize the greatness of this album. Not only are "Jump," "Panama," and "Hot for Teacher" my three favorite Van Halen songs, but they're seminal '80s rock tracks, period. All on the same album. They're worth 4.5 stars themselves, and we can just round up the rest of the way to five on general principle.

Excellent album. It's amazing that I already had three of the tracks on this album liked but I never considered myself a Van Halen fan. Listening to the whole album maybe have proven that to be false. "Jump", "Panama", and "Hot for Teacher" are obviously amazing. Discovered I like "Drop Dead Legs" a lot too.

Great album. It was one of my favourite cassette tapes. Go Eddy!!

Nice.

Pura energía y guitarrazos como pocos pueden entregar. Mi favorita fue Girl Gone Bad. 4.5 que suben a 5 porque también I'm hot for teacher.

Joya del Rock. Las puras guitarras de Eddie con el estilo que vino prácticamente a crear lo ponen en el lugar para tener 5 estrellas. Hay obviamente un par de rolas no tan buenas, pero incluso dentro de eso, son Rock en una excelente forma.

It’s Van Halen

Excellent rock des années 80!

Was dope. Not quit quintessential...but such a fun classic rock record

I like my music cheerful fun and energetic. If Van Halen's Jump is wrong I don't want to be right. This album earwormed into my brain when I was at a young vulnerable age. Too late now to do anything about it. Reach down .... between my legs ...

Van Halen knows who they are, what they want to do, and how to do that just right. So damn tight and fun and killer. The synths may take away for some people, but I really think it blends super well with their sound. Pure excellence.

Have you ever felt a guitar string snap back at you after breaking? They can cause major damage, including major bruising and deep cuts. It has to do with the amount of tension required to tune the string appropriately. The string is tightly wound through and around the tuning pegs, causing the notes we know and love to ring true. This album is tighter than that.

Enjoyed it.

More than half of the songs are in the good-to-great category. The rest are good enough that I wouldn't skip them.

Classic

Yes

Cet album est fantastique. Il contient tout ce qui fait que Van Halen est Van Halen : Irrévérence, humour, rock, ainsi que ce qui le met dans une classe à part, le groove. Oui, ce band groove. Les 4 membres sont super solides. Aussi, ils sont très techniques, mais ils savent quand être plus retenus.

Rock and Roll Gold!

Solid album. Hadn't heard many of the songs, and glad I've heard them now. Thirty-three minutes packed with hard, awesome rock. Added! Will listen again & again (though I'm kinda tired of Jump...)

Brilliant

All time reat

Sadly I was too young, but fuck it would've been great to be around when Van Halen was THE soundtrack to fingering girls in the park. 5/5.

It's not my fav VH album but it's hard no to love this. I was 12 years old when it came out and there wasn't anything much cooler than VH at that time.

This is, by far, the best and most successful Van Halen album. The Van Halen brothers with Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth were the best that they could become and it shows. "Jump", "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher" are three of hard rock's biggest classics and the album as a whole, a short one with only 33 minutes, is pure 1980s rock zeitgeist. The production is overwhelming, the instrumentation, mixing hard rock with glam and pop, is perfect and Roth's voice is amazing in every single track. One of the greatest rock albums of the 1980s.

curto muito o som deles

Amazing!

so good, more heavy that I would guess.

Classic rock is classic. Also, Hot for Teacher makes me want to run through a goddamned stone wall.

so good

Takes me back to my youth

Really it should be getting a 4 because of how much synth was used on this album but then Panama and hot for teacher really pull this one up. 4.5?

Fucking excellent album

One of my favourites of all time.

I knew most of the hits off this one, but I wasn't familiar with the deep dives, most of which are fantastic. I also had no idea how awesome of a drummer Alex VH is.

Awesome. Front to back. Not very long either!

....

piriripiriripirirpiruuru pam pamparampamparamfuoo panama panama a panama panama a o o o o

Woohoo! Only 33 minutes long and has the best Van Halen songs.

Yeah it's more mainstream (not that VH were ever the hipster's choice) and synth-heavy, but wow so good top-to-bottom. The band are in top form, and I confess to loving this album as a kid. My only regret is that by the time I saw them live they were in full Hagar.

Very good noder

As I am writing this at work I have already re-listened to this great album twice in the morning. And yes, of course it's great, but I gotta say - if you asked me 5 years or even 10 years ago, I would have said no doubt this is 5 stars. However VH is yet another one of those bands from my childhood which I kind of outgrew. The singles are majestic as always but album tracks just won't compare to those 3 massive songs here. So I think this deserves strong 4 stars, but it's not really a masterpiece as my younger self would have thought.

Electric, it gets me going I haven't listened to anything as heavy as this before but I like it, not much else to say

never would have thought I'd like Van Halen but that's why this 1001 albums thing is so great!

This album is rock n roll royalty. It’s also hard to fathom that this was the final album with David Lee Roth as the lead singer.

Sure this isn't a 5...right? I'm actually on the fence. This is just pure FUN and I love this album. It's really a 33 minute guitar masterclass from Eddie, from finger-tap shredding to hyper-ZZ Top blues to cool atmospheric picking parts. The hits really hit (starting an album with Jump and Panama back to back??) but a few other songs I hadn't really known very well (or maybe ever even heard before) like Girls Gone Bad. Sure the lyrics are a little reductive but this is pretty much large formal arena hard rock at its best for me.